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
Why Lehigh
Lehigh University combines the rigorous intellectual culture of a leading research institution with a genuine commitment to the people who keep it running. This role sits at the intersection of strategic planning and hands-on operational delivery with real authority to shape how one of Pennsylvania's most distinctive campuses functions for decades to come. You'll be supported by a university that invests in its workforce through strong benefits, generous leave provisions, retirement contributions above standard benchmarks, and meaningful professional development opportunities. The collaborative culture here means your work will be visible, valued, and consequential. Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.
Special Considerations
- This position has fiscal or financial responsibilities other than employee expense activity, such as processing or approving transactions; monitoring or preparing budgets; or generating income for University; therefore a credit check is required.
- This position is responsible for driving University-owned vehicles as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver’s License and a good driving record is required.
- This position is considered Essential Services Staff; Essential Services Staff are required to report to campus and remain during inclement weather and other emergency situations; they are defined as those needed to deliver student services and maintain campus facilities, campus safety and security.
Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.
Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety. Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.
