Physical Plant Manager

The Physical Plant Manager oversees a comprehensive inspection and preventive maintenance program for the Arizona Air National Guard's major physical plant operations. This includes managing repairs, replacements, remodeling, and minor construction activities across facilities at the 162nd Wing in Tucson, AZ; Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ; and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ. The Physical Plant Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, and controlling all Physical Plant functions, ensuring mission success by coordinating with external agencies as needed. The Physical Plant Manager evaluates and ensures efficient departmental operations, maintaining operational expenses at a minimal level aligned with sound maintenance practices. This role provides both administrative and technical directions to department staff to ensure successful completion of work assignments. Additionally, the Physical Plant Manager aids in negotiating and administering construction and renovation contracts, collaborating with contracting officers as necessary. They offer guidance to officers, department heads, and staff on physical plant matters, addressing issues and advising on solutions. The Physical Plant Manager is responsible for the overall upkeep of unique and specialized facilities, covering heating, ventilation, lighting, cleanliness, sanitation, building and grounds appearance, and response to emergency situations impacting the Wing. The Physical Plant Manager liaises with architects, engineers, and contractors or subcontractors involved in plant expansion, renovation, and other major projects, acting as the primary point of contact to safeguard the interests of the 162nd Wing. Coordinates with the National Guard Bureau (NGB) by submitting monthly performance metrics, cost estimates, and progress reports to support alignment with national standards and budget requirements. Coordinates with the Base Civil Engineer (BCE) through participation in the annual Facilities Board Improvement Program to plan and prioritize infrastructure projects. Provides technical support by researching engineering data, identifying contract discrepancies, and conducting joint on-site inspections to verify work quality before recommending final project acceptance. Actively participates in promoting a continuous improvement of workplace culture, through the use of teamwork, root cause problem solving, standard operating procedures, and review of performance metrics.

Responsibilities include:
• Leads and oversees projects from inception to completion, ensuring all phases align with scope, timeline, and budget requirements. Manages project teams, allocates resources, and monitors progress to achieve project goals. Identifies and mitigates risks, communicates updates to stakeholders, and ensures successful delivery of outcomes that support organizational objectives.
• Coordinates with contractors and vendors to ensure seamless project execution, quality standards, and timely delivery of services. Manages communication, sets performance expectations, and monitors compliance with contract terms. Resolves issues promptly to maintain workflow continuity and align vendor activities with organizational goals and project timelines.
• Research and provides engineering data requiring considerable judgment with respect to organization's business objectives and goals. Assists the Base Civil Engineer by recommending changes to scopes of work and recommending final acceptance of completed projects performed by private contractors on major or minor construction projects. Reads and analyzes vendor contracts, determines needs, and provides input on discrepancies to ensure they meet requirements as they pertain to building construction, remodeling, maintenance, and all infrastructure related items.
• Develops, creates, and manages contract documents to support organizational goals, ensuring all terms and conditions align with mission requirements and regulatory standards. This includes drafting contract language, negotiating terms, and overseeing compliance to secure cost-effective agreements. Coordinates closely with internal stakeholders and external vendors to maintain service quality, mitigate risks, and uphold contractual obligations
• Provide leadership, supervision through subordinate supervisors and special staff, a continuous inspection and preventive maintenance program that includes the planning/coordination, inspection, repair, replacement, remodeling and construction activities to maintain a major physical plant operation at AZ Air National Guard facilities located at the 162nd Wing Tucson AZ, Fort Huachuca Sierra Vista AZ, and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Tucson AZ. Provide and conduct all established Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal, state and local government regulation safety training to State employees, to ensure compliance of all requirements and regulations are being met.
• Review and approve a variety of monthly reports and related cost estimates and project progress reports. Confer with supervisors for resolving difficult problems and questions to include but not limited to supervisory and unit policies, planning actions and decision making. Attend supervisory and/or management staff meetings; gives and receives information, participates in problem-solving and decision making. Attend unit staff meetings to discuss, guide, listen, resolve conflict, and lead discussions for problem solving and decision making.
• Develop documents, spreadsheets, charts, and presentations using Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, and other computer related programs.

Knowledge of:
● Departmental organization functions, and personnel practices and techniques.
● Statutes governing buildings, building requests, condemnation of buildings, expenditure regulations; local licensing and building code requirements; budgetary procedures and methods of record keeping.
● Methods and practices of preventive maintenance, repair, remodeling and construction activities and common and specialized tools, equipment and materials used; safety practices and National and local building codes; blueprints, sketches and schematics and structural components of buildings and utilities systems; budget preparation and control and purchasing; administrative methods and practices.
● Comprehensive knowledge of local contracting procedures, including regulations, policies, and best practices to ensure compliance and effective contract management.

Skilled in:
● Preparing, reviewing, and contract terms in alignment with organizational standards and local laws.
● Navigate procurement processes, evaluate bids, and collaborate with stakeholders to secure services and resources that meet project and operational needs.
● Managing, developing, and implementing preventive maintenance programs and related repair, remodeling, and construction activities
● Applying and inspecting, for compliance, national and local building codes; reading and interpreting blueprints, sketches, and schematics; budget regulations, and control of expenditures; administrative methods and practices.
● Oral and written communications; interpersonal relationships.

Ability to:
● Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with subordinates to accomplish assigned missions.
● Direct and guide employees in such trades as plumbing, electrical, welding, carpentry, masonry, etc.
● Interpret Municipal, National and Federal Building Codes and regulations.
● Read plans, blueprints, and specifications.
● Prepare fiscal, administrative and construction documents.
● Operate and use computers and computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, One Note, Etc.
● Establish and maintain working relationships with vendors, contractors, and architects/engineers.
● Accurately estimate costs for projects.

Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education, and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities as described, two years of supervisory or administrative experience directing the operation and maintenance of a large physical plant in a multi-building complex, requiring a working knowledge of the application of NEMA, OSHA, and Air Force regulations. Any combination of training and experience that meets the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) may be substituted.

Special Job Requirements:
● This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid Arizona state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)
● In/out of State travel required.
● Individual is required to pass a criminal background investigation.
● Candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background investigation as well as possess the ability to achieve a favorable Tier 1 investigation for the purpose of obtaining/maintaining a Common Access Card (CAC) within one year of hire.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year.
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Eligible DEMA employees participate in excellent retirement programs provided by the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and for fire personnel the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact hr@azdema.gov.
DEMA is a smoke-free work environment.
ADA/EEO Employer
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation Employer