Associate Vice President for the Facilities Management Division - Spelman Johnson : Job Details

• Please contact Mark Hall or Laura Puckett-Boler for salary information
• Managing Budget: $125M
• Reports to: Vice President for Finance & Administration

Associate Vice President for the Facilities Management Division

The University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications and nominations for the position of associate vice president for the Facilities Management Division (FMD). This position reports directly to the vice president for finance & administration. It serves as the senior facilities engineer for UGA while working collaboratively with the university architect to collectively fulfill the duties of the chief facilities officer. The associate vice president for FMD is responsible for directing and leading the Facilities Management Division team, which is broadly responsible for managing approximately 12 million gross square feet of facilities and approximately 823 acres on UGA's main campus in Athens, GA. While FMD does not have primary responsibility for the UGA extended campus in the state of Georgia beyond Athens (Buckhead, GA; Griffin, GA; Gwinnett, GA; and Tifton, GA.), FMD does provide necessary support to these locations and other areas. The division comprises a workforce of approximately 850 employees, one of the largest divisions within Finance & Administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• The university seeks candidates who are innovative, collaborative, and accomplished leaders in their field, forward-thinking professionals with a demonstrated strong commitment to excellence and high-quality customer service, and dedicated to furthering an accessible and inclusive campus environment.
• Work strategically and foster a collaborative and service-oriented culture.
  • Ability to meet deadlines.
  • Strong, interpersonal, organizational, team building and leadership skills.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Identify, assess, and champion opportunities for data-driven decision-making, use of technology, process automation and innovation.
• Foster and enhance relationships, coordination, and partnership between the Facilities Management Division, the University System of Georgia, and other institutions.
• Assist UGA's executive leadership in the planning, development, and implementation of effective facilities management policies that support UGA's strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with vice presidents, deans, senior faculty, and administrators to promote effective communications and to understand and support the facility needs of the university's instruction, research, public service and outreach, and student life programs.
• Engage the campus community to assess and improve services, support, programs, and reporting across all units. Develop, monitor, and recommend process improvements that align with the university's strategic vision.
• Work collaboratively with partners across the university, including but not limited to, the office of research, office of instruction, university architects, environmental safety division, university housing, student affairs, finance division, athletics, space planning & management, procurement, etc.
• Provide leadership as UGA continues to implement innovative strategies to recruit and retain a highly qualified workforce to fulfill FMD's broad and diverse portfolio of responsibilities in an ever-increasing competitive market for talent.
• Build competencies within Facilities Management Divisions by leading, coaching, developing, evaluating, and mentoring team members, all while promoting professional development and ensuring strong staff engagement and retention.
• Provide overarching leadership to all areas of the Facilities Management Division.
  • Operations & Infrastructure
    • Project Management
    • Operations & Maintenance
  • Services
    • Support Services
    • Building Services
    • Warehouse Operations
    • Office of Sustainability
    • Grounds
    • Automotive Center
    • Waste Reduction
  • Maintenance Planning and Design
    • Maintenance Engineering
    • Utility and Energy Management
    • Work Request Center
  • Administration
    • Human Resources
    • Safety
    • Business Management
    • Contract Management
    • Information Technology

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

• A bachelor's degree in an appropriate academic discipline.
• Licensed and registered as a professional engineer; other relevant professional certifications will be considered in place of the PE license.
• At least ten years of progressive experience in facilities management administration.
• A record of fostering an organizational culture of teamwork, inclusivity, and belonging.
• A history of responsible management and leadership experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with all members of the university community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in an appropriate academic discipline.
• Relevant certifications, such as but not limited to:
  • Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) via APPA
  • Certified Facility Manager (CFM) via IFMA
  • Facility Management Professional (FMP) via IFMA
  • Certified Energy Manager (CEM) via AEE
  • Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) via AEE
• Ten years of progressive experience in facilities management administration in a higher education environment.
• Five years of experience in facilities management at a Carnegie Classification Research 1 Doctoral University.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• Demonstrated collaboration skills with a broad base of colleagues, with the ability to understand the importance of relationship and partnership building.
• Technical expertise and experience with new, modern construction/systems and aging buildings/ infrastructures.
• Innovative and motivating leadership for the Facilities Management Division.
• Experience leading and managing a large, diverse workforce that includes staff in various professional, managerial, and skilled trades roles.
• Experience with developing and implementing deferred maintenance strategies and plans.
• Budget management experience with complex funding sources and regulations.
• Experience in managing employees with 24/7/365 responsibilities in a university environment.
• Familiarity with the unique needs of medical education and research (UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and UGA School of Medicine).
• Ability to communicate technical details in layperson's terms for clear reporting to stakeholders.
• Timeliness and responsiveness to critical issues.
• Safety and compliance-focused.
• Understands and effectively communicates the larger vision for the division and for the university.

History of the Position

Jeff Benjamin served as associate vice president for facilities management from January 2022-December 2024. Mr. Benjamin resigned to accept a vice president position at another institution. Prior to Mr. Benjamin's tenure, Ralph Johnson served in this role since 2002.

Opportunities and Challenges of the Role

The Facilities Management Division hasthe reputation of being a skilled, professional, and responsive team at the University of Georgia. The new AVP will come into an organization that strives for excellence in all operations and services. The value of their service and support impacts the institution's successon every level. The new AVP will be expected to build relationships and partnerships with campus colleagues and external collaborators.

In transitioning to the University of Georgia, the AVP for the Facilities Management Division will encounter the following opportunities, priorities, and challenges, as shared by key campus stakeholders:

• Recruitment, training, and retention of a skilled workforce to serve the complexity of a campus characterized by facilities ranging from newly constructed, modern facilities to iconic, historical structures.
• Managing facility needs and usage as student enrollment and research activities continue to grow and expand.
• Visionary leadership that will provide strategic direction for the division and university in facilities management.
• Strong communicator who can effectively articulate division needs, priorities, and successes.
• New and emerging facility management strategies to meet the needs of an institution on the rise, including the recent establishment of a UGA School of Medicine.
• Balancing technical knowledge and understanding unique trends and needs in higher education.

Measures of Success

The items listed below will help define the AVP for the Facilities Management Division's success throughout the first year of employment:

• The AVP has clearly and transparently established operational and strategic plans, and staff have a clear direction for the future.
• Facilities Management Division leadership and staff are working together cohesively as a team.
• Strong relationships have been formed among the larger UGA community, collaborative partnerships are growing, and the AVP has a visible presence on campus.

Overview of Finance & AdministrationDivisional Leadership

Ryan Nesbit

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Ryan Nesbit currently serves as UGA's vice president for finance and administration. In this capacity, he also serves as treasurer for the UGA Athletic Association, treasurer for the UGA Research Foundation, and chair of the UGA Real Estate Foundation. Before assuming the role of vice president in July 2013, Nesbit served as the university's budget director since 2000 and served as the senior associate vice president since 2005. He began working at UGA in 1994 in the facilities planning office and took leave from UGA in 1995 and 1996 to serve as the Sanford Stadium venue operations manager for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.

Nesbit holds a master's degree in business administration from UGA and a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Citadel.

Finance & Administration (F&A) exists to provide exceptional service and stewardship of the University of Georgia's financial, human, and physical resources. Over 3,000 individuals comprise F&A's mission-driven team, focused on building and sustaining partnerships to help the university fulfill its teaching, research, service, and student life missions. As a key provider of essential fiscal and operational support to the university, F&A's multiple units and dedicated professionals strive to be a trusted advisor and resource for answers, advice, and assistance. Focusing on exceptional service and stewardship, F&A contributes to the ultimate success and achievements of students, faculty, staff, and the entire university community.

The Facilities Management Division team members manage, operate, and maintain campus landscapes, buildings, and infrastructure to promote the long-term sustainability of the University of Georgia. The FMD unit comprises licensed professionals, managers, and tradespeople, including engineers, electricians, plumbers, building services professionals, carpenters, painters, HVAC experts, heavy equipment operators, landscape architects, and groundskeeping staff. FMD establishes priorities and long-term plans that protect the campus's financial investment in its physical infrastructure and facilities that provide a physical environment conducive to teaching, research, outreach, and student life. FMD's support, services, and programs are provided through operational change, the development and streamlining of the processes, systems, policies, planning guidelines, and procedures for UGA's annual capital budget and renewal programs that reflect the campus' long-term needs. FMD works closely with the Office of Research, Office of University Architects for Facilities Planning, Environmental Safety Division, and other facilities-intensive units (office of instruction, university housing, student affairs, athletics, space planning & management, etc.).

FMD maintains and enhances the learning environment through quality service and stewardship ofUGA's natural and physical resources. We are a respectful and welcoming workplace thatprovides seamless service built on integrity, teamwork, and excellence.

FMD's Why Statement

As the heartbeat of the university, we champion its mission and sustain its resources to serve the state of Georgia and beyond. We create inviting and safe environments that allow students, faculty, staff, and visitors to learn, grow, innovate, and thrive.

We are Focused, Motivated, Dependable.We are FMD.

Institutional Overview

The University of Georgia, a land-grant/sea-grant university, is the state's oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education. UGA was founded in 1785 as the first state-chartered university in the country. More than 235 years later, the University of Georgia remains a national leader in higher education.The University is located in Athens, GA, approximately 75 miles northeast of Atlanta, and is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the country.

UGA employs approximately 3,000 full-time faculty/academics and roughly 7,700 other full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 43,100 students, including approximately 32,400 undergraduates and over 10,700 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens that is now evolving into an independent UGA School of Medicine.

The Student Body

Undergraduate: 32,399

Graduate: 10,747

Male: 41.3%

Female: 58.4%

African American/Black: 7.5%

Asian: 12.4%

White: 62.7%

Two or More Races: 4.2%

Unknown: 5.3%

Institutional Leadership

President

Jere W. Morehead began his tenure as the 22nd University of Georgia president on July 1, 2013. Under his leadership, the university has risen in the rankings of the best public colleges and universities and has completed a series of initiatives to enhance student learning and success, including a requirement for experiential learning for all undergraduates.

Additionally, the university has completed the most successful capital campaign in its history, raising $1.45 billion, and has launched an Innovation District initiative to create UGA's campus of the future, where students and faculty will partner with industry to generate ideas and solutions to continue the university's role as a powerful driver of economic development in Georgia. During Morehead's tenure, UGA has increased its research expenditures by more than 75 percent and has been ranked among the top five universities nationally for research-based products reaching the marketplace for the past eleven years. UGA was ranked No. 1 in the nation for FY2023, the most recent year such data is available.

Applications will be reviewed beginning June 26, 2025, and continuing until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-###-#### or email [email protected] .

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status.

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