The Assistant Director of Operations supports the Director of Operations in carrying out departmental responsibilities and advancing the overall effectiveness of the Operations unit. This role oversees staff and manages operational functions across campus, including landscaping, arboriculture, turf maintenance, pest control, event management, environmental services, and moving services. The position authorizes expenditures within established limits and manages recordkeeping, correspondence, staff supervision, budget support, and departmental coordination. Regular interaction with students, faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders is required, as well as communication with parents, visitors, contractors, and vendors.

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The Assistant Director of Operations supports the Director of Operations in carrying out departmental responsibilities and advancing the overall effectiveness of the Operations unit. This role oversees staff and manages operational functions across campus, including landscaping, arboriculture, turf maintenance, pest control, event management, environmental services, and moving services. The position authorizes expenditures within established limits and manages recordkeeping, correspondence, staff supervision, budget support, and departmental coordination. Regular interaction with students, faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders is required, as well as communication with parents, visitors, contractors, and vendors.

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Required Qualifications

• Education:
  • High School Diploma or GED
    • TN Department of Agriculture C03 certification

• Experience:

  • Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in grounds management

    • 5+ years of supervisory experience required.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills

  • Supervisory, leadership experience, project management and decision-making skills

  • Ability to respond to continually changing priorities and coordinate multiple projects

  • Continuously observe and evaluate operations to identify problems and/or opportunities for improvement

  • Knowledge and understanding of OSHA safety standards to ensure departmental compliance for employee safety and required training

  • Computer skills (Outlook, Excel, Word)

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

• Other Conditions: Valid Driver’s license

Work Location

• University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN Campus
• This is an on-site position

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR14
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

About The College/Department/Division

UT Facilities Services is responsible for the care and keeping of more than 300 facilities and utilities systems in and around Knoxville. As the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s largest non-academic department, team members are responsible for facilities maintenance and repair, custodial needs, landscaping and lawncare, utility work, in-house and capital construction projects, facilities planning and design, environmental initiatives, pest control, campus event services, and facilities administration functions for both the flagship campus and the agricultural institute. The Facilities Services staff provides around-the-clock coverage to ensure students, staff, faculty, and fans have a consistent and positive experience every time they step foot on Rocky Top.

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• Assists the Director in the fulfillment of his duties.
• Develops department goals and objectives based on interpretation of institutional policy and goals.
• Initiates change in, or develops new policies, and procedures and/or methods.
• Analyzes long-range impact of decisions and plans.
• Ensures the most effective operations of the division through program development, process improvement using industry “best practices”, and coordination/integration of processes with other divisions or departments.
• Participates in divisional, departmental, and interdepartmental committees to address problems and facilitate information exchange about programs, problems, etc.
• Provides information to others to explain and clarify any issues or requests.
• Participates in periodic management meetings to keep top management informed of any problems or concerns.
• Review design criteria for new building projects and renovation of campus structures.
• Work with designers and contractors to ensure that all projects are completed to campus standards.
• Review new construction and generate a list of any deficiencies found during review for repair by contractors.
• Defines and achieves financial targets in support of business goals of the institution and department.
• Assist in preparing annual operating budgets for the department including direct labor, material, supplies, services, equipment maintenance and replacement.
• Oversees budget execution and adjusts as necessary.
• Coordinate activities between Facilities Operations and other Facilities Services groups.
• Establish performance goals and measure and evaluate success of assigned area of responsibility.
• Administering employee performance evaluations, executing disciplinary measures and promoting adherence to the University standards.
• Leading Facilities Operations personnel in preventative and reactive maintenance strategies.