Assistant Vice President - Higher Education Jobs, University Jobs, HigherEd Jobs

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About Buffalo State

Buffalo State is one of the largest comprehensive schools in the State University of New York system. As a civically minded, urban-engaged campus community located in the city’s cultural corridor, Buffalo State prides itself as having smaller learning environments coupled with larger university opportunities. Boasting a diverse and inclusive campus, Buffalo State is committed to the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The school’s mission is to deliver a broad array of high-quality and distinctive academic programs infused with diversity, creativity, and hands-on learning opportunities for hardworking students who seek a personalized and affordable education that engages their minds and advances their careers. Buffalo State is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, service, scholarship, creative activity, and cultural enrichment. With degree programs in education, the arts, science, arts and humanities, and professional studies, each year over 6,000 students choose Buffalo State. Buffalo State welcomes applicants who are committed to helping us fulfill our mission.

Faculty/Professional: Professional

Department: Facilities Office

Local Title: Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Planning

Budget Title: Assistant Vice President

Rank: MP-3

Line Number: 20070

FTE: Full-Time

Negotiating Unit: M/C

FLSA: Exempt

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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

How to apply

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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 [email protected] or call (716) 878-4822.

Background Investigation StatementAll applicants are subject to a pre-employment background investigation. Our Pre-Employment Background Screening Policy is available at http://hr.buffalostate.edu/pre-employment-background-screening.

Clery StatementApplicants interested in positions may access the Annual Security Report (ASR) for SUNY Buffalo State at http://police.buffalostate.edu. The ASR contains information on campus security policies and certain campus crime statistics. Crime statistics are reported in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Applicants may request a hard copy of the ASR by contacting the SUNY Buffalo State University Police Department at (716) 878-6333.

New York State Executive Order 161

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected]. Further restrictions on using salary information in the hiring process appear in Labor Law §194-a.