Director of Facilities & Operations

Founded in 1888, The Baldwin School is an all-girls college preparatory, independent day school, PK-12, dedicated to a tradition of excellence in education. In a nurturing atmosphere that reflects socioeconomic, ethnic and religious diversity, our students strive to develop scholarship, leadership and citizenship within a community that emphasizes intellectual rigor, ethical integrity, and independence of thought. More information is available on our website.

The Baldwin School seeks a Director of Facilities and Operations to begin January 6, 2025. Reporting directly to the CFO, this position leads a dedicated team of employees responsible for the oversight and daily management of the campus, which comprises 25 acres of grounds and over 335,000 square feet of historic campus buildings, including athletic facilities and employee housing. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a forward-thinking approach and professional management style incorporating industry best practices to enhance and preserve the campus's physical appearance. This includes establishing and maintaining high-quality, sustainable maintenance programs for all Baldwin facilities, encompassing campus buildings, electrical and mechanical systems, equipment, grounds, utilities, and open spaces while collaboratively managing the daily operations and maintenance of the school's buildings, grounds, and equipment through short and long-term planning, and budget management, in compliance with all safety and regulatory requirements. In addition, this position works directly with dining, custodial, security, landscaping, and other agencies and service partners to ensure a high-quality, safe, and well-maintained campus environment for all community members.

Major Responsibilities

Buildings and Grounds Leadership and Oversight:

• Identify, prioritize, and manage major capital and operational projects, including overseeing any renovations or construction of new facilities consistent with budgetary projections and goals;
• Identify, prioritize, and address all deferred maintenance needs and yearly campus maintenance based on the campus facilities audit;
• Develop and implement Baldwin's annual facilities budget and support the team in making appropriate short- and long-term spending decisions;
• Assist the Chief Financial Officer in the development of the long term capital budget;
• Support the School's Board of Trustees' Buildings and Grounds Committee in planning and overseeing major capital projects on campus;
• Partner with Senior Leadership Team members on project management and prioritization;

Facilities Management:

• Assess and monitor facility repairs to ensure cost effectiveness; establish criteria for repair versus replacement of facilities;
• Assist the Maintenance Supervisor in the regular review and inspection of systems and buildings to make certain that they remain in optimal working condition;
• Establish procedures for maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of physical plan equipment, vehicle fleet, and systems equipment; and
• Oversee and review bids or construction work, as well as invoices, to ensure the completion of projects in a timely, cost-effective, and high-quality manner.

Community Engagement:

• Foster, maintain, and manage relationships with government officials and numerous outside partners, including Township and County public safety officials;
• Maintain communication with local agencies as required, ensuring all required permits, approvals, and licenses are obtained and regularly updated for all facilities, buildings, vehicles, and grounds.

Risk Management:

• Create, establish, and regularly review safety plans and procedures, including emergency notification procedures, based on best practices for schools;
• Lead the school's safety committee to regularly review compliance with safety practices and procedures;
• Manage an effective emergency response system related to facilities and security issues;
• Maintain Commonwealth-certified safety practices and ensure compliance with applicable building and safety codes, OSHA, and other regulations; and
• Maintain, operate, and update the campus alarm and fire protection systems;

Additional Roles and Responsibilities:

• Manage and oversee dining, custodial, landscaping, and security services to ensure compliance with contract agreements and campus policies;
• Manage and supervise department staff including, but not limited to, Maintenance Supervisor, building and grounds, custodial, dining, and security personnel;
• Co-lead the Events and Facilities Committee to strategically plan and prepare for all campus events; and
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Financial Officer or the Head of School.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Operations, Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field;
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in facilities management or campus operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role, preferably in a K-12 school or educational setting;
• Proven ability to manage long-term campus planning, large-scale construction, and renovation projects;
• Knowledge of best principles and practices relating to custodial services, grounds management, skilled maintenance, dining services, and transportation functions;
• Experience with state and local safety, fire, construction, and public access regulations;
• Skilled in areas of budgeting and financial administration, including experience developing accurate cost estimates, and building and maintaining large multi-purpose budgets;
• Ability to communicate effectively utilizing interpersonal skills to maintain effective relationships with other department staff, faculty, students and the public;
• General management and organizational skills;
• Flexibility and ability to cope with several tasks simultaneously;
• Comfortable working with a variety of general and position-specific computer systems;
• Demonstrated commitment to teamwork, collaboration, accountability, and a positive environment through daily personal interactions and management approach; and

Embrace the needs and requirements associated with an academic calendar and schedule, which may necessitate fluctuations in workdays and hours, including weekends or holidays, when required.