Lehigh University

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University provides comprehensive benefits including partner benefits.

Lehigh University's campus is more than a backdrop to academic life, it's a living, working environment that shapes the experience of thousands of students, faculty, and staff every day. As Senior Director of Facilities Operations, you will be the senior leader responsible for sustaining and advancing that environment across 165 buildings, 5 million gross square feet, and more than 1,600 acres in the heart of the Lehigh Valley.

Position Number: S89840

This position is a Grade: 13 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $136,340-$165,880 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans for facilities maintenance, operations, utilities, grounds, and organizational structure, while overseeing the solicitation and management of major external service provider contracts.
• Supervise and direct an integrated department of 48 exempt and non-exempt staff (including 3 direct reports), with a strong focus on cultivating trade competencies, professional growth, and internal advancement.
• Analyze and forecast data-supported budget requests for all buildings, grounds, utilities, and snow removal activities, managing expenditures to strictly align with an operations budget exceeding $30M.
• Develop, maintain, and execute long-term plant preservation (deferred maintenance) plans for academic, residential, and athletic facilities, managing an additional annual allocation of $9M to $11M.
• Lead procurement and selection processes alongside university counsel, enforce strict performance metrics, and collaborate closely with vendors to proactively scale operations for adverse events.
• Formulate and manage the multi-year capital plan for deferred maintenance and infrastructure improvements while overseeing the procurement of consultants, vendors, and contractors in strict alignment with university policies.
• Establish and execute long-term renewal and replacement plans for utility infrastructure while overseeing short- and long-term commodity purchases to maximize resources and mitigate the cost impact of adverse weather.
• Develop and lead comprehensive strategies to reduce energy intensity, conserve water, minimize waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions through targeted facilities sustainability initiatives.
• Propose and advance alternative energy, campus electrification, and demand-management initiatives to modernize university energy use and support long-term environmental goals.
• Coordinate day-to-day operations and plant preservation projects with the Planning, Design + Construction (PD+C) team, identifying early-stage projects that require design input and providing accurate as-built drawings to ensure seamless project execution.
• Provide critical technical and operational feedback on all interior, exterior, and infrastructure aspects of major projects, contributing directly to the creation of university design standards to guarantee long-term maintainability and efficiency.
• Coordinate directly with regulatory, government, and utility agencies regarding campus operations, while serving as the primary source of accurate, timely facilities information for the university community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical or Civil)
• At least eight years of related work experience
• Professional engineering license preferred
• Proven senior leadership experience in facilities, operations, or campus/property management at significant scale
• Demonstrated ability to manage capital projects and infrastructure programs within complex institutional environments
• Strong working knowledge of regulatory compliance, building codes, and environmental standards
• Experience developing operational strategies that balance service quality with fiscal responsibility