Director of Plant Operations

Legacy Healthcare; Illinois; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive leadership exposure

Competitive compensation and benefits

Advancement opportunities

Collaborative cross-facility work

Job summary

Legacy Healthcare seeks a hands-on Vice President of Plant Operations to oversee the physical plant, maintenance, and environmental services across skilled nursing facilities. The role drives safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency while balancing day-to-day needs with capital planning.

The ideal candidate will lead facility teams, manage budgets, and coordinate with administrators and executives to safeguard resident care and workforce performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in facilities or related field; healthcare experience preferred.
• Significant experience in facilities management and healthcare operations.
• Multi-site leadership experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional and organizational leadership for plant operations and facility management across skilled nursing facilities.
• Establish and maintain standards for maintenance, safety, cleanliness, and overall facility appearance.
• Oversee facility maintenance directors and plant operations personnel.
• Provide coaching, training, mentoring, and performance management for plant operations teams.
• Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs to reduce failures and disruptions.
• Oversee inspections and ensure compliance with Life Safety Code, OSHA, and healthcare regs.
• Support facilities in preparation for regulatory surveys, inspections, and audits.
• Develop capital improvement plans prioritizing safety, resident needs, and financial impact.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning for facilities.
• Review operating expenses and identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency.

Skills

Facilities management

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Budgeting

Project management

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in facilities management

Healthcare administration

Job description

Vice President of Plant Operations – Skilled Nursing

Job Type: Full-time
Industry: Skilled Nursing / Long-Term Care / Healthcare

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and hands‑on Vice President of Plant Operations to oversee the physical plant, facility operations, maintenance, environmental services, life safety, and capital improvement needs of our skilled nursing facilities.

The VP of Plant Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure our buildings are safe, well‑maintained, regulatory compliant, comfortable, and operationally efficient. This position works closely with facility Administrators, regional leadership, maintenance teams, vendors, and other operational leaders to maintain high standards across the organization.

This is an ideal opportunity for a facilities or healthcare operations professional who understands the unique requirements of skilled nursing and long‑term care environments and can balance day‑to‑day operational needs with long‑term planning, capital improvements, regulatory compliance, and cost management.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide regional and organizational leadership for plant operations and facility management across skilled nursing facilities.

• Establish and maintain consistent standards for building maintenance, preventative maintenance, repairs, cleanliness, safety, and overall facility appearance.

• Oversee facility maintenance directors and plant operations personnel.

• Provide coaching, training, mentoring, and performance management for plant operations teams.

• Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs to reduce equipment failures, emergency repairs, and operational disruptions.

• Oversee facility inspections and ensure buildings remain compliant with applicable federal, state, local, OSHA, fire, life safety, and healthcare requirements.

• Support facilities in preparation for regulatory surveys, inspections, and audits.

• Monitor and maintain compliance with Life Safety Code requirements, emergency preparedness, fire safety, disaster planning, and related standards.

• Develop and manage capital improvement plans and prioritize facility projects based on safety, resident needs, regulatory requirements, and financial impact.

• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning related to facility operations, maintenance, utilities, equipment, and capital expenditures.

• Review facility operating expenses and identify opportunities for cost savings and improved efficiency.

• Manage relationships with contractors, vendors, service providers, engineers, architects, and other external partners.

• Negotiate vendor agreements and service contracts when appropriate.

• Establish standards and processes for vendor selection, performance, and accountability.

• Oversee major repairs, renovations, construction projects, and facility upgrades.

• Coordinate capital projects while minimizing disruption to residents and facility operations.

• Ensure facilities maintain appropriate emergency equipment, backup systems, generators, utilities, and essential infrastructure.

• Monitor building systems including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water systems, generators, elevators, boilers, and other critical infrastructure.

• Partner with Infection Prevention, Nursing, Environmental Services, and facility leadership to maintain appropriate environmental and safety standards.

• Support infection prevention and control initiatives related to the physical environment.

• Ensure appropriate documentation of inspections, preventative maintenance, repairs, testing, and regulatory requirements.

• Develop standardized policies, procedures, checklists, and operational protocols for plant operations.

• Conduct regular facility visits and operational assessments.

• Identify building risks and develop corrective action plans.

• Provide leadership during emergencies, building outages, weather events, utility disruptions, and other facility-related incidents.

• Ensure facilities have effective emergency preparedness and business continuity plans.

• Monitor facility appearance and ensure buildings provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for residents, families, and employees.

• Partner with Administrators and executive leadership to address facility priorities and operational challenges.

• Provide regular reporting to executive leadership regarding facility conditions, capital projects, compliance, expenses, and operational priorities.

Regulatory & Compliance Responsibilities

The VP of Plant Operations will play a key role in ensuring facilities are prepared for and compliant with applicable requirements, including:

• CMS requirements

• State Department of Health requirements

• Life Safety Code

• Fire safety requirements

• OSHA standards

• Emergency preparedness requirements

• Local building and safety codes

• Environmental and facility‑related regulations

• Preventative maintenance and required testing standards

Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, develop, and retain high‑performing plant operations leaders.

• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability standards.

• Develop training programs for maintenance and plant operations staff.

• Conduct regular performance reviews and operational assessments.

• Identify opportunities to improve technical skills and leadership capabilities within facility teams.

• Promote a proactive rather than reactive approach to facility maintenance.

• Create a culture of ownership, responsiveness, safety, and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in facilities management, engineering, construction management, business administration, healthcare administration, or a related field preferred.

• Significant experience in facilities management, plant operations, property management, construction, or healthcare operations.

• Previous multi‑site leadership experience strongly preferred.

• Experience in skilled nursing, long‑term care, senior living, hospitals, or other healthcare environments preferred.

• Strong understanding of building systems, preventative maintenance, life safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance.

• Experience managing capital projects and facility improvement initiatives.

• Experience managing budgets, vendors, contractors, and service agreements.

• Strong leadership and team‑management skills.

• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem‑solving abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple facilities, projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.

• Ability to travel between facilities as needed.

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience as any of the following are encouraged to apply:

• Vice President of Facilities

• Regional Director of Facilities

• Director of Plant Operations

• Regional Director of Plant Operations

• Director of Facilities Management

• Regional Facilities Director

• Healthcare Facilities Director

• Senior Living Facilities Director

• Plant Operations Director

• Facilities Operations Director

• Multi‑Site Facilities Manager

• Healthcare Construction / Facilities Leader

What We Offer

• Executive‑level leadership opportunity within a growing healthcare organization.

• Significant influence over facility operations and capital planning.

• Opportunity to develop and standardize plant operations across multiple facilities.

• Collaborative partnership with Administrators and executive leadership.

• Competitive compensation and benefits.

• Professional growth and advancement opportunities.

• Opportunity to make a direct impact on the safety, comfort, and quality of the environments in which our residents live and receive care.