Facility Manager (R&D Lab & Research Facility)

Job Summary

The Facilities Manager is a hybrid leadership and technical role responsible for the end-to-end operation, maintenance, and reliability of our R&D Laboratory and Research spaces. This unique position combines strategic facility management with hands-on technical execution. The successful candidate will serve as the primary site representative, managing long-term building operations, construction projects, and vendor relationships, while also personally performing critical troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and emergency repairs.

This role requires an ability to develop high-level maintenance strategies and report to Headquarters, coupled with the technical expertise to independently diagnose and fix complex MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) systems. The primary focus is sustaining optimal environmental conditions for sensitive research activities while ensuring maximum uptime through direct technical intervention when necessary.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations & Hands-On Maintenance

• Lifecycle Management: Lead the day-to-day operation and long-term maintenance of the entire R&D building. Develop and optimize comprehensive preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Direct Technical Execution: Personally perform advanced troubleshooting, repairs, and adjustments on critical infrastructure, including:
• Electrical: Utility power distribution, UPS systems, backup generators, switchgear, and PDUs.
• Mechanical: Chillers, specialized lab ventilation systems, air handling units (AHUs), precision cooling units, and pumps.
• Environmental Control: Ensure strict adherence to environmental standards (temperature, humidity, air quality, vibration) required for sensitive R&D experiments.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive initiatives to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and operational cost-effectiveness through both process changes and technical upgrades.

Emergency Response & 24/7 Reliability

• On-Call Leadership: Serve as the primary point of contact for a 24/7 on-call rotation. Provide rapid response support for after-hours emergencies, alarms, and critical incidents.
• Emergency Management: Lead initial emergency response efforts, including system isolation, backup activation, and damage control. Make critical technical decisions under pressure to minimize downtime.
• Root Cause Analysis: Conduct post-incident investigations to identify root causes, implement immediate fixes, and update procedures to prevent recurrence.

Construction, Renovation & Commissioning

• Project Oversight: Oversee minor to medium-scale renovations, lab fit-outs, and infrastructure upgrades with minimal disruption to research.
• Technical Commissioning: Provide hands-on support during the commissioning of newly installed systems. Verify that installations meet operational standards and perform functional testing before handover.
• Contractor Coordination: Manage external contractors during construction phases, ensuring alignment with lab design standards, safety protocols, and quality workmanship.
• Handover Management: Ensure all as-built drawings, asset data, and warranty information are accurately captured for long-term maintenance.

Vendor Management & Team Leadership

• Resource Management: Manage external service providers for routine maintenance and specialized repairs. Determine when to utilize internal skills vs. external vendors to optimize costs.
• Safety Compliance: Ensure all vendors and internal activities comply with site safety protocols, laboratory safety standards, OSHA, NFPA, NEC, and local building codes.
• Procedure Development: Create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) based on both management strategy and field experience.

Reporting, Budgeting & Compliance

• Executive Communication: Provide regular, detailed status updates to the Senior Facilities Manager at SKHYA Headquarters, including performance metrics (uptime, energy usage), incident reports, and risk assessments.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage the facilities operating budget (OpEx) for maintenance, energy, and service contracts. Plan for long-term capital improvements (CapEx) based on facility aging.
• Risk Management: Lead business continuity and disaster recovery planning to protect critical research assets, including oversight of fire detection, suppression systems, and hazardous material protocols.
• Requirements

Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum 7+ years of progressive experience in Facilities Management within a critical environment (R&D Labs, Data Centers, or High-Tech Manufacturing).
• Hybrid Background: Must demonstrate a proven track record of both managing facility operations/budgets and performing hands-on technical troubleshooting/repairs.
• Prior experience managing construction/renovation projects is required.

Skills

• Autonomy: Ability to work independently, diagnose complex issues without immediate support, and execute repairs under pressure.
• Physical Capability: Ability to lift heavy equipment, climb ladders, work in confined spaces, and respond to emergencies physically.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills for reporting to HQ, documenting technical work, and coordinating with research staff.
• Availability: Willingness to participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation for emergency support. And must have valid Driver License.

Technical Skills

• Electrical: Proficiency in troubleshooting and repairing low/medium voltage systems, generators, and UPS.
• Mechanical: Strong aptitude with HVAC, chilled water systems, industrial pumps, and specialized lab ventilation (fume hoods, AHUs).
• Systems: Deep knowledge of Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS) and diagnostic tools.
• Lab Specifics: Familiarity with clean rooms, precision cooling, and environmental control requirements for research.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Facility Management, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Preferred: Professional certifications such as CFM (Certified Facility Manager), CEM, or PE.
• OSHA 30 certification or equivalent safety training is highly preferred.

Requirement

• Authorized to work in the US

Benefits

• Top Tier health insurance at no employee cost
• Paid day offs: Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Parental Leave, Happy Fridays
• 401k Matching
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Health Care & Dependent Care
• Educational reimbursement up to $10,000 per year
• Donation Matching and volunteering opportunities
• Corporate discount programs
• Free Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner provided to employees

Compensation

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. Pay within the provided range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related skills and experience. Your Recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.