Assistant Director of Maintenance and Operations

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is seeking a strong and experienced Facilities professional to serve as our next Assistant Director of Maintenance and Operations. This key leadership role oversees several units in the Facilities Services Operations Division including Labor Shop, Grounds Shop, Equipment/Vehicle Repair Shop, and Shuttle Bus Operations, ensuring that all departments run efficiently and effectively. The Assistant Director plays an instrumental role in hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating a dynamic team of employees while managing a substantial budget. This position also involves strategic planning, coordination with other University departments, and ensures compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Skills for Success:
• Leadership and Personnel Management: Ability to effectively supervise and guide a large and diverse team. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for motivating staff and fostering a cooperative team environment.
• Project and Budget Management: Expertise in managing complex operations with multiple priorities. Proficient in overseeing project budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources, and making decisions to meet operational goals.
• Technical Knowledge: A deep understanding of operations management, building maintenance, hazardous materials, fleet management, and grounds maintenance. Experience with relevant tools, equipment, and compliance with safety standards (OSHA, ADA, DOT, EPA).
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: The ability to prioritize tasks, resolve conflicts, and make data-driven decisions. Strong organizational and detail-oriented skills are key.
• Communication Skills: Proficiency in both written and oral communication is essential, including familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems or database systems, MS Word, MS Excel, and various software tools. Experience supervising union represented staff is a plus.

Join our team and make a lasting impact on the UAF community by ensuring safe, efficient, and well-coordinated services for all campus operations!

The ideal candidate is an experienced operations leader with a strong background in facilities, public works, or maintenance operations. Success in this role requires the ability to lead multiple operational units, manage competing priorities, and provide strategic direction while fostering a safe, customer-focused work environment.

The successful candidate will have experience supervising managers and diverse teams, managing large operating budgets, interpreting collective bargaining agreements, and collaborating effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Strong project management, communication, analytical, and organizational skills are essential, along with the ability to develop operational improvements and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.

Experience with facilities operations, fleet and equipment management, grounds maintenance, transportation services, snow and ice management, and applicable regulatory requirements (including OSHA, ADA, DOT, and EPA) is highly desirable. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and computerized maintenance management systems is expected.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 6 years of work experience in a similar multi-trade or public works environment, or an equivalent combination of post-secondary education, job-specific training, and relevant experience in the Facilities/Operations Management field equal to 10 years.

Must have and maintain a valid State of Alaska driver’s license. Will be expected to obtain an Alaska Class “B” commercial driver’s license with passenger endorsement within 12 months of hire, at the University's expense.

Position Details:

This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package . UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule , Grade 82, based on education and experience.

Application review will begin on July 20, 2026. To ensure consideration, please submit your application by 11:55 PM Alaska Standard Time on July 19, 2026.

To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE .

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact UAF Facilities Services Human Resources at View email address on careers.alaska.edu.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at View email address on careers.alaska.edu .

The  University of Alaska () is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a  policy of non-discrimination () against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

* Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA : (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online:  . Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or  View email address on careers.alaska.edu / View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or  View email address on careers.alaska.edu . 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online:  . Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or  View email address on careers.alaska.edu .

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online:  . Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or emailing  View email address on careers.alaska.edu .