Tufts University

ZRG has been engaged to recruit an Executive Director, Facilities Management for Tufts University.

For more details about this opportunity, please view the position profile by clicking on the cover image below.

Position:

The University seeks an experienced and forward-thinking Executive Director, Facilities Management to serve as a senior institutional leader during a critical period of organizational transformation.This role carries significant responsibility for the stewardship, performance,and long-term resilience of the University’s physical assets and requires engagement with the highest levels of university leadership. The Executive Director will serve as a trusted partner in shaping facilities strategy,capital investment decisions, and risk management for a complex, multi-campus research university. This position represents a critical opportunity to elevate the organization into a modern, high performing facilities operation.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Executive Presence and Institutional Leadership: This role requires a strong executive-level presence, strategic judgement, and the ability to represent Facilities Management with authority and credibility at all levels of the University. The Executive Director will regularly engage with senior Operations and university leadership in capital planning forums and cross institutional strategic initiatives. The Executive Director must be able to clearly articulate the state and condition of the University’s facilities, develop and communicate long range strategy, and frame investment options and tradeoffs in alignment with the University’s academic and financial priorities. Success in this role depends on earning and maintaining the trust and confidence of the University’s senior leaders through sound judgment, transparency, and strategic partnership.
• Driving Change: The Executive Director will lead a sustained transformation of Facilities Management, shifting the organization from a reactive, legacy based model to one grounded in industry best practices, preventive maintenance, resource optimization and data informed decision making. This role requires the ability to unify teams, establish shared purpose, and build accountability across a newly formed leadership group and a diverse workforce.
• The successful candidate will articulate a clear strategic direction, build trust, and align people at all levels around common priorities. Strong change leadership skills are essential, including engaging staff, strengthening collaboration, and empowering managers to lead effectively. Success will be reflected in a culture of engagement, continuous improvement, and pride in service.
• Measuring and Sustaining Results: The ideal candidate will bring a proven record of leading large-scale change within complex organizations and delivering measurable, sustained results. Performance will be defined by demonstrable improvements in operational effectiveness,organizational maturity, workforce alignment, and the ability to sustain progress over time.
• Specific Functions and Staffing: This role has oversight of the University’s Facilities Management departments. Areas of responsibility spanning all 4 campuses include: planning and execution of preventative and continuing maintenance, grounds, service level agreements,customer communications, work control, work order system, power plant, design standards and guidelines, engineering, building automation systems, controls and commissioning; outsourced custodial services, pest control, waste,elevators and specialized MEP services.
• The annual budget for Facilities Management is $50M. 40% is compensation for an internal team of management and trades staff (156 positions including 108 SEIU members). Remaining 60% includes supplies,services and outsourced custodial staff. The Executive Director plays a key role in the coordination of collective bargaining for the Tufts unionized trades and grounds labor force, and the management of outsourced custodial staff.
• Strategic Planning: The Executive Director is responsible for defining, implementing, and executing on a data-driven, forward-thinking, multi-year strategic plan that aligns the institutional priorities with those of Operations and Facilities Management. The Executive Director is a key collaborator and leader on a wide variety of Operations and university wide strategic projects that require innovative solutions, critical thinking, and business planning that will significantly impact the campus and community.
• Capital Planning: In conjunction with staff management responsibilities, the Executive Director will proactively partner with cross-functional teams across campus involved with campus planning, design and construction. Attention will be paid to ensure successful collaboration between Campus Renewal, Facilities, Planning, Design and Construction.
• Technology: The Executive Director will seek opportunities to implement and advance the utilization of technology to enhance efficiencies in the delivery of services across the Tufts campuses in a manner that aligns with the strategic goals of the university.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as a senior institutional leader and trusted advisor, representing Facilities Management in executive level meetings and decision-making forums,; collaborate closely with school Deans and senior administrators to align facilities strategy, priorities, and investments with institutional goals;
• Develop and support a positive, team-focused culture that integrates and supports diversity and inclusion;
• Implement best practices, continuous improvement and excellent customer service. Execute data-driven assessment plans to measure KPIs for the facilities department;
• Provide strategic directions for the day-to-day facilities operations, services, and maintenance activities for all campuses;
• Provide vision and leadership in maintaining a safe, healthy, sustainable, and disaster resilient environment for the University community including faculty, staff, students, and visitors;
• Support university-wide goals and initiatives through effective coordination with key internal and external constituents;
• Lead special projects, as needed, including the creation of any facilities-related business cases and cost justifications with an eye towards total cost of ownership (life cycle);
• Drive problem solving of highly technical issues and investigation of major systems and equipment.

About Tufts University:

In the spirit of their motto, Pax et Lux (“Peace and Light”), Tufts University faculty and students work together as active global citizens, illuminating each other and the world. Centered in the vibrant academic landscape of Greater Boston, Tufts is the best of all worlds: a close-knit community with the resources of a major research university, welcoming campuses near big city opportunities, and a global network of accomplished alumni. Since 1852, Tufts University has prepared exceptional students in diverse fields for lives of learning and leadership. Their commitment to the liberal arts, vital research enterprise, and collaborative, interdisciplinary culture combine to spark curiosity and create resounding global impact.

At Tufts, students discover the tools necessary to drive themselves—and the world—forward. Every student's unique experience is personalized by drawing from a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.

Tufts University is a distinguished private research institution located in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, with additional campuses in Boston, Grafton, and Talloires, France. As of Fall 2025, Tufts enrolls approximately 12,500 students across all campuses.

The university is renowned for its challenging academic programs and dynamic campus environment, offering a unique combination of a close-knit community and the resources of a major research university.

Department Summary:

The Operations Division at Tufts includes facilities, design and construction, campus and capital renewal planning, real estate, campus safety,dining, auxiliary services, and other related services on multiple campuses across 6 million square feet in 250 buildings. Operations services four campuses in Massachusetts: the main campus in Medford/Somerville, the health sciences and SMFA campuses in Boston and the veterinary school campus in Grafton. The Operations Division supports Tufts University’s mission in teaching, research, and clinics by providing stewardship, recommendations,services and advice in its primary areas of obligation: optimizing use of space and real estate, strategic and responsible management of the built environment,creating a secure campus environment and infrastructure, promoting best-in-class sustainability practices and policies, and creating exceptional community experiences that enhance Tufts’ reputation and brand.

The Division employs approximately 600 staff members across nine departments including three unions in public safety, dining, and facilities. The annual operating budget is $125 million, and the Division manages $150+million annually in capital projects including $55 million in capital renewal funding.

Location:

Medford, MA

Basic Qualifications:

Minimum Required Experience, Education, Background, And Certifications/Licenses

The successful candidate will bring extensive facilities and operations experience and arecord of cross-functional leadership within complex organizations from which they will draw upon. They will have superb communication skills and the capacity to engage a diverse group of stakeholders that foster collaboration, along with an enthusiasm for the day-to-day management of efficient operations and excellent customer service. The Executive Director must be equity-minded,strategic, and a strong administrator who can motivate teams. They should be experienced with driving comprehensive change management, process improvement, assessment, and innovative programming launches within sophisticated environments. The Executive Director of Facilities Management must be able to represent the University effectively while interacting with senior leadership, peers as well as various external constituencies.

• A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably mechanical or electrical engineering, facilities management, or a related field;
• Skilled ineffective leadership of a dynamic team including coaching, evaluation, and team building;
• Possess strong leadership qualities and the ability to motivate people, drive change, work cooperatively, solve technical problems, make decisions, and effectively manage personnel and financial resources;
• Demonstrated successful leadership and organizational team management experience;
• Comprehensive knowledge of facility operations including design and construction,maintenance, repair, and renewal and renovation;
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of principles, practices, and procedures of regulatory codes and requirements related to facility maintenance;
• Expertise with energy management systems;
• Knowledge of principles and practices of life cycle and equipment and facilities replacement planning and schedules;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret and apply standards, regulations, policies,and procedures to apply trends, models, and best practices in facilities management within and outside of the higher education industry;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written formats to a variety of audiences using diverse communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of complex information, collaborative efforts, and feedback;
• Commitment and capacity to maintain professional and emotional control under stress and craft appropriate responses to situations while maintaining a professional and personal demeanor;
• Must possess highly developed interpersonal skills, diplomacy and sensitivity, and the ability to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in establishing,building, and maintaining effective working relationships with administrators,faculty, staff, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders;
• Must be able to respond to emergencies 24/7.

Additional Preferred Experience, Education, etc.

• Professional, facilities related certifications (Professional Engineering, LEED);
• Advanced degree in engineering, facilities/construction management or related field.

Tufts Competencies

Tufts competencies describe the knowledge, skills and behaviors required to effectively perform a job in the university:

• Expertise: Requisite skills for the position; sharing of expertise; support of others in learning and skill building; pride in work; commitment to professional development;
• Interaction with Others: Demonstrated communication skills; openness to different viewpoints; respect shown for others; collaboration on joint projects and decisions; ability to give and receive candid and helpful feedback;
• Continuous Improvement: Measurable improvement made in systems or processes; system efficiency; innovation and creativity; commitment to generating new solutions and ideas;
• Customer Focus:Attention to and focus on customer satisfaction; effective and appropriate relationships with customers; successfully anticipate and meet the needs of both internal and external customers;
• Resourcefulness and Results: The ability to work effectively in a variety of situations; demonstrating good work habits, flexibility and initiative; using multiple resources to achieve desired results; seeking input and assessing risks when decision making; committing to getting things done;
• Leadership: Model desired behavior for position; act as catalyst for change through positive energy. (For management positions, refer to the Leadership Competency Model.)

Salary Range

Minimum $187,700.       Midpoint $234,700.        Maximum $281,600.