Executive Director of Facilities and Security - National Louis University

Overview:

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What We Offer:

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Benefits.

What You Will Do:

The Executive Director of Facilities and Security will manage the overall operation of the Chicago campus facilities of NLU including all aspects of the facility operation and maintenance thereof. This includes management of the facility technicians, oversight of the building's Common Area Maintenance services provided to NLU, planning and management to budget and deadlines of all capital projects undertaken by the University, making sure deferred maintenance is cared for as appropriate, necessary building services are provided, and operations are open as needed for the classes and events. The position must provide leadership and direction in all aspects of administrating a physical plant department, including long and short-range directives and plans. Position is also responsible for the management of the Universitys Security and Emergency Response teams, management of the space scheduling function and the management of the Universitys efficient space utilization.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Ensures that facilities are maintained and secured to provide the Universitys faculty, students, staff, and administrators with the environment and functionality required to perform at the highest levels of achievement.
• Collaborates with senior leadership to identify and prioritize campus needs and improvements to support growth and operational efficiency. Has overall responsibility for space deployment and ensuring appropriate space utilization.
• Provides strategic leadership, with a particular emphasis on data informed priority setting, resource deployment, and performance management.
• Provides leadership and guidance to the department; reviews and evaluates the performance of overall unit and staff, sets performance measures, oversees hiring for all department employees. Responsible for developing a culture characterized by customer service, transparency, and accountability, while building morale and sense of shared purpose.
• Ensures strong project management and oversight of all capital and maintenance projects, delivery high-quality, on-time and on-budget results.
• Serves as the Universitys Emergency Response Coordinator and has overall oversight of the security and emergency response function of the University.
• Negotiates effectively for the University, ensuring the best possible terms and results from architects, contractors, and vendors.
• Plans and provides services in the event of unexpected problems due to accidents, sever weather, utility outages, or other unplanned situations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing facilities over multiple states (in Higher Education or other similarly complex organization) including responsibilities for building maintenance and operations, security, staff development and management. Must have a clear working understanding of utilities in a campus or office building environment with knowledge of the crucial interrelationships between utilities, master planning, facilities, strategic planning and sustainability
• At least 5 years of experience in leading organizational change and a proven record of creating a facilities organization committed to optimizing operations, providing quality services, and delivery services in a cost effective, efficient manner
• Several years developing and implementing business processes and systems that enable high-quality service delivery
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with construction and renovation management, including deep technical expertise and knowledge / appreciation of high-quality and environmentally sensitive design
• Several years of experience creating internal and external service level agreements and successful participation in negotiations with diverse constituencies including contract
• Clear working understanding of utilities in a campus environment with knowledge of the crucial interrelationships between utilities, master planning, facilities, planning and sustainability, preferred

Competencies:

• Project Management - Manages each stage of a project to ensure that commitments are met in a manner that is timely and within budget. Clearly defines roles and responsibilities, determines necessary resources, and monitors project performance through appropriate systems and procedures
• Safety - Makes sure to understand every safety practice expected by the organization. Takes no shortcuts that increases the risks of accidents, personal injuries or equipment failures. Looks for unsafe practices in the workplace and takes responsibility to ensure that others are aware of the potential impact
• Customer Service Focus - Recognizes that all educational institutions have customer-stakeholders (e.g., students, parents or guardians of students, groups that fund activities, etc.), and that each of these customers is entitled to have a say. Reaches out to customers to keep them informed, solicit their questions, and invite suggestions or feedback. Treats all customer-stakeholders with courtesy and respect. Makes good-faith efforts to meet customer expectations, yet is also willing to be candid with customers if their expectations are unrealistic.
• Budgeting - Creates and adheres to realistic budgets in a manner that helps achieve the organizations objectives. Tracks expenses against the budget frequently enough to make adjustments at the optimum time. Communicates budget concerns and adjustments to all appropriate stakeholders so that they can adapt their plans and expectations.
• Communication Skills - Communicates effectively and appropriately. Uses good judgment as to what to communicate to whom as well as the best way to get that accomplished. Speaks in a clear and credible manner, selecting the right tone for the situation and audience. Listens to others and allows them to make their point.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Special Instructions:

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)

NLU Employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form