Our client is a nonprofit organization which owns and curates multiple historical sites in Westchester County, NY. We are seeking a Senior Director of Property Stewardship who will direct the Director of Buildings, Grounds & Security and Landscape Manager with oversight and responsibility for capital projects. Experience in historic preservation is helpful but not required. Crucial attributes of this role include organizational excellence, team management, vendor selection and management, in-house and external resource allocation and management, stakeholder coordination, and proven experience exercising best practices in the oversight of facilities and grounds of similar assets including cultural, religious, private / higher education, or historical sites and surrounding land. This is a very unique and exciting opportunity to work with a great team as part of a mission in the educational and cultural space. Contact us today!

Managerial Leadership

• Provide direction and support for the Director of Buildings, Grounds & Security, Landscape Manager.
• Work with department staff, Senior Vice President, and President to establish departmental priorities and allocate resources accordingly
• Direct the implementation of major capital projects
• Lead and coordinate project management efforts for complex capital projects among attorneys, design professionals, contractors, consultants, municipal officials, and regulators
• Uphold best practices in preservation, conservation, restoration, and reconstruction, often in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
• Foster an environment that encourages research on state-of-the art technology, techniques, and materials and employs best practices from the field

Operational Direction

• Direct the recruitment, deployment, development, evaluation, and redirection of staff
• Value engineer ongoing departmental operations, as well as special projects, to ensure that they make the highest and best use of financial and human resources
• Establish the most effective balance between in-house and outsourced tasks, activities, and special projects
• With the Controller and Senior Vice President, develop and monitor operational and project budgets in order to realize savings, maximize impact, and heighten efficiency
• Contribute to the conceptualization and development of grant application budgets and narratives in order to opportunistically take advantage of funding opportunities

Best Practices

• Keep abreast of best practices in areas such as museum security and HVAC air filtering; as appropriate, lead staff in adopting/refining practices
• Keep abreast of the latest in materials (e.g., rot-resistant wood, durable paving techniques); as appropriate, lead staff in incorporating into work
• Keep abreast of the latest technology (e.g., security systems, EV charging stations); as appropriate, lead staff in incorporating into work
• Adopt operational practices which help to safeguard the sites from the effects of severe weather resulting from climate change
• Ensure that staff have proper equipment, workshops are well equipped, and the highest standards of workplace safety are promulgated and enforced
• Work to further incorporate Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principle into staff recruitment, procurement, communications, and other departmental activities

Vendor, Contractor & Supplier Engagement

• Through price comparison, competitive bidding, RFPs, etc. work to ensure that client gets the best price for value in retaining vendors, contractors, and suppliers
• Negotiate contracts to ensure that they serve employer’s interests to the best extent possible from perspectives including cost, payment schedule, risk, operations, and visitor experience
• Foster an environment that encourages staff to manage, monitor, and evaluate expenses on a regular basis
• On a continuing basis, evaluate when best to deploy in-house verses contracted resources

Planning

• Consider initiatives that advance the sustainability, resiliency, and security of the properties
• Develop short-, medium-, and long-range plans that address the needs of the properties, including staffing structures, budgets, and workflow plans

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Capital project management
• Understanding of construction practices and building systems
• Ability to read and interpret plans, drawings, and specifications
• Property maintenance and preservation
• Staff management
• Budget development, refinement, and monitoring
• Contract development and negotiation
• Interest and sensitivity to the needs of historic buildings and landscapes
• Proficiency with Excel and project management software
• Written and verbal communication
• Ability to multi-task

Work Conditions

• General office conditions
• On-site activities at historic properties
• Limited travel to see examples of materials, techniques, technology, etc.
• Weekend and evening hours at events
• On-call emergency availability

NYCM Search, LLC is a talent acquisition firm with 25 years conducting contingency and retained search services within the AEC and Real Estate Investment & Development markets.