"Rice Rivers Center Operations Manager"

Job Details

Unit: College of Humanities & Sciences MBU

Department: Rice Rivers Center, School of Life Sci & Sustainability

The Rice Rivers Center seeks an onsite Operations Manager to support the daily operations of VCU’s only academic field station. The Rice Rivers Center encompasses 366 acres of forest, streams, and wetlands, and is home to multiple buildings, road and trail networks, and extensive mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure. The successful applicant will coordinate and support the maintenance, repair, and servicing of facilities, infrastructure, and vehicles. In addition, the operations manager will schedule and coordinate guest visits and mail deliveries, and support onsite research activities requiring the use of Rice Rivers Center infrastructure and grounds. The operations manager will partner with an onsite data manager and VCU Technology Services to maintain network connectivity and coordinate with the Offices of Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Services to develop and implement emergency management and lab safety protocols.

This position will be based at the Center in Charles City County and will report to the Assistant Director.

Virginia Commonwealth University is the premier urban, public research university in Virginia. VCU’s mission is to advance knowledge and student success through its commitments to an engaging learning environment, research that expands the boundaries of new knowledge, interdisciplinary collaborations that bring new perspectives to complex problems, health care that strives to preserve and restore health for all people, and promotes an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility, and sustainable university partnerships. VCU prohibits unlawful discrimination and is an equal opportunity employer.

The position falls under the Administrator classification within VCU’s General Administration job family. For additional details, please visit VCU Human Resources’ Job Family and Salary Ranges, here.

Application process: Please provide a cover letter, resume/CV, and a list of three professional references and their contact information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain and coordinate Rice Rivers Center scheduling and calendar of events
• Conduct tours for prospective users from within and outside the VCU community
• Provide event support services Implement check-in and check-out procedures for all users including review of emergency and security policies and procedures
• Assist with VCU Proxy card and front gate access for employees and guests
• Assist with OEHS compliance for research facilities including laboratories and field sites.
• Support emergency management protocol development and implementation
• Inspect and schedule housekeeping, maintenance, and inspection of buildings and grounds
• Stock and manage building, office, housekeeping, and laboratory/field equipment and supplies as required, including shipping and receiving
• In coordination with RRC researchers, assist with maintenance of research infrastructure including laboratory and field equipment and instrumentation.
• RRC Fleet management including scheduling vehicle use and maintenance
• May require being onsite some evenings and weekends

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Customer relation experience, including excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated experience to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU
• Basic competencies in facilities, infrastructure, and mechanical repair and maintenance
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with academic researchers, their collaborators, and external agencies to create, implement, and maintain infrastructure, policies and practices in the context of higher education
• Ability to work in the field, sometimes under difficult environmental conditions, including variable weather conditions
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in the natural sciences
• Prior work experience at a biological research or agricultural research field station
• Carpentry, electrical, mechanical, heavy machinery operation, or construction experience/training
• Experience in facilities management
• Experience on or around rivers or other large bodies of water including care, maintenance and operation of research vessels
• Administrative experience in an educational or research setting

Salary Range: $60,000 to $85,000

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: Fully Onsite

Contact Information: Contact Name: Dr. Ed Crawford
Contact Email: ercrawford@vcu.edu