Libraries Facilities Manager
Libraries Facilities Manager
About the University
Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 83,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
About the Department
Western Libraries support Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position
In this position you will be part of the Libraries Administration Team. The Facilities Manager is central to the functioning of the Libraries and works independently within general guidelines to manage a range of functions relating to library facilities, furnishings, events, and ongoing facilities activities. You will proactively work to ensure that library facilities meet expectations of faculty, staff, and students. You will participate in all aspects of library facilities projects, including daily building maintenance, special projects, renovations, and new construction.
Typical duties include:
- Provides leadership and direction for long-term space planning and capital improvements, including: developing, strategizing, communicating and implementing long terms plans around collections, learning spaces, and staff spaces.
- Ensures that practices and policies for library facilities are consistent with strategic directions, including: the maintenance or creation of inclusive spaces that communicate the intended message to our patrons through exhibits, policies, furniture.
- Maintains, developing and implementing effective way finding and signage policies and practices.
- Serves as primary contact for library staff on maintenance issues ranging from custodial upkeep and furniture relocation to execution of building renovation projects.
- Handle inquiries about holding events in the Libraries.
- Approves or declines event requests to manage events held in Library space.
- Meets with event sponsors and vendors as needed to coordinate events.
- Ensures effective communication to all parties impacted by events in the Library.
- Projects, emergency planning, and other duties as assigned.
- For Washington StateHR purposes, this position is classified as a Program Manager A.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related field.
- At least three years of experience working in libraries.
- Broad range of experiences working in libraries (customer and / or public services experience preferred)
- Demonstrated understanding of the importance of the library as an inclusive space that meets the needs of a diverse population, and the ability to create a positive and welcoming space for all members of the Western community.
- Demonstrated leadership, including planning and project management skills.
- Strong written and spoken communication skills.
- Ability to effectively troubleshoot and problem solve using a variety of strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with a wide variety of individuals.
Software competency: MS Office; Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, or equivalent tools.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in or collaborating with maintenance and building trades.
- An active listener who is able to consider situations from a variety of perspectives (patron-centered focus, management, social impacts, etc.)
- A broad interest in how libraries operate (staffing, services, assessment, technology, trends, etc.).