Facilities Operations Manager

The Budd Group is seeking a dynamic Facilities Operations Manager to join our growing team! This key role provides strategic and tactical planning, along with hands-on operational support, for our private K-12 and Higher Education clients. The Facilities Operations Manager will develop operational, financial, quality, and integrated facilities management services. This position is also crucial to our private education implementation team and requires travel throughout the southeast United States. Location: This Facilities Operations Manager position is based in The Budd Group’s major markets (Southeast US) with access to major airports. Key Responsibilities: Provide strong technical guidance and leadership to our skilled maintenance personnel. Lead and direct account management teams, offering unique operational insights for integrated facilities services within the education sector. Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients and stakeholders (internal and external), identifying improvement areas and opportunities to expand services at existing education accounts. Assume on-site leadership during short- or long-term absences of Budd Group school leadership. Foster and maintain effective client relationships while on-site. Support on-site leadership by developing best practices, Statements of Work (SOWs), and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all facility-related services. Focus on day-to-day operations, ensuring facilities operate at capacity, and our team effectively delivers agreed-upon work. Create a facilities condition audit program (FCA). Provide clients with a 1-3 year maintenance repair and replacement schedule for all campus assets. Develop and deliver presentations to client leadership and boards regarding current initiatives. Collaborate with account teams to identify areas for operational and maintenance strategy improvement. Leverage CMMS to streamline the work order process and identify value-added tasks. Support client procurement by identifying key suppliers and vendors aligned with The Budd Group and customer needs. Support talent recruitment and development as needed. Ensure safety standards are enforced in all operations. Additional Responsibilities: Conduct annual audits of all contracted schools providing plant operations support and new schools 90 days post-implementation. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with branches to provide a unified customer approach. Ensure client satisfaction, driving customer growth and retention. Establish the team's vision and strategy, aligning with client objectives and interests. Leadership Qualities: Address issues openly and quickly for resolution. Possess expert knowledge to identify opportunities for change and effectively communicate those needs to internal and external stakeholders. Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field preferred. An equivalent degree from a technical school in Facilities Maintenance, Building Maintenance Technology, or a related field is also preferred. 3 years of leadership experience supporting plant operations, engineering, and maintenance within large, complex organizations. 3 years of experience in budget development, project planning, control and assurance methodologies, and CMMS technology. MUST be certified/licensed in HVAC or Electrical with hands-on experience. Ability to travel up to 80%. Valid Driver's License and good driving record required.