Position Title:
Manager Building Services
Job Group:
Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience
Job Description:
Help shape the future of innovation at Iowa State University by leading spaces where students, faculty, and staff turn creative ideas into hands-on experiences. The Student Innovation Center is seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking Manager Building Services to oversee the people, technology, equipment, and daily operations of several innovative Makerspaces. This position provides leadership for the Electronics, Textiles and 3D Printing Makerspace, Digital Media Studio, Digital Modeling and Visualization Lab, and AI Innovation Studio.
This is a people leadership and operations management role in a highly technical, creative environment. The manager will lead professional and student staff with varied areas of expertise, establish priorities and expectations, support employee development, and foster a collaborative and accountable team. The position also oversees daily operations, technology and equipment planning, safety, customer service, training, budgets, purchasing, and continuous improvement.
We are looking for someone who enjoys bringing people and ideas together, solving operational challenges, and creating systems that help both employees and users succeed. The successful candidate does not need to be an expert in every technology within these spaces, but should be curious about emerging technologies and comfortable learning enough to ask good questions, evaluate recommendations, and make informed decisions.
The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills; and the ability to manage multiple priorities in an environment that continues to evolve. Just as importantly, they will foster a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where students, faculty, and staff feel supported in exploring, creating, and learning.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and Develop Staff: Supervise a team of technical and professional staff, including hiring, coaching, performance management, employee development, scheduling, and fostering a collaborative, accountable team environment.
Oversee Makerspace Operations: Manage daily operations across assigned makerspaces, including equipment, technology, software, staffing, space access, reservations, maintenance, and user services.
Manage Technology and Equipment: Oversee equipment maintenance, software updates, troubleshooting, technical assessments, and technology projects to ensure reliable operations and effective service delivery.
Support Safety and Compliance: Promote safe equipment use, coordinate safety training and inspections, and collaborate with Environmental Health and Safety to maintain compliance with university policies and procedures.
Drive Strategic Planning and Innovation: Evaluate emerging technologies, identify opportunities for makerspace enhancements, and develop short- and long-term plans for equipment upgrades, replacement, and expansion.
Manage Budgets and Resources: Oversee purchasing, equipment inventories, operational budgets, and resource allocation to support efficient and cost-effective operations.
Develop Training and Operating Procedures: Establish and improve staff and user training, standard operating procedures, service standards, and operational practices across assigned spaces.
Use Data to Improve Operations: Analyze participation, equipment usage, training, and customer service data to evaluate effectiveness, identify trends, and guide operational improvements.
Build Collaborative Partnerships: Develop relationships with campus departments, student organizations, faculty, staff, vendors, and external partners to support makerspace programs, services, and initiatives.
Support an Engaging User Experience: Ensure responsive customer service, assist with complex inquiries, and support an accessible, welcoming environment where…