Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services, Campus Life - Student Services and Housing

About the role

The Department of Student Services and Housing within the Division of Student Affairs and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater seeks a Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services, Campus Life.

Job Duties

• Serve as a key member of the Campus Life leadership team, contributing to the strategic direction and operational management of auxiliary operations.
• Provide senior leadership and strategic oversight for facilities operations supporting University Housing, Dining Services, the University Center, and related auxiliary facilities.
• Collaborate with Campus Life leaders to align maintenance priorities, operational needs, and service delivery expectations with student experience goals and auxiliary performance objectives.
• Represent Auxiliary Services in campus operational planning and infrastructure discussions.
• Ensure timely response to service requests and operational issues.
• Coordinate emergency response and after-hours facilities coverage as required.
• Establish and maintain operational policies, procedures, and service standards.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, safety, and continuous improvement.

Campus Life Facilities Operations

• Direct the daily operation and maintenance of assigned Campus Life facilities, including residence halls, dining facilities, the university center, and related support facilities.
• Ensure facilities are maintained to support student satisfaction, occupancy readiness, customer service standards, and operational continuity.
• Collaborate with Housing, Dining, Student Affairs, and auxiliary services leadership to ensure high-quality operational support services.

Facilities Operations & Systems Management

• Ensure reliable operation of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life-safety, and related building systems within assigned Campus Life facilities.
• Oversee preventive maintenance programs and operational work management processes.
• Provide executive oversight of the TMA work order management system to ensure efficient service delivery, accurate tracking, reporting, and data-informed decision-making.
• Monitor service requests, maintenance response times, preventive maintenance completion, and operational performance metrics.
• Coordinate operational support during emergencies, severe weather events, utility interruptions, and operational disruptions.
• Identify operational efficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance service quality and resource utilization.

Financial & Operational Management

• Develop and manage departmental operating budgets for Campus Life facilities and custodial services.
• Monitor expenditures, staffing resources, contracts, materials, and operational costs.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of institutional resources and assigned facilities assets.
• Review operational and financial data to support informed decision-making and service improvements.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies while maintaining service standards.
• Provide operational input and facility condition information to support institutional planning efforts.

Leadership & Workforce Development

• Directly supervise facilities maintenance, custodial services, skilled trades, and building systems personnel supporting assigned Campus Life facilities.
• Recruit, mentor, develop, and evaluate supervisory, technical, and support staff.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for assigned personnel.
• Promote employee engagement, teamwork, and professional development opportunities.
• Support workforce training, safety education, certification programs, and compliance initiatives.
• Participate in labor relations activities and ensure compliance with applicable personnel policies and collective bargaining agreements, if applicable.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, ADA, environmental, fire/life safety, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Promote safe work practices and maintain a strong culture of workplace safety.
• Oversee inspections, audits, corrective action initiatives, and regulatory reporting activities.
• Collaborate with campus leadership, public safety personnel, and external agencies during emergency response activities.

Contract & Vendor Management

• Oversee procurement and administration of operational service contracts, maintenance agreements, and vendor partnerships related to assigned Campus Life facilities.
• Evaluate contractor performance and ensure compliance with institutional standards, timelines, and service expectations.
• Collaborate with procurement and finance departments regarding purchasing activities and contract administration.
• Ensure vendors and contractors comply with institutional safety and operational requirements.

Sustainability & Operational Efficiency

• Support institutional sustainability initiatives through energy conservation, waste reduction, and efficient operational practices within Campus Life facilities.
• Monitor utility usage and operational performance to identify opportunities for improved efficiency.
• Promote environmentally responsible practices within facilities and custodial operations.
• Support sustainability reporting and compliance initiatives as assigned.

Customer Service & Campus Relations

• Maintain strong working relationships with Housing, Dining, Student Affairs, auxiliary services leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Ensure responsive customer service and timely resolution of operational concerns.
• Communicate effectively regarding operational issues, service interruptions, and facilities-related initiatives.
• Support a positive residential and campus life experience through effective facilities and custodial operations.
• Foster collaborative partnerships that support student success, campus engagement, and institutional priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Reviews work place health and safety expectations with employees and provides instruction as needed.
• Develops priorities and implementation strategies for creating custodial and maintenance standards, schedules, and labor requirements for routine and emergency repairs, housekeeping, preventative maintenance programs, grounds work, warehouse functions, renovations, and capital improvement projects.
• Determines and directs standards for routine and preventative work orders, warehouse/purchasing tracking, building and grounds projects, and use of automated maintenance.
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Develops and fosters a working relationship with university and state professional architects and engineers, project managers, building construction superintendents, and outside contractors while representing staff and residents.
• Develops and audits the unit budget.
• Directs the planning and scheduling of building maintenance and remodeling activities, incorporating operational requirements and priorities.