Director of Facilities and Plant operations

Merraine Group, Inc.; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Pennsylvania is seeking a Director of Facilities and Plant Operations. This role involves overseeing all facilities-related functions, ensuring safety and sustainability while managing a diverse team. Candidates should possess a minimum of seven years in facilities management, strong leadership, and project management skills. The position offers a salary range from $90,000 to $110,000 annually and supports a vibrant academic environment. Full-time commitment required with some flexibility for emergencies.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of progressive facilities or operations management experience.
• Demonstrated leadership managing multi-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and life safety systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and management oversight to departmental managers.
• Oversee daily operations and preventive maintenance programs.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations in facilities.

Skills

Leadership experience

Project management

Vendor management

Operational efficiency

Knowledge of building systems

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CMMS platforms

Standard office software

Job description

Director of Facilities and Plant Operations

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Base pay range

$90,000.00/yr - $110,000.00/yr

This role presents an opportunity for an experienced Director of Facilities and Physical Plant to lead the stewardship of a residential liberal arts campus with a diverse mix of historic and modern facilities. The Director will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure that buildings, infrastructure, and grounds are safe, functional, sustainable, and welcoming. With a strong emphasis on service excellence, regulatory compliance, and long‑term asset management, this position plays a central role in supporting the institution’s academic mission, student experience, and community engagement.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Director of Facilities and Physical Plant provides leadership and oversight for all facilities‑related functions, including maintenance, custodial services, and grounds operations. The role balances daily campus operations with long‑range facilities planning, capital improvements, and sustainability initiatives, while fostering collaborative partnerships across campus.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Administration

• Provide vision, direction, and management oversight to departmental managers and staff.
• Foster a culture focused on safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Represent Facilities & Operations on campus committees related to planning, sustainability, safety, emergency preparedness, and capital initiatives.
• Support academic programs, residential life, athletics, and campus events through responsive and coordinated facilities services.

Campus Operations Management

• Oversee daily physical plant operations across academic, residential, athletic, administrative, and performance facilities.
• Ensure custodial services meet cleanliness and sanitation standards that promote health, safety, and community pride.
• Direct maintenance programs for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, life safety, and building systems.
• Manage grounds operations, including landscaping, snow removal, walkways, parking areas, and seasonal campus beautification.
• Establish and monitor a comprehensive preventive maintenance program.
• Utilize a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to track work orders, service response times, and performance trends.
• Collaborate in the development, management, and monitoring of operating budgets for supervised departments.
• Evaluate staffing levels, equipment needs, and contracted services to ensure cost‑effective operations.
• Solicit, manage, and evaluate vendor and service contracts.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost savings while maintaining service quality.

Capital Planning & Project Management

• Participate in campus master planning and space utilization initiatives.
• Lead or coordinate renovations and campus improvement projects.
• Serve as the primary facilities liaison with architects, engineers, and contractors.
• Monitor project budgets, schedules, quality standards, and safety compliance.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including building codes, OSHA, ADA, fire and life safety, and environmental requirements.
• Conduct routine inspections and address deficiencies in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with public safety, environmental health, and emergency response teams.
• Maintain required documentation and compliance records.

Sustainability & Energy Stewardship

• Advance sustainability initiatives related to energy management, waste reduction, recycling, water conservation, and sustainable groundskeeping.
• Identify opportunities to improve building efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
• Recommend capital investments that support environmental responsibility and long‑term cost savings.

Campus Partnerships & Customer Service

• Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty, staff, and students regarding facilities services.
• Ensure timely, professional, and solution‑oriented service delivery.
• Communicate proactively regarding maintenance activities, renovations, and service disruptions.
• Implement performance metrics and feedback mechanisms to enhance service quality.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive facilities or operations management experience in a complex institutional, campus, or commercial environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multi‑functional teams and operating budgets.
• Working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, life safety systems, custodial operations, and grounds maintenance.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance standards (OSHA, ADA, fire safety, building codes).
• Strong project management and vendor management skills.
• Proficiency with CMMS platforms and standard office software.

Preferred

• Facilities leadership experience in a higher education or residential campus setting.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facilities Management Professional (FMP), or Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Experience implementing sustainability or energy efficiency initiatives.

This position operates within a residential campus environment and requires regular presence across campus facilities. Flexibility is required, including evening, weekend, holiday, and on‑call responsibilities to support campus operations, emergencies, and inclement weather events.

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full‑time

Job function

• Management

Industries

• Higher Education and Facilities Services