The Director for Facility Development and Technical Operations will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) as it continues to expand. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director will be a key member of the senior management team, responsible for overseeing many day-to-day operations and planning for growth of the Institute. Key responsibilities include: • Facilities Leadership. o Participate in institutional planning committees, contributing engineering input to long-term research infrastructure strategy. o Partner with faculty, lab managers, IT, EHS, vivarium staff, and research support teams to understand operational needs and constraints. o Provide technical expertise and consultation to research groups during grant planning, lab setup, or experimental scale-up. o Provide technical consultation for new equipment installations or departmental moves. o Serve as the point of contact for emergency facilities response affecting research operations (e.g., equipment failure, power outage). o Represent facilities engineering in planning meetings and operational reviews. o Develop emergency preparedness protocols and support incident response. o Collaborate with leadership on capital planning and long-term infrastructure strategies. o Develop and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans for research operations. • Operational Oversight. o Oversee the operation, maintenance, and performance of complex MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing), HVAC, and life safety systems supporting biomedical research environments. o Ensure uninterrupted operation of mission-critical spaces such as BSL labs, cleanrooms, vivariums, imaging suites (e.g., MRI, PET/CT), and tissue culture rooms. o Troubleshoot and resolve system failures or performance issues in real-time. o Establish and enforce maintenance schedules to ensure equipment reliability. o Review and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) for systems management. o Maintain high-performance environmental controls (temperature, humidity, air exchange) critical to research integrity. o Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance to avoid disruption to time-sensitive experiments and specialized equipment. o Ensure optimal performance of autoclaves, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, and lab gas delivery systems. o Develop cost projections and prepare financial analyses related to facility growth and maintenance. o Perform cost analysis on bundled services and service agreement life cycles. o Liaise with Valley Metro and VT Fleet services to manage campus transportation. • Project Management. o Plan, initiate, and lead facilities projects from concept through completion. o Define project scope, goals, deliverables, and ensure alignment with institutional needs. o Prepare detailed project budgets, manage expenditures, and control costs. o Create and manage timelines, ensuring milestones are met on schedule. o Coordinate cross-functional teams, including architects, contractors, engineers, and vendors. o Oversee on-site construction and system commissioning to ensure compliance with project plans. o Lead infrastructure and capital improvement projects including lab renovations, new lab build-outs, and utility upgrades. o Develop and manage scopes of work, project plans, construction phasing, and budgets aligned with scientific program needs. o Liaise with principal investigators (PIs), lab managers, and research administrators during project planning and implementation. o Coordinate with architects, engineers, and specialized contractors to meet research-specific infrastructure and biosafety requirements. o Oversee commissioning and validation of systems critical to scientific reproducibility and regulatory compliance. • Compliance and Safety. o Interpret and enforce compliance with applicable building codes and regulatory standards. o Schedule and participate in inspections, audits, and certification processes. o Maintain accurate and up-to-date records for compliance documentation and reporting. o Identify and mitigate system risks through regular assessments and corrective action planning. o Stay current with evolving regulations (e.g., ASHRAE standards, NFPA codes). o Ensure all building systems and operations comply with local, state, and federal codes, including NIH, CDC, EPA, OSHA, ASHRAE, NFPA, and AAALAC standards. o Support compliance for controlled environments (e.g., GLP labs, BSL-2/3 spaces) and regulated equipment. o Conduct risk assessments focused on research-specific hazards (e.g., hazardous materials, animal research). o Maintain compliance documentation for inspections by regulatory and funding agencies. o Partner with EHS teams to support emergency procedures, biosafety protocols, and hazardous material containment. • Equipment and Core Facilities. • Team Management o Supervise facilities engineering staff, including technicians, engineers, and contract personnel. o Direct daily activities of engineering and maintenance teams. o Assign tasks, set priorities, and monitor team performance. o Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. o Develop and implement training programs tailored to research infrastructure (e.g., BSL-3 protocols, GMP system operations). o Set performance goals aligned with institutional mission and scientific needs. o Foster a team culture that emphasizes responsiveness, precision, and support of the scientific enterprise. o Lead workforce planning and development efforts to meet evolving facility and research demands. Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field, with substantial experience in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of biomedical/laboratory programs and facilities. • Demonstrated knowledge of research equipment and facility requirements. • Working knowledge of and experience with Federal and State permitting and safety regulations. • Ability to read and interpret architectural, mechanical, and electrical drawings and specifications. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills. • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders. • Proven skills in prioritization, workload management, meeting deadlines, independent decision-making, and problem-solving. Preferred Qualifications • Professional Engineering (PE) license. • Master’s degree in Engineering. • Demonstrated project management experience with large-scale facilities and multimillion-dollar budgets. Overtime Status Exempt: Not eligible for overtime Appointment Type Restricted Salary Information Commensurate with Experience Hours per week 40+ Review Date 7/28/2025 Additional Information The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.