Director, Operations and Facilities Projects

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, Manassas, Arlington

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Dean's Office oversees all educational, research, development and administrative activities within the College of Engineering and Computing. The Dean's Office provides direction and structure and works with the associate and assistant deans, department chairs, and center directors. The office also works closely with other university departments and offices to include the Offices of the President and Provost.

George Mason University provides outstanding benefits to employees, including, but not limited to, a generous number of holidays and tuition remission. More information is available at https://hr.gmu.edu/benefits/

About the Position:

The Director, Operations and Facilities Projects leads the college's activities related to facilities (office space, instructional labs, research labs, and classrooms) and related operations across all campuses and remote sites. Serves as the focal point between the CEC Dean, central administration, principal investigators, department chairs, and research center directors for facilities matters. Represents the CEC for all issues related to the college’s facilities and operational activities. Advocates for the college’s facilities and operations-related interests with the larger university planning groups and external stakeholders. Serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external customers regarding space assignment, utilization, tracking, and facility-related operations for the college.

Responsibilities:

CEC Space Allocation, Planning and Reporting

Develops, leads and implements strategies to increase the overall utilization and efficient distribution of CEC space to include offices and administrative areas, college managed classrooms and labs, research facilities, and student areas.

• Identifies and optimizes space utilization by working with department chairs and directors, noting complex and sometimes competing instructional and/or research needs as they relate to enrollment & research productivity;
• Negotiates, coordinates and communicates decisions related to space assignments, planning, and requirements for CEC program needs to departments, CEC senior leaders, as well as central administration;
• Submits requests to the University Space Management Committee to support additional space needs of the college and develops the necessary supporting documentation for those requests;
• Manages and oversees updates to space assignments in the university space management database;
• Drafts responses to inquiries by the VPR, Facilities, Development Office or Government Relations in regards to research capacity, space usage, and specialty equipment; and
• Serves as CEC representative on the University Space Management Committee. 

CEC Facilities Project Oversight and Management

Serves as the Facilities Project Leader for the college on numerous complex projects including new university buildings, new college facilities, and instructional and research renovations. Supports projects related to new equipment installations and associated facilities impacts. 

• Partners with University Capital Planning on projects for new university buildings to include representing CEC on project leadership team and coordination of data gathering from CEC departments, centers and programs. Advocates for CEC needs to support growth in students, research and programs;
• Partners with CEC Department Chairs, Center Directors, Associate Deans and other senior leaders to identify facilities projects necessary to support the growing needs of the college for instructional, research, and student and administrative support spaces. Presents projects to college senior leadership for approval;
• Submits facilities project requests into the university project system and works with assigned facilities project manager to develop scope, price and timeline for the project. Partners with project manager to see project through to completion; and
• Supports college and faculty with installation of new equipment to include identification of necessary facility infrastructure such as electric and data, as well as partnering with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to identify any additional safety considerations that need to be addressed. 

CEC Building Operations Management

Provides management and oversight for building operations for any facilities assigned to the college across all Mason Campuses. 

• Serves as lead in responding to routine facilities and operations to ensure smooth functioning of the college’s facilities. Works in partnership with facilities as necessary;
• Supports departmental and administrative space liaisons in entry of work order requests as necessary to address issues in college facilities;
• Serves as college approver for key and swipe access requests;
• Serves as CEC emergency contact for the university; and
• Documents and creates procedures related to CEC facilities and building operations. 

Other Related Duties as Assigned

• Seeks out opportunities to improve operations and make recommendations for their implementation; and
• Willingness to take on additional work as needed, particularly during peak times, to ensure the smooth operation of the unit. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master's/advanced degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience in the leadership and management of facilities planning and operations (at least 5 years);
• Experience in project planning and project management;
• Knowledge of space planning processes and procedures;
• Knowledge of building operations management processes and procedures;
• Sophisticated communication and interpersonal skills;
• Strong analytical, planning, and organization skills;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with minimal supervision;
• Ability to utilize systems on a variety of platforms;
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders who have diverse and conflicting interests; facilitate dialogue; then implement the decision; and
• Requires ability to travel to all three of Mason's domestic campuses.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in facilities planning and operations in a university or higher education setting; and
• Knowledge of Research Space and Equipment Planning and Project Management.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director, Operations and Facilities Projects at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: March 20, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 11, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes