Job Description

We are seeking a Director of Operations and Maintenance who will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and administrative direction for the comprehensive maintenance, repair, and operation of the Homewood Campus physical assets. The Director is responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, efficient, and customer-focused operation of all campus facilities through effective management of building systems, infrastructure, facilities support services, skilled trades, contract services, asset management programs, and maintenance operations.

The Director leads a diverse organization of union and non-union team members across the skilled trades shops, preventive maintenance, work management, and building services through multiple managers and supervisors while managing an annual operating budget of approximately $14 million and overseeing maintenance-related capital renewal projects totaling approximately $2 million annually. The Director reports to the Senior Director, Facilities Operations, and the specific shops and functions assigned may be adjusted to meet operational needs.

Working collaboratively with Design & Construction, academic leadership, administrative departments, and campus stakeholders, the Director develops operational strategies that maximize facility reliability, enhance customer service, improve energy efficiency, reduce deferred maintenance, and support the Johns Hopkins University's educational and research mission.

The Director serves as a key member of the Facilities leadership team and is responsible for fostering a culture centered on safety, accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, innovation, workforce development, and exceptional customer service.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic operational plans supporting Johns Hopkins University's mission and long-term facilities objectives.
• Develop and administer an annual operating budget of approximately $14 million.
• Oversee maintenance-related capital improvement projects totaling approximately $2 million annually.
• Establish departmental goals, performance metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational effectiveness.
• Lead organizational initiatives focused on operational excellence, customer service, reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop annual and multi-year operational plans supporting asset preservation and campus growth.
• Provide executive-level recommendations regarding operational risks, deferred maintenance, staffing, budgets, and capital renewal priorities.
• Lead comprehensive asset management programs to maximize lifecycle performance of campus infrastructure and building systems.
• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs utilizing CMMS technology.
• Own the work management process from service request through completion, including intake, planning and scheduling, prioritization, and backlog management, and hold the organization accountable to defined service standards.
• Direct the preventive maintenance program and the dedicated PM team to increase planned work and PM compliance across campus buildings.
• Serve as the primary operational leader for the skilled trades workforce, maintaining regular, visible engagement with team members and supervisors at the shop level.
• Develop long-range capital renewal priorities based on asset condition assessments.
• Conduct periodic facility inspections to validate asset conditions and maintenance priorities.
• Collaborate with Design & Construction throughout planning, design, construction, commissioning, and occupancy phases to ensure maintainability, operational efficiency, and lifecycle performance.
• Support commissioning, turnover, and warranty management for new construction and renovation projects.
• Develop long-term financial forecasts supporting capital renewal and infrastructure investment.
• Monitor expenditures, analyze operational costs, identify efficiencies, and implement cost-saving initiatives.
• Develop procurement strategies for outsourced maintenance and operational services.
• Lead contract negotiations and performance management for major service providers.
• Monitor contractor performance using established service level agreements and performance metrics.
• Ensure contractor compliance with Johns Hopkins University policies, safety requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a highly engaged workforce.
• Promote leadership development and succession planning throughout the organization.
• Foster an inclusive workplace that values collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Conduct performance evaluations and oversee merit recommendations for supervisory staff.
• Develop training programs supporting technical skills, leadership development, customer service, and safety.
• Promote employee engagement and continuous professional growth.
• Foster positive relationships with Human Resources, Labor Relations and the Union.
• Ensure compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Partner with Human Resources and Labor Relations regarding employee relations matters.
• Promote respectful workplace practices and conflict resolution.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and campus leadership.
• Establish customer service standards for operational performance.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and implement service improvements.
• Promote transparent communication with campus stakeholders regarding operational priorities and maintenance activities.
• Serve as the operational liaison for schools, departments, and administrative leadership.
• Review project designs for operational efficiency and maintainability.
• Ensure operational readiness for new and renovated facilities.
• Support lifecycle cost analyses during project development.
• Participate in major capital planning initiatives.
• Support University sustainability initiatives through efficient building operations.
• Promote energy conservation, water conservation, and utility optimization.
• Utilize Building Automation Systems to improve operational efficiency.
• Collaborate on initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve facility resilience.
• Support campus sustainability reporting and energy performance objectives.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, State, Federal, and local regulations.
• Promote a strong organizational safety culture.
• Maintain compliance with Johns Hopkins University Health, Safety and Environment standards.
• Support emergency preparedness, business continuity, and disaster response planning.
• Participate in emergency operations and response and serve as an essential employee as required.
• Promote effective use of CMMS technology and operational analytics.
• Utilize Building Automation Systems to improve building performance.
• Evaluate emerging technologies supporting predictive maintenance, smart buildings, and operational efficiency.
• Support data-driven decision making through operational dashboards and performance reporting.
• Benchmark operational performance against peer institutions.
• Participate as a member of the Facilities & Real Estate leadership team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Architecture, Business Administration, or a related technical field. Extensive experience may be substituted.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible facilities operations and maintenance experience, including,

oLeadership of large, complex maintenance organizations.

oSupervision of multiple managers and supervisors.

oManagement of union and non-union workforces.

oCapital renewal planning.

oBuilding automation systems.

oHigher education, healthcare, research, or institutional facilities preferred.

• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Technical qualifications and specialized certifications

• Must be computer literate and able to read and interpret plans, specifications, and technical manuals. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse constituencies and must possess strong communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Budget administration exceeding $10 million
• Contract administration
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
• Facilities Management Professional (FMP)
• APPA leadership training
• Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives
• Demonstrated success leading a represented (union) skilled-trades workforce in partnership with Labor Relations
• Experience implementing work management, planning and scheduling, or preventive maintenance programs

Classified Title: Director Operations & Maintenance

Role/Level/Range: L/04/LG

Starting Salary Range: $114,595 - $200,795 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)

Employee group: Full Time

Schedule: Monday - Friday

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: JH at Keswick

Department name: Plant Operations

Personnel area: University Administration