Director of Facilities & Operations

Covenant House New Jersey; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant House New Jersey is seeking a Director of Facilities & Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization’s facilities and fleet. The role balances occupant experience, safety, and cost of ownership while aligning the physical environment with program objectives.

The candidate will build and lead a multi-region team, own operating and capital budgets, oversee capital projects, and ensure compliance, reliability, and alignment with the CHNJ mission of respect

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive facilities or property operations experience.
• 5+ years leading managers across multiple sites.
• Demonstrated capital and operating budget ownership and executive-level communication.
• Valid NJ Driver’s License with an insurable record.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-year facilities strategy, including capital planning and space utilization.
• Own facility operating and capital budgets; forecast variances and seek funding.
• Recruit, develop, and hold Regional Facilities Managers accountable.
• Ensure portfolio compliance with building, life safety, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Establish preventive maintenance programs, KPIs, and reporting across regions.
• Oversee renovations, system replacements, and new-site builds from scope to closeout.
• Lead emergency preparedness, business continuity, and energy initiatives.
• Direct sourcing, negotiate service contracts, and oversee vendor performance.
• Coordinate IT services, hardware procurement, and on-site support.
• Travel statewide across NJ as required.

Skills

Leadership

Budget ownership

MEP systems

CMMS/IWMS

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field

Tools

NJ Driver’s License

Job description

The Director of Facilities & Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization's entire facilities and fleet portfolio. This leader sets the vision for how buildings and building systems are operated, maintained, and improved, balancing occupant experience, regulatory compliance, safety, and total cost of ownership. The Director builds and leads a multi-region team, owns the facilities operating and capital budgets, and partners with executive leadership to align the physical environment with program objectives. The ideal candidate is a proven people leader who can translate long-range capital planning into disciplined day-to-day execution. All work is driven by the CHNJ mission of absolute respect and unconditional love.

Duties and responsibilities

• Strategy & Planning: Develop and execute the multi-year facilities strategy, including capital planning, asset lifecycle management, and space utilization.
• Financial Stewardship: Own facility and operating and capital budgets; forecast, track variances, identify and pursue alternate funding opportunities, and present recommendations to leadership.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, develop, and hold accountable Regional Facilities Managers; set performance standards and succession plans.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure portfolio compliance with applicable building, life safety, environmental, and occupational safety requirements.
• Programs & Systems: Establish preventive maintenance programs, CMMS standards, KPIs, and reporting across all regions.
• Capital Projects: Oversee renovations, system replacements, and new-site build-outs from scope through closeout.
• Risk & Continuity: Lead emergency preparedness, business continuity, and sustainability/energy initiatives.
• Vendor & Contract Management: Direct strategic sourcing, negotiate service contracts, and oversee vendor and contractor performance. Review and approve vendor invoices for accuracy against contracts, purchase orders, and completed work; code expenses to the appropriate operating or capital budget; and partner with Finance to ensure timely, accurate payment. Executive responsibility for department accounts payable. Final approval of all vendor and contractor invoicing.
• Special Events- Assist as needed with fundraising affairs and special events set-up & breakdown which may be conducted outside the employee’s normal work schedule.
• IT Coordination: Serve as the primary point of contact for the organization's managed IT services provider, overseeing service quality and contract performance. Manage hardware procurement, coordinate staging and deployment of computers and equipment, and provide on-site support for the remote vendor during outages and service issues.
• Emergency On-Call: Frontline in after-hours emergency escalation as needed
• Required to check email daily
• May be required to work occasional weekends
• All other duties as assigned

Applicant Must be available to work Monday thru Friday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM.

This Position is a statewide position which will require the candidate to travel throughout the State of NJ.

Salary $ 150,000 a year

Experience and Skills

• Bachelor's degree (preferred) in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of progressive facilities or property operations experience, including 5+ years leading managers across multiple sites.
• Demonstrated capital and operating budget ownership and executive-level communication skills.
• Working knowledge of MEP systems, building codes, and CMMS/IWMS platforms.
• Valid NJ Driver’s License with an insurable record.

Preferred Certifications

• IFMA Certified Facility Manager (CFM); BOMI Facilities Management Administrator (FMA) or Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA); PMP; OSHA 30-Hour.

Qualified applicants are considered for employment, and employees are treated during employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status or sexual orientation. Solely to help us comply with federal and state Equal Opportunity record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements, we request that you complete this data information questionnaire.