Senior Director of Facilities & Maintenance

Description

The Senior Director of Facilities and Maintenance provides strategic and operational leadership for the college’s physical plant, including buildings, housing, grounds, and related infrastructure. The role ensures a safe, well-maintained, compliant, and attractive campus environment that supports the institution’s academic, residential, and co-curricular mission.

Responsibilities:

I. Advance student success and institutional reputation by ensuring that campus environments are safe, reliable, and purposefully designed to support learning and living.

• Manage housing facilities operations, including room turnover, inspections, work-order response, and coordination with Residence Life/Student Affairs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building, fire/life-safety, environmental, ADA/Accessibility, and occupational health and safety regulations; maintain required inspections, records, and certifications.
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response planning; develop and execute facilities-related contingency plans for severe weather, utility failures, and other emergencies.
• Oversee grounds care and exterior campus appearance, including landscaping, snow/ice removal, pathways, outdoor lighting, athletic or recreation fields (if applicable), and exterior signage.

II. Leads efficient operations, safeguarding institutional assets, and implementing disciplined cost management strategies.

• Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs for all campus facilities, residence halls, and grounds to maximize asset life and minimize downtime.
• Plan, prioritize, and oversee maintenance, repair, and small capital projects, coordinating with contractors, architects, and engineers as needed.
• Develop, manage, and monitor departmental operating and capital budgets; prepare cost estimates, prioritize needs, and recommend short- and long-term facilities investments.
• Procure and manage contracts for facilities-related services (e.g., HVAC, elevators, life-safety systems, waste removal, pest control, snow removal, specialty trades).
• Promote energy management, sustainability practices, and efficient use of utilities; identify and implement projects that reduce operating costs and environmental impact.

III. Supports operational excellence through reliable systems, responsive service, and continuous improvement.

• Provide overall leadership and direction for facilities operations, including building maintenance, housing, grounds, custodial (if in scope), and building systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, life safety).
• Lead, supervise, and develop a facilities team, including hiring, training, scheduling, performance management, and fostering a service-oriented culture.
• Establish and monitor work-order and response protocols, service standards, and performance metrics to ensure timely, high-quality facilities support to campus stakeholders.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on campus master planning, space planning, and long-range facilities strategies; provide facilities input into enrollment, residential, and academic planning.

Requirements

•  Progressively responsible experience in facilities management or maintenance operations, preferably in higher education or a comparable multi-building campus environment.
• Demonstrated experience supervising trades and maintenance teams, managing budgets, and working with contractors and vendors.
• Knowledge of building systems, construction methods, codes and regulations, safety standards, and preventive maintenance practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, and customer-service skills; ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies and participate in on-call rotation as needed.
• Class E Missouri Drivers License required.

Founded in 1833, Stephens College is the second-oldest women's college in the United States, dedicated to providing innovative, experiential, and career-focused education across various disciplines. Located in Columbia, Missouri, Stephens College continues to be a leader in women's education, fostering a community where students are empowered to lead, innovate, and excel. The college also provides flexible, co-educational master’s degrees and certificates for working professionals, and is home to the co-educational Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College.

Ranked (over and over again) as one of the best col