Senior Director -Trades Operations

About the Opportunity

Northeastern University's Planning, Real Estate and Facilities (PREF) division seeks a Senior Director of Trades Operations to support its ongoing growth and academic excellence.

Reporting to the Associate Vice-President of Facilities Operations, the Senior Director will oversee the maintenance and operations of the Massachusetts campuses, including direct supervision of Facilities trades shops covering carpentry / paint, lock, electric, mechanical / plumbing, HVAC, life safety, and signage.

Responsibilities include coordinating daily operations, small construction projects, and routine repairs, managing preventive maintenance and work order systems, and overseeing the shutdown request process and building management systems.

The Senior Director will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to integrate external vendor services and cultivate a culture of service, accountability, safety, and professional growth among trades employees.

Additional duties encompass planning, scheduling, and directing all trades departments' work, ensuring safety on construction sites, aligning facilities with compliance requirements and financial resources, managing physical plant resources, implementing safety processes, overseeing procurement processes, monitoring trade shop budgets, estimating job costs, and overseeing vendor selection to meet university requirements and MBE goals.

Minimum Qualifications :

A Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field preferred, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience desired.

Alternatively, a combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered in place of formal education. Possession of an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certificate, or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of hire, is required.

• Strong leadership skills, including prioritization, clear direction, and accountability.
• In-depth understanding of building systems and relevant codes.
• Exceptional organizational and interpersonal abilities.
• Proficiency in budgeting and financial reporting.
• Experience interpreting and enforcing policies and regulations.
• Skilled in developing procedures and supervising staff.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong communication skills across all levels.
• Quick learner with adaptability to new technologies.
• Experience with workflow configuration and CMMS.
• Commitment to regulatory compliance, safety, sustainability, and environmental concerns.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities :

• Direct daily operations of trade shops.
• Provide leadership in developing a customer relations philosophy within the Trades and Service Center.
• Coordinate operational functions, including preventive maintenance, daily maintenance, minor construction projects, and routine repairs.
• Ensure maintenance requests are facilitated promptly to maintain high customer satisfaction, measured via work order surveys and response time.
• Drive continuous process improvement through technology adoption and training.
• Ensure trades complete required safety training.
• Facilitate meetings with supervisors, managers, and tradespersons to manage University work and maintenance requests.
• Collaborate with supervisors to prioritize workload and determine when to supplement contract labor with in-house tradespersons.
• Oversee metrics and revise building statistics.
• Calculate equipment life cycles and updates to the funding request program based on lifecycle analysis, building attributes, capital upgrades, and ADA requirements to prioritize deferred maintenance.
• Maintain consistency and integrity in data capturing and reporting.
• Schedule and coordinate operational projects to optimize time and staff efficiency.
• Recommend policy and procedure revisions.
• Ensure personnel complete all required training.
• Cultivate a culture of service, accountability, respect, safety, and professional growth.
• Monitor vacancies and initiate actions to fill vacancies or add positions.
• Review all projects to ensure compliance with university standards and applicable codes.
• Manage, coordinate, and prioritize trade activities to ensure smooth interaction with minor renovations and construction projects.
• Monitor contractors' adherence to operational standards.
• Collaborate with engineers and in-house architects to review project plans and specifications.
• Inspect, evaluate, and respond to emergency situations as necessary.
• Recommend the best course of action during emergencies.
• Coordinate with Facilities Customer Service for trade projects affecting university operations to ensure timely notice of shutdowns and continuity of operations.
• Direct and schedule in-house and contracted service personnel for special events such as move-in, commencement, and scheduled power outages.

Position Type

Facilities