The University of Chicago

Department

OPS Office VP Operations

About the Department

The Office of the Vice President for Operations supports the highest ambitions of the University’s teaching and learning, research, and engagement goals with the mandate to oversee enabling infrastructure of the University including the built environment, technology, and human resources organizations. In support of faculty, students, and staff, the Office of the Vice President for Operations prioritizes an exceptional level of service and delivery of robust business practices that steward the University’s infrastructure resources efficiently and contributes to the long-range planning and culture of the University.

Job Information

Job Summary:

The University of Chicago is seeking an Associate Vice President of Facilities Services to provide transformational strategic direction and visionary planning for the stewardship of the University’s 217-acre campus, comprised of 170 buildings and 18 million gross square feet, as well as other domestic and international sites. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Associate Vice President will shape and champion the long-term physical, operational, and service vision for Facilities, ensuring all activities are fully aligned with the University’s overarching academic and institutional goals. With oversight of a team of approximately 300 staff, the Associate Vice President will drive operational excellence and deliver robust, forward-looking strategies for capital projects, facilities operations, finance and business services, campus planning, and sustainability.

Responsibilities:

• Set and execute a comprehensive, visionary strategic plan for Facilities Services, aligning stewardship, modernization, and renewal with University priorities and sustainability.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders and external collaborators, integrating facilities planning and serving as a trusted advisor and ambassador for the University.
• Lead campus-wide planning, renewal, and modernization initiatives, ensuring alignment with mission, sustainability goals, and evolving needs.
• Oversee capital project delivery, construction, and renovation to ensure projects are innovative, sustainable, timely, cost-effective, and responsive to program and urban/environmental goals, with clear, transparent reporting.
• Conduct rigorous evaluations and transparent reporting of Facilities Services operations and performance, including actionable recommendations and clear rubrics aligned with University goals. Monitor and report on budget, financial performance, and service delivery.
• Clearly communicate goals, plans, and progress to staff and stakeholders. Foster transparency, accountability, and open dialogue in decision making and reporting.
• Lead fiscal responsibility, resource stewardship, sustainability, and continuous improvement in all operations and capital programs. Advance efficiency, technology, and best practices organization-wide.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, high-performing culture. Advocate for staff, attract, motivate, develop, and retain a diverse workforce. Lead and mentor senior management in achieving objectives.
• Maximize flexibility, responsiveness, and uphold high customer service standards for all internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent the University externally on facilities, planning, and development matters. Maintain and strengthen relationships with government agencies, unions, and other key partners.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Competencies:

• Visionary and strategic thinker, able to align Facilities Services with University teaching, research, and student life priorities.
• Insightful developer and motivator of high-performing, diverse leadership teams, fostering innovation and growth.
• Proven ability to conduct comprehensive operational evaluations using technology, data, and clear criteria for effectiveness, sustainability, financial stewardship, stakeholder satisfaction, and strategic alignment.
• Effective communicator, able to produce substantive reports with actionable recommendations, align partners and staff, and clearly present findings to internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrates rigor, transparency, and objectivity in evaluation, reporting, and communication.
• Effective collaborator, skilled at aligning stakeholders and partners throughout the institution.
• Exemplifies personal integrity, ethics, initiative, and emotional intelligence; displays sound judgment.
• Highly effective negotiator and proactive advocate for institutional interests.
• Strong customer service orientation, maximizing flexibility, responsiveness, stakeholder trust, and inspiring high performance.
• Expertise in process improvement, maintenance prioritization, cost control, risk reduction, energy conservation and planning, sustainable buildings and practices, change management, and cultural transformation.

Additional Responsibilities

Education, Experience, or Certifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in facilities leadership at large academic, healthcare, corporate, civic, government, or construction organizations required.
• Well-rounded experience and knowledge for managing Facilities Services and personnel required.
• Facilities leadership in operations including experience in optimizing maintenance processes required.
• Leadership in construction management, including experience having oversight of capital project delivery required.
• Demonstrated excellence in managing budgets and finances for capital projects and capital investments required.
• Deep knowledge of facilities and environmental planning and design preferred.
• Facilities leadership at a major research university and/or oversight of construction of a major scientific research facility preferred.
• Experience working in a unionized environment preferred.

Required Documents:

• Resume

The University of Chicago has retained ZRG Partners (www.zrgpartners.com) to support this recruitment. Joe Wargo (Managing Director) and Valerie Rohn (Managing Associate) are leading the search. Inquiries, applications, and nominations must be sent by email to Valerie Rohn (vrohn@zrgpartners.com). Please note all job seekers wishing to be considered for the position must also submit their materials through the University’s Workday site.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Senior Administrators

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$300,000.00 - $375,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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