Scheduled Hours

40

Position Summary

The Director of Facilities Engineering & Maintenance provides strategic, university‑wide leadership for engineering and maintenance operations across the campus and its satellite locations. Reporting to the Executive Director of Facilities Engineering and working within the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor, the Director is accountable for the technical, financial, contractual, and performance management dimensions of facilities engineering and maintenance within a complex, decentralized environment.

This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, safety, and resilience of mission‑critical infrastructure while overseeing RFP development, service contract administration, procurement and policy compliance, performance reporting, and staff accountability. The Director leads with a disciplined, transparent approach to governance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, advancing a culture grounded in strong core values, collaboration, and team‑based accountability.

The ideal candidate will be a licensed Mechanical Engineer with a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in facilities engineering and maintenance leadership, demonstrating exceptional communication skills and proven success in high‑performance, mission‑driven organizations.

Job Description

Engineering, Maintenance & Operational Leadership

• Leads engineering and maintenance programs supporting campus‑wide MEP, life‑safety, utilities, research, animal, and other critical facilities.

• Establishes clear performance expectations, reliability targets, and service standards for in‑house teams and contracted services.

• Ensures safe, compliant, and resilient operations through disciplined maintenance planning and operational readiness.

• Partners with Capital Projects to ensure seamless transition and integration of new assets into operations and maintenance.

Financial Stewardship & Policy Compliance

• Develops, manages, and monitors operating and renewal budgets in alignment with University financial policies.

• Maintains appropriate segregation of duties, documentation, approvals, and financial controls.

• Supports audits, reviews, and institutional compliance activities related to facilities engineering and maintenance.

• Ensures staff are trained and held accountable for adherence to financial, purchasing, safety, and operational policies.

Renewal, Risk, Business Continuity & Emergency Management

• Leads infrastructure renewal planning and risk prioritization across campus systems.

• Integrates engineering considerations into Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and Emergency Management programs.

• Serves in an incident leadership or technical advisory role during facility or utility‑related emergencies; participates in after‑action reviews and implements corrective actions.

Procurement, RFPs & Contract Management

• Leads or oversees RFPs, scopes of work, evaluation criteria, and selection processes for engineering and maintenance services.

• Manages and administers service contracts, ensuring clear scopes, performance expectations, deliverables, and compliance with University policies, laws, and regulations.

• Partners with Procurement, Finance, Legal, and Risk Management on contract execution, amendments, renewals, and dispute resolution.

• Holds vendors and consultants accountable through service‑level monitoring, documented performance reviews, and corrective action processes.

Performance Management, Reporting & Transparency

• Establishes and maintains performance metrics for engineering systems, maintenance programs, vendors, and staff.

• Prepares regular reports for leadership (Executive Director, AVC, and others) including:
         • System reliability and risk indicators
         • Renewal and deferred maintenance status
         • Vendor performance and contract compliance
         • Budget and cost performance

• Uses performance data to drive continuous improvement and informed planning and investment decisions.

Training, Knowledge Transfer & Capability Building

• Ensures staff are trained in:
         • Contract management and RFP processes
         • University financial and purchasing policies
         • Safety, compliance, and emergency response procedures
         • Engineering standards and best practices

• Promotes cross‑training and knowledge transfer to strengthen team resilience and succession planning.

• Mentors and coaches developing leaders; supports professional registration pathways and ongoing professional development.

Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Risk Management

• Serves as a technical authority for environmental, utility, and safety compliance.

• Ensures adherence to permitting requirements, audits, and inspections related to air, water, waste, and energy systems.

• Represents the University in interactions with regulatory agencies as needed.

People Leadership, Culture & Accountability

• Leads a diverse, multi‑level team with varied technical and professional competencies.

• Fosters a culture of personal and team accountability, safety, and customer service aligned with PRIDE+ values.

• Conducts regular performance evaluations, goal setting, and development planning; addresses performance gaps through coaching, corrective action, and process improvement.

• Models a team‑based, collaborative leadership style, reinforcing shared ownership of outcomes.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Organizational Leadership

• Operates as a collaborative partner across Planning, Capital Projects, EHS, Finance, Procurement, Research, and Academic leadership.

• Translates complex engineering, financial, and contractual issues into decision‑ready information for executives.

• Advises senior leadership on operational impact, regulatory requirements, and infrastructure needs.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.

• High noise environment.

• Dust, dirt, grease or other disagreeable elements.

• Alternative work schedule as regular part of job (on-call, shifts, evening, weekends).

• Requires extensive safety training.

• On-Call.

• Exposure to chemicals.

• Requires protective devices.

• Occasional lifting (< 25 lbs.).

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at desk or table.

• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement.

• Ability to travel to various on- and off-campus locations.

Equipment

• Exposure to moving machinery.

• Office equipment.

• Operate a motor vehicle.

• Simple hand tools.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Relevant Institution Of Similar Size And Complexity (10 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A Class E (MO) or Class D (IL) license and a good driving record are required for this position.

More About This Job

WashU Medicine has retained ZRG Partners to conduct an executive search for the Director of Facilities Engineering & Maintenance. To learn more about the search process, please contact Rick Nawoczynski at rnawoczynski@zrgpartners.com. However, all interested applicants must also apply through this site. Thank you.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

Professional Engineer (PE) - National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (15 Years)

Skills:

Collaborative Leadership, Continuous Improvement Approach, Contracts, Executive Communications, Facilities Development, Facilities Operations, Financial Acumen, Interpersonal Communication, Operational Plans, Oral Communications, Organizational Values, Performance Leadership, Policy Implementation, Risk Mitigation Strategies, Strategic Planning, Team Accountability, Written Communication

Grade

G17

Salary Range

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.