Job Description

Position Description

Manages and directs the day to day operations of a research center/institute or medium sized department. Plans, coordinates and supervises the operation and activities of the center/institute/department. Develops and implements policies and procedures, administers the budget, organizes tasks and sets priorities.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock:Referred to as the “Hub City” because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock’s Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the Department and/or College

The Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE) was one of the university’s original four colleges founded in 1925 and later renamed in honor of Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. The WCOE has seven departments and approximately 4800 undergraduate and 1300 graduate students. There are approximately 220 faculty/instructors and 115 staff in the college. “We are a regionally rooted first class engineering college with national and worldwide impact.”

The Dean's Office in the Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE) is dedicated to the success of our faculty, students and staff. This team serves as the leadership and operational hub of the college, guiding academic programming, faculty affairs, research initiatives, and student support, while balancing essential administrative functions. We value dedication, integrity, and hard work, fostering a supportive community that encourages collaboration, creativity and effectiveness. We believe our roles are crucial to the functioning of the entire college. Its leadership shapes the educational experience for students, drives impactful research, manages resources effectively, and ensures that the college maintains strong ties to industry, the community, and our alumni.


Major/Essential Functions

In this position you will direct, supervise, and coordinate all building related activities and operations for Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE) managed research facilities; work closely with college & campus administrators, faculty, research staff and students to identify needs and deficiencies and improve operations of the WCOE facilities; and participate in the development, implementation, and enforcement of College policy regarding research facilities. You will be responsible for reviewing operational budgets for college research facilities and ensuring that funds are spent in a fiscally responsible manner.

Essential Functions:
Facilities Management- Work closely with College and TTU Operations personnel and building occupants to coordinate preventive maintenance to minimize disruptions to building activities. Initiate corrective maintenance work orders and coordinate with Operations to ensure that college research & teaching facilities are properly maintained and that repairs are completed in a timely manner. Serve as a resource to college & departments to resolve facility related issues. Advise/assist college departments in matters of research facility design, construction, and operation.
Safety- Collaborate with Building Emergency Managers and College Safety Coordinators. Maintain current contact lists for building occupants. Ensure lab exterior doors display signage with hazard information and emergency contact details. Ensure occupants are kept informed of the status of emergency events. Respond during & after normal business hours to address building-related emergencies. Coordinate with the appropriate departments to address such events and ensure that the affected personnel are promptly notified & kept informed until the emergency is resolved. Coordinate with Office of Emergency Management and other units to keep the Emergency Action Plans for College facilities current and to educate the building occupants regarding emergency preparedness & procedures. Work closely with TTU Environmental Health & Safety regarding safety awareness efforts. Assist EH&S in educating laboratory personnel to ensure that proper lab safety practices are followed. Coordinate with other departments to develop and implement safety protocols & policies for research activities.
Space Utilization- Assist Dean and Assoc Deans to ensure proper space utilization of WCOE research facilities. Compile data and make recommendations regarding space reallocation to maximize space utilization & faculty collaboration. Participate in periodic space review analysis & research productivity reviews for WCOE facilities. Work with other departments to develop office & laboratory space utilization benchmarking metrics. Also work closely with Operations to identify opportunities to convert underutilized space across the university into usable research space to address the space needs of research faculty.
Renovation/Construction- Serve as WCOE rep in matters concerning research facility construction, renovation and maintenance. Work with OR&I, Facilities Planning & Construction, contractors & lab planners, and faculty, staff, & administration members to ensure that the new research facilities are designed & constructed in accordance with directives & TTU standards. Also work with Operations to manage renovations & building upgrades at research, teaching facilities & offices.
Special Projects- Assist the WCOE in completion of special projects requiring use of research management skills and experience. Ensure efficient coordination of efforts between other departments to promote WCOE initiatives.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required, master's preferred; Six years progressively responsible management experience. Additional education beyond Bachelor's may substitute for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelors Degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology degree, or equivalent relevant trade degrees/certificates. Experience in maintaining buildings (construction, electrical, utilities), MS degree, safety certifications