Facilities Support Specialist
Auburn University
Facilities Support Specialist
Auburn University
This position is located in Huntsville, AL
Auburn University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the Applied Research Institute (ARI) is seeking a qualified Facilities Support Specialist.
This position supports the safe, efficient, compliant, and reliable operation of Auburn University facilities in Huntsville. The position assists the Campus Engineer with the oversight of facility operations, routine and preventive maintenance, capital improvement activities, building systems, laboratory environments, and contractor coordination across three campus buildings. This position provides critical support for environmental health and safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and specialized research facilities. The Facilities Specialist conducts facility and laboratory inspections, evaluates safety and operational risks, monitors corrective actions, and advises administrators and stakeholders regarding facility conditions, regulatory requirements, and risk mitigation strategies. The position requires working knowledge of commercial building systems, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as the ability to interpret building drawings, architectural plans, and technical schematics. The Facilities Specialist works collaboratively with university personnel, researchers, contractors, project teams, safety professionals, and other stakeholders to maintain safe, secure, compliant, and operationally effective facilities.
•Supports facility operations, maintenance, and improvement for assigned campus buildings by assisting the Campus Engineer with daily operations, preventive maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, facility planning, and capital improvement projects.
•Maintains high standards of facility cleanliness, sanitation, organization, and overall appearance, helping ensure buildings and surrounding work environments are clean, orderly, safe, functional, and presentable for employees, researchers, students, visitors, contractors, and guests.
•Performs other facility, safety, and operational duties as assigned to support the safe, compliant, efficient, and reliable operation of campus buildings and specialized research environments.
•Monitors critical building systems and infrastructure, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, emergency power, utilities, and related systems; identifies deficiencies and coordinates appropriate corrective actions to maintain safe and reliable operations.
•Reads and interprets construction drawings, architectural plans, technical schematics, and equipment specifications to support facility maintenance, modifications, troubleshooting, project planning, and integration of specialized research equipment with building infrastructure.
•Conducts comprehensive inspections of facilities, laboratories, equipment, utilities, and safety systems to identify safety, security, environmental, regulatory, equipment, and operational risks; evaluates findings and recommends corrective and preventive actions.
•Monitors and promotes compliance with environmental health and safety requirements, including occupational safety, radiation safety, laser safety, and other applicable university and regulatory requirements; provides guidance regarding compliance obligations and risk mitigation.
•Oversees the operational readiness of facility and life-safety systems, including emergency eyewash stations, safety showers, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, emergency lighting, ventilation systems, and building access controls; identifies deficiencies and coordinates corrective action.
•Maintains required safety and compliance documentation, including safety signage, hazard communication materials, equipment labeling, permits, inspection records, regulatory postings, and other records necessary to support facility and laboratory compliance.
•Coordinates and tracks corrective actions resulting from inspections, audits, regulatory reviews, maintenance issues, equipment deficiencies, and identified hazards, prioritizing issues and working with appropriate stakeholders to ensure timely resolution.
•Investigates facility-related incidents, safety concerns, and near misses, evaluates contributing factors, documents findings, and recommends corrective or preventive measures to reduce risk and prevent recurrence.
•Coordinates inspections, readiness reviews, and compliance assessments for specialized research environments, including radiation vaults, accelerator spaces, laser laboratories, controlled-access areas, and other research facilities; advises laboratory leadership and administrators regarding deficiencies, corrective actions, and operational impacts.
•Provides radiation and specialized laboratory safety support, including dosimetry and badge management, safety-system monitoring, regulatory postings, coordination with Radiation Safety personnel, and guidance regarding radiation-related safety requirements and best practices.
• Supports emergency preparedness, response, and business continuity activities, including evacuation planning, spill response, emergency coordination, incident response, recovery activities, and post-incident follow-up; participates in on-call coverage for after-hours, holiday, and other facility emergencies as needed.
•Coordinates facility maintenance, repairs, renovations, and improvement activities with contractors, vendors, project teams, researchers, and university stakeholders, monitoring work for potential impacts on facility operations, research activities, safety, security, and regulatory compliance.
•Develops, delivers, and maintains facility and safety training, procedures, policies, and best practices designed to strengthen regulatory compliance, reduce institutional risk, establish consistent performance expectations, and promote a culture of safety.
•Supports facility planning, budgeting, and continuous improvement initiatives, including tracking operating and maintenance expenditures, assessing facility conditions and research needs, establishing performance standards, and recommending operational or capital improvements that support continued campus growth.
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Desired Qualifications:
•Working knowledge of commercial building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and life-safety systems.
•Knowledge of facility operations, preventive maintenance, workplace safety, environmental health and safety, and risk management principles.
•Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, construction documents, blueprints, technical schematics, and equipment specifications.
•Ability to identify and evaluate facility and laboratory hazards and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
•Ability to coordinate multiple maintenance, compliance, inspection, and project activities simultaneously.
•Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
•Ability to communicate technical, operational, and safety information effectively to administrators, researchers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
•Ability to exercise independent judgment when evaluating facility conditions, risks, priorities, and corrective actions.
•Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
•Ability to work effectively around laboratories, specialized research environments, controlled-access spaces, contractors, and active construction or maintenance activities.
•Ability to participate in an on-call rotation and respond to facility emergencies outside normal working hours, including holidays, as necessary.
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