Director of Facilities Operation, Maintenance, and Engineering

About

The Frederick National Laboratory is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The lab addresses some of the most urgent and intractable problems in the biomedical sciences in cancer and AIDS, drug development and first-in-human clinical trials, applications of nanotechnology in medicine, and rapid response to emerging threats of infectious diseases.

Accountability, Compassion, Collaboration, Dedication, Integrity and Versatility; it's the FNL way.

Program Description

The Facilities Maintenance and Engineering (FME) mission is to support the NCI at Frederick in their mission to cure cancer and AIDS. FME is responsible for the physical campus - its research laboratory space, administrative space, the infrastructure that supports the buildings, and the landscape that surrounds them. In addition, we are responsible for managing, planning, designing, and construction management of renovations at the FNLCR.

Key Roles/Responsibilities

THIS ROLE OFFERS A SIGN-ON BONUS OF UP TO $30K

The Director of Facilities Operation, Maintenance, and Engineering is responsible for managing and providing overall direction to staff who maintain, operate, and upgrade facilities at the NCI (National Cancer Institute) Frederick, including Government owned and leased, as well as contract leased, research laboratory, clinical laboratory, animal facility, cGMP (clinical Good Manufacturing Practices) development / production, and administrative space.

The role provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all facility-related functions to enable mission-driven research by maintaining high-performance laboratory environments, managing essential support services, and leading multidisciplinary teams across facilities, custodial, and trades functions to ensure all facilities and support services operate safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with federal regulations and biosafety standards.

Facilities & Infrastructure Management

• Function as a central point of contact with the NCI Project Operations representatives (engineering and scientific programs) regarding strategy, planning and execution of facilities related projects
• Lead facilities master planning and capital improvement initiatives assigned
• Manage design, planning, construction, renovation, and infrastructure upgrade projects assigned, including and not limited to:
• Plan, budget and schedule facility modifications including estimates on equipment, labor, materials and other related costs
• Forecast and manage expense and capital budgets, formulating and developing program plans, goals and objectives; evaluating and interpreting program results; and proving functional guidance to responsible managers
• Develop and maintain project management processes and systems and ensures proper procedures are followed
• Collaborate and partner with Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) to ensure adherence and compliance with environmental, safety and health regulations for staff and subcontractors
• Ensure laboratory environments meet strict biosafety and research requirements (e.g., BSL-2/BSL-3 conditions)

Maintenance & Skilled Trades Oversight

• Direct preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs across all facility systems
• Oversee operations of all buildings, utilities, and critical systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, backup power, clean rooms, containment systems) as assigned
• Oversee in-house and contracted skilled trades (e.g., electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, carpenters) within assigned remit
• Ensure rapid response to system failures and minimize operational disruptions
• Manage and be accountable for the organization’s input to the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS)

Janitorial / Custodial Services

• Oversee custodial operations for offices, laboratories, and controlled environments
• Ensure cleaning protocols meet biosafety, contamination control, and regulatory standards
• Manage waste handling coordination, including biohazardous and regulated materials (in partnership with EHS)
• Develop service standards, schedules, and performance metrics for internal staff and/or contracted vendors

Scientific Equipment Management

• Lead lifecycle management of research equipment (procurement, installation, calibration, maintenance, decommissioning)
• Partner with scientific teams to plan and support current and future equipment needs
• Ensure compliance with operational, safety, and regulatory requirements

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and government agency regulations
• Support biosafety, environmental health and safety (EHS), and biosecurity programs
• Maintain audit readiness for inspections and accreditation
• Develop and enforce standard operating processes across facilities, custodial, and maintenance functions

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead multidisciplinary teams including facilities staff, maintenance personnel, custodial teams, and skilled trades
• Manage workforce planning in hiring, supervising, developing, evaluating, and mentoring staff to ensure adequate resources are available to perform and execute the work assigned and efficient operation of the directorate
• Oversee contractor/vendor performance and service agreements and hold contractors/vendors accountable accordingly
• Set performance expectations, provide positive and constructive feedback in a timely manner
• Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and respect
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Foster effective teamwork and communication within the directorate
• Hold accountable those to whom the directorate head delegates authority to act and assures that those individuals are trained in the delegated functions

Basic Qualifications

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Life Sciences, or related field, from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible relevant engineering in a complex environment with a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in a senior leadership role supervising experienced staff members overseeing teams which include trades and custodial services
• Possess current registration or licensure as an architect or engineer (civil or equivalent) or be able to obtain or renew licensure or registration within 30 days of employment
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of biomedical laboratory planning, and safety, cGMP, and vivarium and welfare of research animals
• Must possess basic Microsoft Office skills
• Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• Possession of Master’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Life Sciences, or related field, from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• Previous experience in federally funded research environment, especially Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)
• Previous experience within the biomedical Research & Development (R&D) environment

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, color, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Pay And Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here