Director, General Administration

Jobtailor; Joliet (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Joliet, IL is seeking a senior leader to own facilities operations and administrative services, directing multiple teams and coordinating vendor portfolios. You will develop 1–3 year operation plans, drive service strategies, and ensure alignment with site leadership.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of experience, with the ability to influence executives, governance of vendor portfolios, and travel up to 20%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree desirable, or equivalent experience
• 12+ years of relevant experience, including leadership of multiple teams and/or managers
• Demonstrated ownership of operational plans/strategies with short- to mid-term impact (1–3 years)
• Ability to lead complex, undefined issues requiring extensive analysis
• Capability to influence executive leadership and oversee department-wide vendor governance
• Experience developing department-wide operating plans and service strategies (1–3 year horizon), including staffing models and governance cadences
• Track record influencing senior leaders to adopt new service standards, funding approaches, or risk mitigations
• Experience overseeing multiple vendor portfolios supporting property and workplace services
• Travel up to 20%
• No language requirement

Responsibilities

• Deliver reliable business support services for facilities and day-to-day administrative operations
• Oversee and coordinate security, janitorial, and building-management service providers
• Support property and facilities-adjacent administration, including space, workplace services, and access/badging coordination
• Implement and maintain general administration procedures aligned with internal policies and site requirements
• Partner with Operations, HR, EHS, Finance, IT, and Site Leadership
• Track service performance, address recurring issues, and improve administrative workflows
• Manage documentation, invoice routing/approvals, recordkeeping, and vendor interactions
• Promote a service-oriented culture focused on responsiveness, professionalism, safety, and problem resolution
• Direct operational plans for a general administration department with multiple teams
• Execute functional strategy and establish 1–3 year operational plans
• Lead complex cross-department service transformations
• Communicate with executive leadership on service standards, resourcing, and risk mitigation
• Build workforce and staffing plans, succession planning, capability development, and vendor portfolio governance
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Operational Planning

Vendor Governance

Cross-Department Leadership

Executive Communication

Data Analysis

Problem Solving

Staffing Model Development

Risk Mitigation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

• Deliver reliable business support services for facilities and day-to-day administrative operations
• Oversee and coordinate security, janitorial, and building-management service providers
• Support property and facilities-adjacent administration, including space, workplace services, and access/badging coordination
• Implement and maintain general administration procedures aligned with internal policies and site requirements
• Partner with Operations, HR, EHS, Finance, IT, and Site Leadership
• Track service performance, address recurring issues, and improve administrative workflows
• Manage documentation, invoice routing/approvals, recordkeeping, and vendor interactions
• Promote a service-oriented culture focused on responsiveness, professionalism, safety, and problem resolution
• Direct operational plans for a general administration department with multiple teams
• Execute functional strategy and establish 1–3 year operational plans
• Lead complex cross-department service transformations
• Communicate with executive leadership on service standards, resourcing, and risk mitigation
• Build workforce and staffing plans, succession planning, capability development, and vendor portfolio governance
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree desirable, or equivalent experience
• 12+ years of relevant experience, including leadership of multiple teams and/or managers
• Demonstrated ownership of operational plans/strategies with short- to mid-term impact (1–3 years)
• Ability to lead complex, undefined issues requiring extensive analysis
• Capability to influence executive leadership and oversee department-wide vendor governance
• Experience developing department-wide operating plans and service strategies (1–3 year horizon), including staffing models and governance cadences
• Track record influencing senior leaders to adopt new service standards, funding approaches, or risk mitigations
• Experience overseeing multiple vendor portfolios supporting property and workplace services
• Travel up to 20%
• No language requirement

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in operational planning and strategy execution, with a focus on vendor governance and service delivery in facilities management. Proven ability to lead cross-departmental initiatives and influence executive leadership to adopt new service standards and risk mitigation strategies.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Operational Planning
• Vendor Governance
• Cross-Department Leadership
• Service Strategy Development
• Executive Communication

Hard Skills

• Operational Strategy
• Vendor Management
• Service Performance Tracking
• Recordkeeping
• Invoice Routing
• Administrative Workflow Improvement
• Staffing Model Development
• Risk Mitigation
• Complex Problem Solving
• Data Analysis

Soft Skills

• Influencing Skills
• Problem Resolution
• Service Orientation
• Professionalism
• Responsiveness

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Advanced Degree (Desirable)

Industry Keywords

• Facilities Management
• Workplace Services
• Administrative Operations
• Service Standards
• EHS (Environmental Health and Safety)
• HR (Human Resources)
• Finance
• IT (Information Technology)
• Site Leadership
• Vendor Portfolio