Director of Facilities and Grounds

Make lives meaningful through making.

Who We Are

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a staff of 50+. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $8.4 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC. 

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Penland School of Craft, we believe that fostering a climate of equity, inclusion, diversity, and antiracism are essential to our work. We are committed to creating a campus community free of discrimination, and we welcome everyone who supports this commitment. 

Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

Reports to: Executive Director
Department: Facilities & Grounds
Supervision: Associate Director of F&G, Shop & Fleet Coordinator & Lead Facilities TechnicianEmployment Status: Full-time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Start date: June 15, 2026 
Last Updated: March 5, 2026

Position Summary
The Director of Facilities and Grounds leads the stewardship, care, and long-term planning of the physical campus of Penland School of Craft. The campus includes historic and contemporary buildings, working studios, roads, forests, utilities, vehicles, and other infrastructure that support Penland’s vibrant creative craft community.

This role oversees maintenance operations, capital improvements, and new construction projects while managing both operating and capital budgets. The Director supervises three direct reports and a total team of seven staff members, along with contracted service providers.

This position serves as staff liaison to the Penland Board’s Facilities and Grounds Committee and plays a key role in campus planning and strategic decision-making. As a member of the executive team, the Director works closely with institutional leadership to ensure the campus remains safe, functional, sustainable, and inspiring for students, artists, and staff.

We seek a collaborative leader with over five years of experience in facilities or construction who enjoys working with skilled teams, contractors, and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational and technical skills, sound judgment, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for the maintenance and operation of Penland’s buildings, grounds, vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Supervise three direct reports and a total team of seven staff members, along with contracted service providers, fostering a supportive and effective team environment.
• Partner with the Director of People and Culture on hiring, training, annual work plans, and conflict resolution.
• Coordinate facilities operations with executive leadership and other departments to support daily campus activities and special events.
• Ensure safe working conditions and compliance with Penland policies and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations; serve on the Penland Safety Committee.
• Oversee fleet and maintenance equipment management.
• Maintain a reliable facilities on-call system and respond to campus emergencies when necessary.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Penland Board Facilities and Grounds Committee and related task forces.
• Maintain relationships with local and state agencies and stay current on regulations and industry practices.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Fiduciary Responsibility

• Works with managers to guide and ensure that the annual operational and capital budgets for facilities and grounds are financially prudent and tied to strategic goals.
• Oversee building and equipment reserve funds in collaboration with the Executive Director and Finance Director. Ensures adequate budget controls of these funds.
• Manages ongoing facility, grounds, and equipment review and assessment, and provides short and long-term budget projections for maintenance and capital improvements.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and purchasing to ensure quality work and competitive pricing.

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