Director of Facilities and Maintenance

Department: Facilities

Classification: Trades Manager 2

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

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

Location: Manassas / Sci-Tech

Telework Friendly: Onsite Required

Pay Band: 06

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Security Clearance Check: Yes

About the Department:

George Mason University Facilities ensures a quality physical environment supporting the mission of the university. We will be the technical and business experts of choice with the total trust and confidence of our students, faculty and staff.

The Biomedical Research Lab (BRL), is a 52,000 square-foot regional biocontainment laboratory (RBL) was established in 2010 as one of 12 NIAID-funded RBLs to support infectious disease research and foster collaborations with other national and global laboratories. It operates as a central core facility to advance research and develop novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines against viral and bacterial infectious agents by a diverse population of internal and external investigators. The facility is capable of housing multiple species and has a variety of established animal models, with an emphasis on aerosolized exposures. The BRL is fully approved and licensed for work by the CDC and USDA and is accredited by AAALAC.

About the Position:

This position will be responsible for directing and assisting in the overall planning, direction, and coordination of facilities operations and management services at the Biomedical Research Laboratory (BRL) a 52,000 square-foot regional biocontainment laboratory (RBL) was established in 2010 as one of 12 NIAID-funded RBLs to support infectious disease research and foster collaborations with other national and global laboratories. The Director is responsible for maintaining all mechanical, electrical and associated control systems of the (BRL) at optimal specified performance levels.

Responsibilities:

Directing and assisting in the overall planning, direction, and coordination of BRL operations and management services:

• Oversees daily operation of all mechanical, electrical, and associated control systems of the BRL;
• Oversees large, complex facilities and maintenance projects;
• Contributes to the organization through strategy definition and implementation of directed initiatives;
• Develops or assists with documentation and information maintenance;
• Ensures all facilities systems are in proper working order by ensuring preventative maintenance is conducted and issues are addressed promptly;
• Leads complex facilities projects;
• Accurately estimates building costs and project timelines;
• Communicates status of facilities projects to supervisor and others impacted in the facility;
• Oversees maintenance and operations contracts with vendors;
• Secures and maintains maintenance and operations contracts;
• Schedules services associated with the contracts;
• Ensures contracts are maintained and services are scheduled as needed to maintain continuity of operations; and
• Prepares reports and maintains records associated with vendor operation and maintenance, and facility operation and maintenance. Produces written reports as requested or needed and by specified deadline.

Develop and implement facility related standard operating procedures (SOP):

• Prepares and/or implements a detailed preventative maintenance plan for the BRL and associated equipment to include routine testing of critical systems and equipment;
• Works with building occupants and safety personnel to understand the critical needs and risk of losses associated with the research performed in each area of the building and develop plans to mitigate risks;
• Updates and maintains inspections records;
• Tracks corrective actions and follows up with lab supervisors/principal investigators until issue(s) are resolved;
• Leads or assists in coordinating or performing inspections;
• Assists with safety equipment, inspection, certification, and maintenance;
• Assists with establishing emergency contact procedures for unscheduled system interruptions or equipment malfunctions;
• Leads or assists with waste management and removal operations;
• Assists as necessary with activities related to safety and operations committee meetings;
• Provides technical assistance during GMU emergency response incidents as necessary. Assists responder in laboratory emergency situations;
• Maintains detailed inspection records; performs routine inspections; promptly communicates scheduled and unscheduled system interruptions or equipment malfunctions; ensures waste is removed regularly and more frequently as needed; participates and actively engages in safety and BRL operations meetings; and
• Proactively works with building occupants and safety personnel to understand the critical needs and risk of losses associated with the research performed in each area of the building.

Supervise Facilities Staff:

• Provides leadership and guidance to employees;
• Sets goals for employees and ensure that goals are met;
• Trains and updates staff on operation of the BRL and associated equipment;
• Creates, updates, and develops training materials;
• Leads and/or assists with coordination or training sessions;
• Maintains training documentation;
• Leads, motivates, and supervises facilities staff;
• Applies knowledge of principles, methods, and equipment relating to steam generation, refrigeration, mechanical and electrical requirements in training;
• Maintains schedule to ensure continuity of facility services during business hours and coordinates on-call schedule; and
• Approves timesheets by university deadlines and conducts annual performance evaluations.

Other related duties as assigned. Supports the Sr. Director of Facilities Management in completing other related duties and reports as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Vocational or technical training in related field;
• Professional licensing in aligned trade areas;
• Substantial experience in the maintenance and operation of a highly technical facility such as hospital, research facility or similar;
• Significant experience in managing multiple projects and tasks simultaneously;
• Significant experience with the facility requirements of animal laboratories and biocontainment facilities;
• Supervisory experience, demonstrated experience planning, scheduling, and supervising complex maintenance projects;
• A well-rounded background in all the building trades;
• Experience with high pressure steam boilers;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems;
• Skill in problem solving and critical thinking associated with HVAC, Electricity, Plumbing; and other building maintenance;
• Demonstrated skill in leadership;
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to engage with a diverse group of people;
• Demonstrated computer skills including Microsoft word, Excel, software for building equipment and control systems, familiarity with programmable logic controllers; basic computer hardware troubleshooting skills;
• Ability to coordinate a large building and/or grounds program;
• Ability to effectively read and interpret blueprints, construction plans and written specifications;
• Ability to estimate building costs and project timelines;
• The incumbent must be willing and able to gain BSL3 access, which includes passing an FBI background check; and
• Must have a valid driver's license; must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Significant experience at an assistant director level or above, at a hospital, research facility or other biocontainment facility;
• Knowledge of project management and master level knowledge of HVAC systems;
• HVAC Journeyman license, preferred; and
• Facilities Management Professional (FMP) or Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP), and Project management professional (PMP) certification preferred.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director of Facilities and Maintenance at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and provide a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Posting Open Date: November 10, 2023

For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 29, 2023

Open Until Filled?:  Yes