Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posted: 01-Jun-24
Location: Wallingford, Connecticut
Type: Full Time
Preferred Education:
Reporting to the CFO, the Director of Facilities & Campus Planning manages and directs all of Choate’s facilities-related functions. This includes:
• Construction management: oversee annual operating and annual capital projects budget in excess of $10 million. This involves managing the selection of architects and contractors and keeping projects on schedule and on budget. Also oversees major capital projects ranging in budget size from $10M to $30M+.
• Facilities management: maintain integrity of the School’s physical assets by overseeing planning, renewal, and general maintenance repair. Oversee all maintenance and upkeep of 458 acres of campus grounds, 30 student residential buildings, 100+ faculty residences, 20 fields, an ice hockey rink, pool, tennis courts, and fleet management of 50 vehicles. Oversee departments including carpentry, painting, lock shop, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. Ensure full compliance with environmental health and safety regulations and interface with various town, state, and federal agencies.
• Sustainability: implement the School’s fossil-fuel free strategy, which calls for designing and constructing four new geothermal well fields and converting building equipment over an eight year time horizon. Lead renovation projects with LEED-Platinum and Passive House design principles.
• Strategic campus planning: recommend and develop operating plans to encompass new initiatives of the School, including sustainability and energy conservation.
The Director of Facilities & Campus Planning works closely with the CFO and external stakeholders; provides strategic and operational leadership and advice; and is responsible for contributing to strategy decisions. The Director has five direct reports in Facilities, including two project managers who oversee construction projects, and managers leading Grounds, HVAC, and Maintenance divisions. The Director indirectly oversees the work of approximately 40 Choate staff members and 50 contract staff.
Specifically, the Director will:
• Serve as the chief advisor to the CFO on all matters related to construction management, facilities maintenance, and campus planning. This position will also work collaboratively with the CFO and Choate community to ensure open communication about the operational health and goals of the institution and how the School’s physical assets support these goals.
• Oversee the analysis, interpretation, and communication of institution-wide facilities information. In keeping with the academic and strategic goals, develop, evaluate, and implement operational plans and policies; forecast critical milestones and potential obstacles; distill issues and decision points; and identify and assess alternatives.
• Increase the efficiency and impact of operational processes and oversee the development and monitor the results of the operating and capital budgets of the divisions in the portfolio. Ensure processes are well coordinated across the institution, aligned with priorities, safeguard its assets, minimize institutional risks and costs, and are communicated openly.
• Oversee all campus maintenance, renewal and capital projects. Must be able to identify, evaluate, and prioritize the needs of the School within budget and personnel limitations. Review bids, drawings, construction work, and invoicing to ensure the completion of projects in a cost effective, high quality manner.
• Manage all operating and capital budgets of the facilities department to ensure needs of school maintenance programs and major projects are properly staffed and completed. Accurate pre-planning of projects is essential to ensure all projects be completed with top quality workmanship and delivered on time and on budget.
• Identify, measure, and manage insurable risks and hazards and oversee the implementation of risk solutions that help optimize facility operations. Provide assistance, advice and guidance to Community Safety including ensuring safety of all community members by ensuring the proper functioning of life/safety issues (e.g., fire alarm, emergency notification systems, exit lighting). Work with local safety and state compliance officials where necessary.
• Conduct safety training for facilities staff and promote safe workplace practices. Make certain all personnel are properly certified in their area of expertise.
• Support and work closely with the Information Technology department to assist with capital upgrades and associated infrastructure needs. Be an advocate of new technology, processes, and initiatives to improve the efficiency of the facilities staff and the School’s resources.
• Have overall responsibility for the carbon footprint, energy management, and sustainability programs at the School.
• Prepare information and reports to communicate current status on budget, capital projects, and deferred maintenance for senior management.
• Communicate successfully with all members and levels of the institution.
• Direct and oversee the hiring, development, management, and evaluation of staff.
• Participate in disaster recovery planning and management.
• Maintain communication with town and state agencies as required, ensuring all required permits, approvals, licenses, etc. are obtained for all facilities, buildings, vehicles, and grounds.
The most successful candidates will:
• Be committed to the mission and expectations of a highly regarded boarding school. Thrive in a close-knit, diversity-minded, student-focused community.
• Speak and communicate effectively with a wide range of constituencies across the institution (Head of School, CFO, facilities managers, trades workers, students, faculty, staff, and community).
• Be familiar with sustainable design concepts in order to be able to communicate effectively among and between architects, engineers, and all project stakeholders.
• Be willing and able to make difficult, timely, and financially responsible decisions with the ability to articulate and resolve risk, legal, and institutional considerations in all decision making.
• Possess a high degree of professional discretion, integrity, good judgment, and high standards of professional conduct.
• Be able to move fluidly from one task to another within a variety of areas of responsibility smoothly and seamlessly in order to support the CFO, senior officers, and direct reports and their departments. Must also be able to address issues from all faculty and staff as well as outsourced services.
• Be a strong, experienced, and sophisticated project manager who can create and enforce clear administrative systems, policies, and guidelines.
• Be an effective, fair, and open negotiator who is committed to a transparent and collaborative decision-making process with all parts of the Choate community.
Requirements:
Ten or more years of directly related experience in a progressively responsible facilities management and/or capital projects position. Proven ability to affect and influence change through a communicative, collaborative, and inclusive style. Excellent communication, problem solving, and project management skills.
For more information and to apply for this position, please visit the following link: