Southern California HERC

Basic Function and Responsibility

Supervise physical plant operations including all buildings and grounds, utilities, energy management systems, and safety/security systems in order to provide a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment for students, faculty, and staff across all college campuses, including the Des Plaines, Skokie, and the Evanston Health Center campus extension. The position is responsible for the scheduling and supervision of building maintenance and repair activities, grounds, contracted services, and custodial services. Ensure the physical operation of the college meets budgetary and strategic objectives. Serve as the point person for showcasing and promoting the campus facilities.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy and Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction, making effective use of budgets, personnel, and other resources in support of the College's operational and strategic objectives including the Facilities Master Plan.
• Develop, recommend, and implement the administration of comprehensive annual and long-range preventive and routine maintenance programs to improve the Facility Condition Index (FCI) of our facilities.
• Identify and assist the College in applications for grants, loans, and other alternative financing programs to further building, energy conservation, and maintenance projects.
• Use data analytics and benchmarking to facilitate strategic decision making and effective deployment of facilities resources.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration among members of the Facilities staff and within the College community.

Facilities and Building Management

• Oversee the daily operations and management of the College's grounds, naturalist, sustainability, custodial, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, building maintenance, and repairs.
• Maintain records, prepare reports, and make recommendations concerning work progress, work completion, costs, problems encountered, equipment and material used, and time and attendance of employees.
• Serve as facilities management primary lead for emergency closings and remediation planning for the return to campus.
• Evaluate the implementation and utilization of technology to improve operational productivity and effectiveness.

Safety, Training and Development

• Ensure training and development requirements of skilled work force are identified and implemented, while maintaining adequate staffing levels to meet work responsibilities.
• Establish and maintain a program of regular inspection of facilities, equipment and systems.
• Ensure that proper safety training is provided and that safety requirements and procedures are followed by facilities personnel. Ensure the proper disposal of hazardous and controlled wastes in compliance with regulations and guidelines; work directly with outside agencies such as OSHA, EPA, local and state health departments as required.
• Evaluate the need for and arranges physical plant training sessions (blood-borne pathogens, OSHA, MSDS, and other job-related training) both in-house and off campus.

Sustainability

• Serve as College-wide leadership and support for green initiatives and participate in shared governance as a member of the Green Committee.
• Identify, develop, and recommend sustainable practices in operations including reduction of water and utility use, advanced recycling of waste materials, 'green' cleaning, organic pest control, and retrofit of existing equipment. Implement plans to maintain, conserve, and restore natural areas and native habitats on campuses.

Budgeting, Expense Management and Performance Measurement

• Develop and manage budgets for areas of responsibility, including staffing requirements.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators for specific service areas to provide a basis for annual reporting of metrics and process improvement. Use existing systems and data to manage routine maintenance to maximize useful life of equipment.
• Provide data to the Assistant Vice President relative to project and budget updates required for reporting to senior leadership, the Board of Trustees and external stakeholders.

Supervision Received:

Administrative supervision for campus facilities and operations issues is received from the Assistant Vice President for Operations.

Supervision Exercised:

Functional supervision is exercised over sixty employees, including managers, supervisors, administrative assistants, and staff from construction, grounds, naturalist, sustainability specialist, building maintenance, HVAC, and housekeeping departments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, or Architecture or related field is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree. Master's degree in related field is preferred.
• Seven years' experience in facilities operations and management including three years of direct management and supervisory experience; experience in a unionized environment preferred. Experience can include large, complex physical facilities such as colleges, universities, museums, aquariums, zoos, hospitals, retail, or commercial properties.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel, and Power Point); required; Google Suite experience is preferred.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal, and customer service skills.
• High proficiency prioritizing responsibilities, managing time effectively, and working under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to interact professionally and tactfully with people of different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences, and to exhibit adequate respect to colleagues and the College community overall.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Work is performed in a general office environment and is primarily sedentary, with no or minimal exposure to adverse working conditions. May be required to lift or carry materials or equipment up to 10 pounds, and should be able to reach above one's shoulders. There may be periods of sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending, and stooping. Must be able to move from building to building on campus, between campuses, and to visit off-campus entities as directed. 

HOURS:  Monday - Friday - 8:15 am - 5:00 pm 

SALARY: $84,545

Based on the needs of the college and with Administrator approval, some positions at the college may have a hybrid schedule option available after 30 working days.

For information regarding employment eligibility, please visit our employment at Oakton web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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About Oakton College

Educate. Empower. Transform At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years, we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and experiences thrive. We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future. We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston. As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture. Explore career opportunities at Oakton College.

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