"Facilities and Operations Director"

Job Details

Department: University Libraries

Duties & Responsibilities:

VCU Libraries supports learning, research, and creativity across Virginia Commonwealth University. With locations at James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Health Sciences Library on the MCV Campus, we help students, faculty, and staff access the information, spaces, and services they need to succeed. Our team values collaboration, innovation, and service, creating an environment where ideas thrive and learning flourishes.

We’re seeking a Facilities and Operations Director at VCU Libraries. The position ensures that the James Branch Cabell Library is a safe, welcoming, and high-functioning environment that supports the academic, research, and community engagement missions of VCU Libraries. This position leads daily facilities operations; oversees shipping, receiving, and cross-campus library delivery; manages facilities-related vendor and campus partner relationships; and plays a key role in space planning, communications, and project coordination. The Director also represents VCU Libraries in facilities-related conversations and planning with internal and external stakeholders, and significantly shapes the user experience of those using Cabell Library’s physical spaces. This role also serves as facilities manager for 500 Academic Centre, an off-site collections storage location several blocks from Cabell Library.

The Facilities and Operations Director reports to the Associate Dean for Research and Learning and supervises a team of full-time and part-time employees. The successful candidate will bring a strong service ethic, exceptional communication and organizational skills, facilities and operations expertise, and a collaborative spirit to this important leadership role.

This position leads day-to-day facilities operations for Cabell Library and 500 Academic Centre by overseeing building maintenance, environmental safety, and space improvements in partnership with VCU Facilities Management and other campus stakeholders. This role responds to and triages facilities related service requests, maintains a cyclical schedule of activities to keep library spaces safe and functional, and coordinates tasks such as window washing, wall cleaning, repairs, and furniture upkeep. The Director also leads the Facilities team’s collaboration and coordination with the university’s housekeeping contract, ensuring a clean and safe space.

The position manages access systems including keys and card-swipe permissions and oversees mail services and materials transport between library locations. It also supports strategic planning and project management by serving as the primary liaison for small- to medium- scale facilities related projects, renovations, and space reconfigurations, and by representing VCU Libraries in discussions with architects, contractors, and university officials.

The role contributes to long-term planning for the evolution of library spaces. The position also enhances user experience through collaboration with colleagues on signage, wayfinding, and other public facing messaging. Additionally, it helps create accessible and engaging learning environments through thoughtful space design. The Director plays a key role in internal communications related to facilities. The position supervises a team of full-time and part-time facilities staff, fostering professionalism, responsiveness, and continuous improvement, and coordinating training and development opportunities to support employee growth.

This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Director will generally work within regular business hours, but will sometimes be required to work early mornings, late evenings, and weekends, sometimes at short notice to address emergencies.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience managing facilities and operations in a large, complex building or organization
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Strong customer service orientation
• Strong problem-solving abilities, organizational skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities
• Supervisory experience and/or demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate a team
• Demonstrated ability to use office software programs and technologies to support project management, communications, and documentation
• Valid driver’s license
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Familiarity with project management principles and tools
• Creative mindset and interest in space design, aesthetics, or user experience
• Experience working in a library, museum, other cultural organizations, and/or higher education

Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: No

University Job Title: Administrator FM 1-3