What are the responsibilities and job description for the Facility Manager position at The University of Kansas?
Position Overview
The University of Kansas seeks a Facility Manager to serve as the primary facilities liaison for assigned campus buildings. Facility Managers are responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective day-to-day operation of university facilities in support of teaching, learning, research, and student life.
This position works closely with building occupants, departmental stakeholders, Facilities Services maintenance and custodial teams, Transportation Services, Environment Health & Safety (EHS), Space Management, Facilities Planning and Development (FPD), and building occupants to coordinate maintenance, custodial services, inspections, minor repairs, space usage needs, and operational improvements. The Facility Manager serves as the first point of contact for facility-related concerns within their assigned portfolio and ensures timely communication of issues.
Facility Managers report to the Assistant Director of Facilities Services and operate with moderate latitude for daily operational decisions within established policies and procedures. This position requires the operation of work issued vehicles.
KU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.
Job Description
Building Operations and Facility Management (35%)
A complete application includes:
Application review began Friday, October 9th and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Ryan Forshee rforshee@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
Starting at $62,000
Application Review Begins
Friday October 9, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Monday November 2, 2026
The University of Kansas seeks a Facility Manager to serve as the primary facilities liaison for assigned campus buildings. Facility Managers are responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective day-to-day operation of university facilities in support of teaching, learning, research, and student life.
This position works closely with building occupants, departmental stakeholders, Facilities Services maintenance and custodial teams, Transportation Services, Environment Health & Safety (EHS), Space Management, Facilities Planning and Development (FPD), and building occupants to coordinate maintenance, custodial services, inspections, minor repairs, space usage needs, and operational improvements. The Facility Manager serves as the first point of contact for facility-related concerns within their assigned portfolio and ensures timely communication of issues.
Facility Managers report to the Assistant Director of Facilities Services and operate with moderate latitude for daily operational decisions within established policies and procedures. This position requires the operation of work issued vehicles.
KU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.
Job Description
Building Operations and Facility Management (35%)
- Conduct routine interior and exterior building inspections to identify maintenance, custodial, safety, and operational issues.
- Document deficiencies and building conditions; submit, track, and follow up on work requests using the university’s computerized maintenance management system (e.g., Maximo).
- Coordinate with Facilities Services trades and monitor preventive, scheduled, and corrective maintenance to ensure timely, quality completion and occupant satisfaction.
- Identify emerging facility needs and proactively recommend solutions to support building performance and operational health.
- Serve as the primary Facilities Services representative for assigned buildings.
- Assist with communication and occupant coordination of repairs, renovations, and improvement projects – as directed by FS and/or FPD.
- Support safe, clean, and reliable building operations in alignment with university standards.
- Provide excellent customer service to faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for building occupants regarding facility concerns.
- Communicate clearly and professionally regarding maintenance activities, timelines, and service disruptions.
- Build positive working relationships with departments and campus partners.
- Escalate complex, unresolved, or sensitive issues to the Assistant Director as appropriate.
- Support a culture of accessibility, responsiveness, and campus stewardship.
- May coordinate some AV, lobby displays and minor IT troubleshooting.
- Assist with deferred maintenance identification and documentation.
- Support safety initiatives and compliance with university policies and procedures.
- Coordinate all space usage and occupancy change requests with the Office of Space Management for consideration. Assist occupants with navigating approved space changes and new occupant building and space orientation. Works within KU’s space management and space use policies.
- Assist with conducting routine space inventories and participate in the annual space survey.
- Ensures occupants are complying with KU’s modification of university property policy.
- Keeps track of departmental and university assets in the assigned facilities. Communicates changes and coordinates updates as needed.
- Establishes, coordinates and communicates facility rules and pertinent schedules.
- Maintains inventory control functions including vendor management, purchasing, billing, reconciliation and collections.
- Manages shipping/receiving, dock equipment and export control as needed.
- Identify and report safety hazards, code concerns, and compliance issues.
- Serve as the Chair of the Facility Safety Committee and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
- Assist with initial response to facility emergencies during assigned shifts and participate in on-call rotation as required.
- Coordinate with EHS, emergency responders, and Facilities Services during urgent situations.
- Maintains inventory control including hazardous material and chemical records as needed.
- Assist with lab safety issues in coordination with EHS.
- Assists occupants with key and access control systems for assigned facilities in coordination with departmental and operations stakeholders.
- Understands and coordinates emergency response planning and communication. Acknowledges alarms (including after hours) and may be required to respond on site depending on the severity of the issue.
- Assist the Assistant Director with special projects, inspections, or initiatives.
- Backup support for other facilities as needed. May rotate with other Facility Managers – with appropriate training, documentation and support.
- Operate KU-issued vehicles to transport self and materials between work sites.
- Support continuous improvement efforts within Facilities Services.
- May supervise student administrative staff.
- Valid driver’s license at time of hire and throughout employment.
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors in a variety of temperature and weather conditions.
- Physical ability to bend, stoop, kneel, climb ladders or stairs, and traverse campus terrain.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally, with or without accommodation.
- Ability to travel through utility tunnels and mechanical spaces as required.
- Understands, responds to, and communicates critical alarms and alerts from the facility. May be required to respond after hours to critical emergencies.
- High School diploma or GED equivalency and nine (9) years of experience in facilities management, maintenance or a related field OR a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Education, Communications, Facilities Management or a related field and five (5) years of experience in facilities management, maintenance or a related field.
- Strong written communication skills as demonstrated through application materials.
- Experience working in customer-facing or service-oriented roles.
- Experience in a large institutional or academic environment.
- Experience conducting facility or building inspections.
- Experience with automated work order and asset management systems as evidenced by application materials.
- Strong verbal communication skills as demonstrated through interview and references.
- Knowledge of building systems, maintenance practices, and campus operations as evidenced by application materials.
A complete application includes:
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Cover letter addressing how the required and, if applicable, preferred qualifications are met
- Contact information of 3 professional references.
Application review began Friday, October 9th and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Ryan Forshee rforshee@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
Starting at $62,000
Application Review Begins
Friday October 9, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Monday November 2, 2026
Salary : $62,000