Operations Manager, Space Institute

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Why work for Texas A&M Engineering?

Engineering has been part of Texas A&M University since its opening in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Today, the College of Engineering is the largest college on the College Station campus with more than 25,000 engineering students enrolled in 15 departments. Its mission is to serve Texas, the nation and the global community by providing engineering graduates who are well-founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.

As the research arm of Engineering, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is a state agency within the Texas A&M University System with a mission to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research, workforce development and technology transition. Our collaborations with industry, academia and government provide cutting-edge solutions to global technical challenges.

We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Service, by offering competitive salaries, an array of benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

Job Description

Purpose:

The Operations Manager, under direction, leads and oversees facility operations, maintenance, and infrastructure support for the Texas A&M University Space Institute in Houston. This position is responsible for ensuring that facilities are safe, secure, functional, and capable of supporting a dynamic, multi-tenant environment. The Operations Manager contributes to the overall effectiveness of the Institute by maintaining high operational standards, supporting tenant needs, and ensuring facility and equipment readiness to support high-quality facility operations in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees preventative, corrective, and planned maintenance, including mechanical, electrical, HVAC, custodial, and grounds operations.

• Oversees day-to-day facility operations to ensure the building is safe, secure, functional, and maintained in accordance with university policies and applicable regulations.

• Serves as primary point of contact for facility-related issues, and service requests ensuring timely response and resolution.

• Coordinates and manages vendor services, contractors, and maintenance providers to ensure quality performance and compliance.

• Oversees building access control, key management, badging, tenant onboarding, and facility usage processes; conducts regular reviews of access permissions to ensure appropriate and secure access.

• Leads facility safety, emergency preparedness, and business continuity efforts, including safety training, fire drills, evacuation procedures, emergency response planning, corrective actions, and participation in on-call response activities.

• Assigns and coordinates facility proctors, safety monitors, and other personnel as required to support daily operations, events, and specialized activities.

• Oversees the operation, maintenance, enhancement, and reconfiguration of specialty environments, including the Moon and Mars analog scapes, utilizing and coordinating the operation of heavy equipment and specialized machinery.

• Coordinates with business operations staff on supply ordering, equipment service requests, purchase documentation, and related administrative processes.

• Establishes processes and maintains records of maintenance activities, work orders, inspections, and performance metrics.

• Supports space utilization planning and assists with coordination of facility modifications or improvements such as new equipment installation.

• Provides communication and guidance to staff and tenants regarding facility operations and procedures.

• Monitors facility performance and identifies opportunities for operational improvements.

• Coordinates with internal university departments and external partners to support facility operations.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

What We Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Facility Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Five (5) years of related experience in facility operations, maintenance, or project coordination.

What Is Helpful:

• Experience working in higher education, research, or complex multi-tenant facilities.

• Experience coordinating vendors, service contracts, and maintenance activities.

• Knowledge of building systems, maintenance practices, and safety standards.

Work Location:

• Houston, TX.

About The Texas A&M Space Institute:

The Texas A&M University Space Institute will advance commercial, government, military, and academic research and development partnerships in support of national and international space endeavors. With a $200 million investment from the State of Texas, a 400,000 square foot facility is under construction at NASA-Johnson Space Center's Exploration Park. This unique facility, featuring the world's largest indoor climate-controlled landscapes to emulate surface operations on the moon and Mars, is expected to open in the fall of 2026 and will support space system research, testing, training, and workforce development initiatives.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive medical insurance benefits through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prescription coverage by Express Scripts.
• Options for Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance.
• A defined benefit retirement plan with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) with 8.25% employer contribution.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation Program 457(b).
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Generous paid time off with holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional development opportunities.
• Tuition assistance and Educational release time to further your academic pursuits.
• Access to Engineer Your Wellness programs that provide opportunities for employees to engage in health and fitness.
• Wellness release time offered to employees to promote work/life balance.

Helpful Applicant Information

Required Materials for Application:

• Resume/CV
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor/former supervisor.
• Letter of interest

Applications received by Texas A&M Engineering must have all required job application data entered.

Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application.

Compensation Philosophy:

• Recruit and retain a high-performing workforce through competitive compensation and career development including career pathing, coaching and skills development.
• Recognize and reward exceptional performance based on individual and team contributions to the growth and success of Texas A&M Engineering.
• Offer total rewards through flexible benefits, professional development, and work-life balance. Maintain an equitable and transparent process for compensation decisions.
• Support, reinforce, and align compensation decisions with budgetary and financial strategies to ensure growth and sustainability.

Employment Eligibility Verification

• If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in delay of start date.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.