Executive Director of Facilities Engineering & Construction

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:  

• Hiring Range:  $150,000 - $180,000 annually. 

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons. 

• Benefits            
• PTO Overview 
• Job Classification: Full-time
• Grade Level: 11

About the Department:  The Department of Instructional Resources and Facilities Management consists of five divisions: Campus Security, Media and Instructional Resources, Facilities Engineering and Construction, Facilities Services, and Instructional Fabrication.  Our primary responsibilities include ensuring campus safety and security, managing facility operations, and overseeing key academic resources, including Media Centers, Instructional Shops, and specialized academic facilities. We are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the built environment of the campus. Collectively, these functions create a cohesive team focused on the effective planning, operation, and delivery of essential support services within our specialized educational institution. The Department employs approximately 100 full-time staff, 110 contracted staff, and 300 student employees. We serve a 1.3 million-square-foot campus across nine buildings.

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations, the Executive Director of Facilities Engineering & Construction provides leadership for the construction and maintenance of the school’s physical environment.  The Executive Director oversees the ongoing maintenance and operations of campus buildings, infrastructure, grounds, and utilities, ensuring a safe, healthy, and high-performing environment for students, faculty, and staff. The position requires close collaboration with the Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations and leadership within the Department of Instructional Resources and Facilities Management. 

Responsibilities:

Facilities Engineering 

Oversee building maintenance, utilities, and infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operations across campus. Direct engineering services, ensuring compliance with building codes, safety regulations, and best practices in energy efficiency. Maintain a current knowledge of emerging technologies through research and professional conferences. 

• Manage and set expectations for a building engineering contractor and the associated team of 15 building engineers. Establish service levels, ensure user satisfaction, and maintain open communication to ensure goals are consistently met. 
• Develop, manage, and update preventive maintenance requirements using CMMS and building automation system data to minimize downtime and unscheduled outages while maintaining critical operations. Direct, contract, and assess repairs and replacement of major systems and/or components. 
• Energy Conservation Program: Implement systematic measures to enhance energy conservation. Aid in the utility purchasing process by providing historical usage trends and projections of changes. Review and approve utility billings for the school facilities.  
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets for facilities, collaborating with the Executive Director of Facilities Services throughout the process. Implement data-driven performance metrics to monitor efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. 
• Conduct inspections of all buildings and systems, ensuri