Summary:
The manager, operations and maintenance provides strategic and operational leadership for campus-wide facilities operations and maintenance activities that support teaching, learning, research, and campus partners. This role manages preventative, corrective, and reactive maintenance programs across a diverse portfolio of buildings, systems, and infrastructure in a complex, unionized environment. This position leads supervisors and skilled trades teams while advancing a culture grounded in safety, service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. The manager works closely with academic units, campus partners, and college leadership to align operational priorities with institutional goals. This role also manages resources, programs, and budgets to support safe, reliable, and sustainable campus facilities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides strategic leadership for campus operations and maintenance services across infrastructure, buildings, systems, and life safety equipment.
- Leads organizational and operational change initiatives that enhance service delivery, resource use, and overall effectiveness.
- Manages operational and multi-year budgets, staffing plans, maintenance programs, and renewal initiatives with a focus on sustainability and fiscal stewardship.
- Manages the full employee lifecycle of supervisory and skilled trades staff including hiring, workload distributions, professional development, and performance management, including issuing progressive discipline.
- Develops and implements short- and long-term maintenance strategies, service level agreements, and operational plans aligned with academic, research, and institutional priorities.
- Manages operational performance and accountability within the department by monitoring organizational standards for consistent application and resolving complex operational issues across assigned teams and work environments.
- Manages workplace culture and team effectiveness by addressing unproductive behaviors, and interpersonal conflict, and fostering a professional, high-performance work environment.
- Establishes performance metrics, reviews operational outcomes, and implements service improvements with appropriate quality controls.
- Builds and sustains collaborative relationships with campus partners, academic units, and internal stakeholders to address needs and priorities.
- Monitors compliance with university policies, collective agreements, occupational health and safety requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Contributes to leadership initiatives, cross-functional projects, and institutional priorities.
- Participates in planning and stewardship of capital renewal and major maintenance initiatives.
- Communicates and acts in a respectful and professional manner, collaborates effectively, abides by policy, and contributes to a positive and productive work and learning environment.
- Builds and leads diverse teams, champions inclusive leadership, and values different perspectives.
- Engages in and supports the understanding and growth of employees with the frameworks, initiatives and activities relating to equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigenous engagement.
Undertakes related duties, as assigned, consistent with the nature of the position.
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Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in operations management or related field.
- Facility or property management training or professional designation is an asset.
- Minimum of five years of related experience in management or leadership roles within service-oriented, complex operational environments.
- Experience in facilities operations, maintenance, construction, or large-scale institutional commercial, or industrial environments.
- Experience in a unionized environment is an asset.
- Knowledge of applicable codes, legislation, regulatory frameworks, and industry standards related to facilities management.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, including coaching, performance management, and workforce planning.
- Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing operational and multi-year budgets.
- Strong relationship building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong change leadership skills.
- Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications, enterprise systems, AiM, Banner, and PeopleSoft.
The University of Saskatchewan recognizes alternate career paths; therefore, a combination of education and experience may be considered.
Department: Operations and Maintenance
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: Exempt
Shift: Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:30 with on-call rotational availability.
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $94,864.00 - 158,925.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 4
Posted Date: 8/7/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus
The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php
Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver's License and Abstract Check: Yes
Education/Credential Verification: Yes
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable
The University of Saskatchewan aspires to be what the world needs and embraces equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to excellence and innovation. We actively seek to create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel empowered to thrive, contribute, and grow. Applications from equity-deserving groups are encouraged as part of our ongoing efforts to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve: EDI Framework for Action.
We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation.
The University of Saskatchewan provides an accessible and inclusive workplace. Should you require support through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us for assistance.
