Assistant Vice President of Operations

About the Role

The Assistant Vice President of Operations (Asst. VP) serves as a key member of the University Facilities’ senior leadership team, providing strategic leadership and oversight for the repair, maintenance, and operations of the university’s physical facilities. This role supports a dynamic, research-intensive institution with three distinct campuses—North, South, and Downtown—comprising over 110 buildings, including historic and modern structures. The Asst. VP reports directly to the Associate Vice President of University Facilities and leads a workforce of 500–600 unionized employees across approximately 13 million gross square feet and 600 acres of grounds.

University Facilities encompasses Capital Planning, Campus Planning, Design & Construction, Environment Health & Safety, Energy Management & Decarbonization, Facilities Finance, Facilities Operations, and Real Estate & Property Management. The Asst. VP oversees departments including skilled trades, utilities operations, warehouse and storeroom management, customer service, fleet operations, grounds maintenance, and custodial services.

This position is designated as on-site only and is ineligible for remote or telecommuting arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive operations strategy aligned with institutional and departmental priorities and research needs.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and service excellence in a dynamic, demanding environment.
• Operational Oversight
  • Direct and manage skilled trades, utilities operations, grounds, fleet, warehouse operations, and custodial services across three campuses.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable codes, regulations, and safety standards.
  • Oversee reactive, preventive, and predictive maintenance programs for critical infrastructure.
• Emergency Response & Continuity
  • Establish and maintain emergency response plans for facilities-related incidents, including power outages, weather events, and critical system failures, in coordination with the Environment, Health, and Safety team.
  • Ensure teams are trained and equipped to respond promptly to emergencies at any time.
  • Maintain continuous operational coverage and organizational readiness for 24/7/365 response, including emergencies, with accountability for leadership presence as needed.
• Performance Management
  • Establish, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and tools for data visualization and performance tracking for all operational areas.
  • Conduct root cause analysis for recurring issues and implement corrective actions.
  • Drive continuous improvement through benchmarking and best practices.
• Process Development
  • Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all functional areas.
  • Draft and manage Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) and Service Level Agreements with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop, interpret, negotiate, and implement University-wide facilities operations policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with strategic objectives.
• Financial & Resource Management
  • Manage an annual operating budget of approximately $45 million, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with institutional goals.
  • Inform the Director of Capital Planning & Deferred Maintenance of capital-related maintenance needs.
  • Optimize resource allocation for labor, materials, and equipment.
  • Maintain appropriate oversight of related service and maintenance contracts in conjunction with Central Procurement.
• Employee Relations & Workforce Management
  • Promote professional development, engagement, and retention strategies for staff at all levels.
  • Coordinate with Human Resources / Employee Relations to manage complex relations issues, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements.

About the University at Buffalo

The University at Buffalo (UB) is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for excellence and impact. UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence, with research, creative activity, and people positively impacting the world. Like the city it calls home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking, and pragmatic dreaming.

Benefits

The University at Buffalo prioritizes employee well-being and success, offering a comprehensive benefits package to enhance every aspect of life.