Assistant Vice President in Facilities and Planning Office

Brief Job Description

SUNY Buffalo State University seeks a strategic and collaborative leader in the position of Assistant Vice President for Facilities (AVP). Reporting to the Vice President of Financial Management (VPFM), AVP for Facilities is directly responsible for setting the strategic direction and management of units responsible for Environmental Health and Safety, Design and Construction, and Facilities Operations including, but is not limited to, energy management, maintenance, custodial, grounds, and fleet management throughout the campus community. This role is responsible for managing, preserving, and purposefully advancing the physical environment in support of the Buffalo State’s strategic goals (education, student experience, research, and community service) while responsibly managing and using the university’s fiscal and employee resources to accomplish these aspirations. The Facilities unit manages about 3,245,000 gsf of facilities and 132 acres located in the city of Buffalo on the 125-acre main campus, the Great Lakes Center on the Niagara River/Black Rock Canal, and the President’s House property. The facilities unit has an annual operational budget of $9.5 million and a 5-year targeted capital budget of approximately $120 million.

Required Qualifications   

• A Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• Strategic Leader who can leverage all resources to address competing priorities while maintaining, constructing, renewing, and operating a clean, attractive, accessible, and sustainable physical environment.
• Familiarity with operational aspects of facilities management including trades, custodial, grounds, and utility management.
• General familiarity with architecture, engineering, and construction terminology to converse technically with staff, consultants, and vendors.
• Ability to function in a collaborative team environment and build and maintain effective relations with the university’s various constituencies, including President’s Cabinet, faculty, staff, students, alumni, consultants, and other internal and external constituencies.
• Ability to value, actively seek, and respond to various internal and external constituencies to build consensus among diverse groups and arrive at sound solutions.
• Progressively responsible experience in facility/physical plant management or closely related field (e.g. architecture, engineering or construction management).
• Experience leading a facilities department or division that includes supervision and leadership of large staff, and budget management experience.
• Proven experience managing multiple, competing priorities simultaneously. Commitment to valuing diversity, practicing inclusive behaviors, and contributing to an equitable working and continual learning environment.

Preferred Qualifications   

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Facilities Management or a closely related field (e.g., architecture, engineering, or construction management).
• NYS Licensed Architect or Engineer.
• Proven experience of progressively responsible industry experience in building projects, construction and renovation management, maintenance, and facilities/physical plant management.
• Professional experience working with or for SUNY, DASNY, SUCF or other State of New York entities.
• Experience working in a college or university setting or other similarly complex organization with a shared governance environment.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with multi-million-dollar budgets and financial management.
• Experience with procurement and management of consultant and construction contracts.
• Experience with reporting requirements of various oversight entities.
• Experience working with environmental and sustainability principles, best practices, and laws/regulations.
• Experience developing and monitoring metrics to ensure the organization is operating efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Knowledge of safe work practices, and the promotion of such practices in Facilities Management.

Anticipated Date of Hire: 01/01/2026

Application Deadline Date: 10/16/2025

Open Until Filled: No

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer     

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution that subscribes to all federal, state, and SUNY legal requirements and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status (Nondiscrimination Notice). Any violation of this policy should be reported to the Equity and Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, (716) 878-6210. Buffalo State is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Warnes at warnesje@buffalostate.edu or call (716) 878-4822.

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