Over the past 8 months or so, the Facilities senior leadership team has been working hard to prepare our team for the future. We have made key organizational changes and improvements as well as drafting what I’m calling our Leadership Playbook — a review of our purpose and priorities as a unified facilities team.
As we get ready to share the Playbook more widely, I believe this is the right time to move forward with hiring the vacant senior leadership positions in the Facilities group. Over the next while, you’ll see postings for two of the roles we’ll all look to in helping us work together more closely and effectively.
Managing Director, Building Operations
With Kishani Gibbon’s Customer Services & Informatics team now reporting directly to me and Nikii Hoglund’s Asset Replacement & Improvement team joining Infrastructure Development, the Building Operations organizational structure has been refocused. We’re now ready to recruit for a new Managing Director for the department.
We’re looking for a leader who can help the Trades, Custodial Services and Municipal Services teams deliver outstanding operations, maintenance and asset stewardship services for both UBC’s buildings and public realm. We’ll have the posting for this position ready this week and will work hard to put together a thoughtful and consultative recruiting process.
Managing Director, Energy & Water Services
I think we are all still reflecting on David Woodson’s upcoming departure to the University of Washington at the end of October. The vision, innovation and leadership that Dave brought to UBC will be difficult to replace — but we’ll need strong leadership as the Energy & Water Services team is vital to overseeing the university’s critical utilities infrastructure and helping to implement the UBC Climate Action Plan. The posting for the Managing Director, Energy & Water Services is expected to go out in the next month.
Making the playbook work for all of us
Jennifer Sanguinetti, Kishani Gibbons and I are looking forward to adding new perspectives to our senior team. The new Managing Directors for Building Operations and Energy & Water Services will work closely with myself and their colleagues in Infrastructure Development and Customer Services & Informatics to ensure that the Facilities group works as one integrated and inclusive team.
Moving forward with these key positions is important, but teams are far more than their leaders. Thank you all for your hard work for the campus community and for following COVID-19 safety protocols as in-person classes resume and the campus returns to its normal high level of activity. I am always proud of the work we do.
As always, please reach out to me if you have any questions.
John Metras
Associate Vice-President, Facilities