Operations Manager

The Howard Hughes name is synonymous with an unrelenting passion for excellence. While his achievements in aviation and the silver screen are legendary, it was his investments in real estate that form the foundation of our company.

With passion, determination and limitless imagination, he built one of the great American empires of the 20th century. At Howard Hughes, we live by our purpose to help people discover new ways of experiencing life - because it's not just buildings and places that matter, it's what you do with them that can change the way people live.

We aspire to be the most creatively driven real estate company in the world and we believe in fostering a culture that is built to last by cultivating curiosity and empowering every employee to find their story in this great organization.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Operations Manager for our Columbia, MD office reporting into Portfolio Manager, with a focus on engineering and maintenance to oversee our daily operations and lead our preventive maintenance programs.

The ideal candidate must have a strong background in engineering, facility management, and process optimization. You will be responsible for managing our engineering team, implementing effective maintenance programs, and ensuring the smooth operation of all facilities and systems.

The Operations Manager should establish strong and effective working relationships with our Property Managers and collaborate effectively to address tenant issues and concerns.

What You Will Do

Team Management :

Lead, mentor, and manage a team of 11 engineers and maintenance personnel.

Provide guidance and support to ensure optimal performance and professional development.

Coordinate engineering and maintenance projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

Address human resource issues according to company policies and senior general manager guidance.

Facility Management :

Develop and manage preventive maintenance programs for all facilities and equipment, ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to schedules.

Oversee the maintenance and repair of building systems such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.

Regularly inspect commercial areas for cleanliness and safety, and continuously seek improvements in operational processes to enhance efficiency and reduce downtime.

Implement a 5-year capital projects program for planning and execution.

Safety Compliance : Ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations. Conduct safety inspections and address any safety issues promptly.

Lead the response to facility emergencies and incidents, coordinating with relevant parties to ensure timely and effective resolution.

Immediately address and mitigate any safety issues that may result in increased risk to the property owner.

Supervise Risk Management and Emergency Planning procedures.

Administer all State and Federal required reports and safety documentation.

Financial :

Budget Management : Manage maintenance and operational budgets, monitoring expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

Accurately and thoroughly prepare and track the expense portion of forecasts and budgets.

Prepare and present reports on maintenance and operations performance, including key performance indicators and metrics.

Oversee third-party contracts such as janitorial, landscaping, security, parking, and mechanical services, following company procedures for RFPs, bidding, and contract processes.

Coordinate with accounting for timely invoice payments.

Customer Service :

Collaborate daily with property management, leasing, tenant coordination, development, construction, and marketing.

Manage contractor and vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and ensuring quality service.

Ensure that the customer experience for the tenants of Howard Hughes is positively impacted by the engineering team at every level.

Maintain open communication with senior management, departments, and stakeholders, providing updates on operational performance and challenges.

About You

Bachelor's degree in engineering, facilities management, or least 8-10 years of relevant job experience.

Proven experience in engineering, maintenance, or facilities management.

Prior leadership experience is required. Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and inspire teams to achieve goals. Exercise sound judgment when making decisions.

Strong technical knowledge of building systems, infrastructure, and maintenance programs.

Adept in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.

Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly.

Able to build strong collaborative working relationship with tenants and community.

Ability to adapt to changing business needs and environments.

Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies. Propose and implement innovative solutions to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

This job description is not meant to be an "all-inclusive" list of the duties and responsibilities of this job. Other related duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

Howard Hughes reserves the right to change or modify job duties as necessary based on business necessity.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES

Please note that Howard Hughes does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, HH will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee.

In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, HH explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.

Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Howard Hughes.