Job Details

Associate Director, Physical Plant Operations

Position Number: 6129112
Location: Denver, CO
Position Type: Facilities Management

Associate Director, Physical Plant Operations
Regis University

R004662
Northwest Denver CampusThornton Campus

Working at Regis University

As Regis employees, we embrace our Jesuit Catholic values of respect, inclusion and equity, and welcome employees, faculty and students from all faiths and cultures. Together, we perform our duties in alignment with the mission of the University and seek dedicated individuals to contribute to and strengthen that mission and our service to students. Why Work at Regis?

Job Summary:
The purpose of this position is to support the University mission by efficiently utilizing available human and financial resources to maintain a high standard of comfort, safety, health and aesthetics in both outdoor and indoor environments. This role is responsible for directing, managing, supervising, and assisting other senior level managers within the Physical Plant at Regis University, a Jesuit institution of higher education, to ensure the ongoing planning, care, and development of the University's physical infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include providing immediate and continuous oversight of the Physical Plant's various divisions including Structural, Utilities (HVAC), Plumbing, Electrical, Lock-shop, Vehicle Fleet, Arboretum and Landscape management. This role also involves negotiating and managing annual maintenance and performance contracts with vendors, overseeing capital and deferred maintenance projects, and ensuring routine inspections are conducted.

In alignment with the Regis University mission, this role fosters a well-maintained, safe, and sustainable campus environment that supports the holistic development of students, faculty, and staff, embodying the Jesuit values of service, excellence, and care for the whole person.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Broad Oversight & Staff Management

Provides comprehensive consultation, instruction, and management to full time supervisors, managers, superintendents, specialists, work trades staff, and student employees in the various Physical Plant divisions. This includes overseeing both in-house and contracted teams, ensuring that regular communication, observations, and inspections are conducted to verify work meets established standards. Regular assessment of campus infrastructure, buildings and landscapes identify any shortfalls, prompt immediate corrective actions, and help plan future maintenance needs.

Arboretum Management

Oversee the care and maintenance of the Arboretum, ensuring that all accessioned tree species are maintained according to established policies and procedures. Responsibilities include managing the arboretum budget, ensuring data records are current and accessible, updating signage and promotional materials, and providing educational tours. This role guarantees that the Arboretum continues to meet accreditation standards by effectively managing both in-house and contracted landscaping teams, work studies, and volunteers.

Project Management

Directs and, when necessary, personally manage up to 50 capital deferred maintenance, and improvement projects annually, as financial resources allow, to occur in all areas, trades and maintenance divisions of the Physical Plant. Ensure projects are completed within approved budgets and timelines, and in compliance with design, safety, and aesthetic standards. Additionally, maintain an organized archive of project documents, building plans, and related records for current and future reference.

Regulatory Compliance

Collaborate with the Director of Operations, and the Assistant Director, Environmental Health and Safety Officer, to ensure all activities within the Physical Plant, including those in the Arboretum, comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Oversee the scheduling and documentation of testing, inspections, permit fees, and hazardous material management. Support accident prevention, conduct investigations when necessary, and ensure that safety training is provided to all staff, upholding safety as the top priority for the campus community.

Snow Removal

Oversee and at times directly manage and supervise the staff members engaged in snow removal activities, in accordance with the Snow Removal Policy. This includes coordinating in-house and contracted teams, ensuring that detailed accurate records of each storm's resource use and costs are maintained. Serve as an on-call administrative staff member on the regular rotation averaging coverage approximately once a month - a week at a time.

Event Support & Facility Preparation

Ensures all campus facilities are prepared for upcoming events by coordinating the installation of temporary electrical, lighting, HVAC, access control, structural elements, landscaping, hardscapes, and other necessary assets. This role involves directing event staff during set-up and teardown, as well as managing emergency responses and ensuring crowd and litter control measures are in place.

Design & Innovation Oversight

Act as a consultant and manager for new design initiatives and renovations. Ensure that new landscape, hardscape, and exterior building projects align with the campus's aesthetic vision. Oversee the design and construction of renovation projects, working closely with architects, engineers, and contractors, and facilitate the seamless transition of completed projects into routine maintenance operations.

Working Conditions:

This role extends well beyond the typical office environment. Work is performed year-round outdoors, often in extreme hot or cold weather, as well as in windy, rainy, or snowy conditions. It also involves indoor settings such as attics, basements, crawlspaces, and electrical or mechanical rooms, where conditions can be hot, humid, cramped, loud, dark, and crowded. Mechanical rooms may be cold, wet, and offer unstable footing, while other work areas can be continuously noisy, dusty, and dirty. Similar conditions may be encountered in building crawlspaces and basements, and high temperatures are a concern during summer rooftop work or when operating on turf and athletic fields during planning meetings.

The position may require weekend and evening hours for event support and on-call emergency response, including a full weekend commitment during the university commencement period. Occasional local, regional, or national travel may also be necessary. Work will frequently require inspections and tasks at heights, utilizing ladders, scaffolding, and aerial lift platforms. Additionally, vacation time may be limited during peak periods (primarily April through October). To meet the University's needs, work schedules may be modified on a temporary or permanent basis with little advance notice.

This position requires you to work on-campus.

Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor's degree, from an accredited institution in a related field. Master's or other advanced degree preferred.
Proficiency in operating common trade machinery under all weather conditions.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and work on technical documents including irrigation and landscape blueprints, construction plans, equipment schematics, and wiring diagrams etc.

Licenses or Certifications

A valid Colorado driver's license with an excellent driving record, meeting Regis University insurance criteria. Required for operating university vehicles during severe snow removal operations and for travel to off-campus meetings, parts pickups, and training sessions.
Candidates with current certifications, or demonstrated expertise, in the following areas are highly preferred: CAD software operation, Landscape and Irrigation Design and Maintenance, ISA Certified Arborist License, Urban Forestry Management and Care, Certified Facility Professional Credentials, Plant and Turf Grass Maintenance, State Pesticide Applicators License, or Project Management Certification.

Experience

A minimum of 8 years of combined experience in roles such as lead-worker, supervisor, exempt management level experience, or project management.
Experience should include fields like construction management, HVAC, structural, electrical maintenance/ construction, landscape design, facility maintenance, or related project design.
Strong proficiency in Information technology, including the use of software for business operations, documentation of risk and liability, tracking facility operations data, managing project records and documenting maintenance tasks and crew performance.
Preferred: 3 years of additional experience acting in the role of a senior level facility management position that includes demonstrated knowledge of business and management principles, involvement in strategic planning, performance contract creation and implementation, resource allocation, human resources modeling, use of various leadership techniques, safety awareness and training, production standard and methods, and a high-level of coordination of people and resources.

Special knowledge, skills, abilities

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
Proven expertise in servant leadership, active listening, and a commitment to serving others.
Strong negotiation skills and experience managing conflict and resolving contract disputes
Ability to analyze and address training and employee development needs, including interpreting and advising on the application of EEO laws
Proven ability to motivate teams to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines and budgets while managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Skilled at facilitating group meetings and anticipating the impact of decisions on various stakeholders.
Adept at quickly navigating and switching between multiple trade activities, topics or information sources with precision and efficiency.

Regis University offers a broad range of benefits that includes:

Comprehensive group health insurance, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance.
A generous tuition benefit for employees, spouses and dependents
Paid Mission leave to allow our employees to engage in acts of service or to have time for personal reflection.
The "Gift of Time" when Regis closes between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Options for flexible work arrangements based on position.

You can learn more about our benefits by clicking the links below.

Benefits Guide - Fiscal year 24-25 or

https://www.regis.edu/_documents/about/offices-and-services/human-resources/regis-university-employee-benefits-guide.pdf

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please submit a resume, cover letter and list of references with your application. Current employees, please submit an application by logging into Workday. Click on the Career Worklet and access the internal site.

This position will remain open until filled with a priority application deadline of April 21st, 2025.

Pay Rate:
$74,000 - $80,100 annually commensurate with qualifications

Application Deadline:
Post Internally and Externally

To apply, visit https://regis.wd501.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/RegisUniversity/job/Northwest-Denver-Campus/Associate-Director--Physical-Plant-Operations_R004662.

Since 1877, Regis University has been using our Jesuit background to provide an education for men and women of all ages and faiths and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission: A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Inspired by St. Ignatius Loyola, the mission of Regis University is to educate men and women of all ages to make a positive impact in a rapidly-changing global society. We encourage our students to seek truth, live purposeful lives, and continually examine and attempt to answer the question: "How ought we to live?"