Assistant Physical Plant Manager, McDonald Observatory Full-time NEW

Assistant Physical Plant Manager, McDonald Observatory

This position provides supervision and technical support for facilities maintenance, utilities, and custodial functions at McDonald Observatory. Develops, plans, and coordinates maintenance and custodial work for the entire facility (including research buildings, housing, roads, the Visitor Center, the Astronomers Lodge, and utility infrastructure). Supports the Physical Plant Manager by overseeing daily departmental operations.

Responsibilities include:

• Facilities Maintenance: Manages all staff-led renovation, repair, minor construction, and work-order response maintenance projects. Establishes, interprets, and implements plans, specifications, and standards for maintenance projects and oversees inspections of work. Provides facility infrastructure oversight, in coordination with the Physical Plant Manager, for all McDonald Observatory campus units. Establishes (with other managers) and executes facility preventive maintenance programs. Allocates staffing resources and schedules to support facilities maintenance needs. Assists with special projects as assigned.
• Utilities Operations: Works closely with the Physical Plant Manager, Utilities Supervisor, the University of Texas at Austin Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) staff, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) staff to maintain a functional and compliant water and wastewater treatment operation at McDonald Observatory. Maintains necessary TCEQ certifications and provides technical assistance and leadership for all utilities operations. Works with the above to maintain state-required documentation and participates in investigations and audits.
• Custodial Services: Manages custodial services for McDonald Observatory campus operations. Ensures adequate staff coverage to maintain clean, functional work and public-facing areas. Sets standards and specifications for custodial staff, performs work area inspections, and assists staff in the field as needed. Ensures additional needs are met in support of special events (e.g., annual Board of Visitors meeting, Orion Festival, Spring Break) and may assign facilities maintenance staff to assist as needed.
• Management: Assists the Physical Plant Manager with budget prioritization and monitors all departmental expenditures. Processes and tracks procurement of materials, supplies, and tools; maintains state, university, and local inventory information. Acts as fleet manager for all McDonald Observatory vehicles, including maintaining fuel logs and supervising the fleet shop. Allocates staffing resources in collaboration with the Physical Plant Manager. Drives a university vehicle. Serves as acting manager as needed and is required to participate in the emergency response team.
• Supervision: Provides daily supervision of all Physical Plant teams (facilities, utilities, and custodial). Oversees recruitment and hiring for all Physical Plant teams, working closely with the Physical Plant Manager and, as needed, the Superintendent and the department's Business Officer. Manages employee performance issues and assists supervisors with annual employee appraisals. Provides technical training to staff, including fire and life safety and operational health and safety training. Expected to serve as an in-field supervisor, working with teams on their jobs.

Required Qualifications include:

• Diploma or GED.
• Professionally recognized certifications in facilities management, construction management, or a related field (e.g., FMP, PMP, Master Tradesman).
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience, with three (3) years supervisory experience, in commercial/institutional construction/utilities/facilities maintenance.
• Use of the tools and equipment common to the particular trades.
• Experience in technical trades (e.g.., electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, general construction) and familiarity with the tools of those trades.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills, including conflict management and staff performance correction skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to task switch and multitask.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex mechanical systems and understand process control systems.
• Ability to manage a team well and deliver projects on time.
• Proficient computer literacy skills, especially with office management tools (e.g., spreadsheets, word processing).
• Demonstrable good judgement.
• Regular and punctual attendance.
• Competencies: Conflict Management, Decision Making and Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Planning: Tactical, Strategic, Problem Solving, Relationship Management, Service Excellence.

Preferred Qualifications include:

• Experience in business and fiscal management.
• Experience with university facilities maintenance, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of UT or State systems (e.g., Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)), policies, and/or procedures.
• Project management experience.
• Particularly familiarity with project scheduling, budgeting, and stakeholder management.
• Experience apprenticing others in a technical trade.
• Current Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or ability to obtain/renew.

This job requires a class “C” operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

Salary Range: $70,000 + depending on experience and qualifications

Working Conditions include:

• Position is located at the McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas. If you do not live in the surrounding areas, you will need to relocate. Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)
• Essential personnel expected to be available as needed outside of normal hours and during university closures.
• Work in all weather conditions and in extreme temperatures.
• Work at nighttime in remote locations.
• Work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Lift, pushes, and pulls up to 50 pounds.
• Climbing of stairs. Climbing of ladders.
• May require working extended hours.
• Work around heavy equipment and cryogens (telescopes and related instrumentation).
• Exposure to shop and construction site hazards associated with the trades. May include exposure to extreme temperatures, mechanical and electrical hazards, high-pressure and high-speed equipment, confined spaces, noise, fumes, heights, dust, and other weather conditions.
• Work around chemical fumes, bio-hazards, and around hazardous chemicals.
• Work around electrical and mechanical hazards.
• Work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation and use of a computer.
• Use of manual dexterity.
• Use of approved safety equipment is required.
• McDonald Observatory is located at approx. 6900 ft. above sea level. Environmental conditions can be unpredictable; temperatures can range from -10˚F and +95˚F.
• Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades.

Work Shift includes:

• Standard business hours, Monday-Friday, between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Requires rotational weekend work
• Occasional after-hours and holiday work
• Occasional travel required
• Required to respond to emergency or non-emergency situations

Required Materials include:

• Letter of interest
• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Please mark “yes” on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates' consideration for the position.