Director of Facilities

About the School

The Thacher School trains young people in the art of living for their own greatest good and for the greatest good of their fellow citizens in a diverse and changing world. To that end, the School augments its highly challenging academic program with profound lessons learned from the care of a horse, regular chores around the School, teamwork on playing fields, outstanding instruction in the arts, the give and take of everyday life with Schoolmates and teachers, and self-reliance, a lifelong love of learning and truth, self-knowledge, and a deep concern for the world in which we live.

The philosophy of The Thacher School is rooted in the wisdom and work of its founder, Sherman Day Thacher, who embraced the extraordinary natural venue of the School. He believed the most worthwhile education combined a vigorous academic life with rugged outdoor activities that engendered self-reliance, concern for others, and fidelity to four principles: honor, fairness, kindness, and truth. These principles are central to all aspects of the School’s community.

Department: Plant Facilities

Position: Director of Facilities

Reports to: Director of Finance and Operations

Status: Full-time, exempt

The Director has overall responsibility for planning, operating, and enhancing the campus physical environment and the support services necessary to fulfill The Thacher School’s mission. Focus areas include the built environment, campus infrastructure, natural resources, regulatory compliance, emergency planning, and institutional objectives for sustainability, preservation, and environmental and architectural stewardship.

The position serves as the chief facilities administrator for the School with responsibility for policy, leadership, and management oversight of the School’s facilities’ organization and physical assets. Responsibilities include the provision of general administrative leadership, management, and professional direction to a comprehensive facilities management organization. Duties which fall within the scope of the position include facilities planning; architectural and engineering oversight and services; construction management and facilities maintenance, repair and renovation; utilities conservation and distribution; custodial, landscape and other maintenance services; campus safety and security; wastewater treatment facility; and general institutional support services.

Core Responsibilities

Resource Management

• -          Ensure the effective management of all physical plant financial and material resources. These responsibilities encompass determination of requirements, justification of need, prioritization, presentation, administration and accountability.

Operations and Safety

• -          Integrate campus support services with the requirements of the academic, athletic, horse, and residential/student life programs.
• -          Develop and implement protocols and processes that ensure the safety of the campus community.
• -          Plan and execute projects that fully consider the schedule and logistical impacts to the continuity of institutional operations.

Team Development and Leadership

• -          Define and implement the appropriate organizational structure for core functional areas.
• -          Provide clear leadership, direction, and support for assigned employees.
• -          Foster a culture of service, professionalism, teamwork, accountability, and compassion.
• -          Communicate, coach, and cheerlead.

Community Relationships

• -          Provide consultation advice, and liaison services between the department and internal and external points of contact. Participate in professional associations and various campus groups, task forces, and committees. As a key member of the administrative team, provide support and cooperation to promote the goals and objectives of the School.

Planning

• -          Ensure the long-range alignment of facilities, natural resources and support services with compliance requirements, program objectives, and available financial resources.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Primary role will be running/managing facilities department (75% of time). Also responsible for facilities planning and new build implementation (25% of time):

• 1.       Develop, implement, and provide on-going administrative oversight of facilities planning, policy
• operation, staff, and financial resources within the facilities organization so as to effectively and efficiently provide the services required to support School’s built environment, natural resources, programs and services.
• 2.       In conjunction with other administrators as appropriate, prepare the annual budget for campus facilities; evaluate and ensure the efficient operation of the department, controlling operating expenses at a minimum level consistent with sound maintenance practices. Develop and recommend policies, planning guidelines, and procedures for the development of the School’s operating and capital budget program, and manage the program through the process of development, approval, and implementation preserving and protecting facility capital investments subject to available resources.
• 3.       Facilitate and maintain positive and productive, internal and external customer relationships to achieve the effective utilization and coordination of all facilities resources in meeting the School’s goals and objectives. Determine what work can be accomplished with in-house forces and recommend contracting of overload. Administer, inspect and accept maintenance and service work performed by contract; approve payments of contracts and invoices.
• 4.       In cooperation with direct reports, provide administrative and technical direction to the facilities department so as to maintain a highly trained and motivated staff – overseeing the selection, appropriate and timely training and professional development, performance management, promotion and position changes for departmental staffing, assuring consistent opportunity and treatment of the Thacher employees engaged in the provision of facilities services. Discuss, plan and delegate major project assignments to supervisory staff, determining building and maintenance priorities that are of significant scope. Balance workload demands within budget availability to determine the number(s) and skill(s) required to complete the annual maintenance, construction, and special repair programs.
• 5.       With appropriate direct reports, oversee and ensure all technical and administrative aspects of the campus maintenance services including all interior and exterior maintenance of buildings, grounds, landscape, and horse and athletics facilities.
• 6.       Develop, recommend, and implement along with other administrators including the Board of Trustees and other outside agencies as appropriate, short- and long-range facilities plans and programs including all aspects of physical plant capital improvements, design, construction, renovation and major repair/reconstruction requirements; space administration; maintenance and repair programs; water and energy conservation; and campus landscaping including parking and access.
• 7.       Maintain positive working relationship and diplomacy with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
• Including county agencies, local emergency services, and US forest service.
• 8.       Serve as liaison to Building and Grounds Committee of Board of Trustees, coordinate meetings of the Architectural Review Committee and Real Estate Task Force.
• 9.       Coordinate and oversee the administration of the negotiation, bid, and implementation processes for construction, renovation, and service contracts as required to meet the goals of the School and to maintain compliance with applicable codes and regulations. With other appropriate administrators, serve as liaison with the outside agencies in regard to facility management and administration.
• 10.   Develop and implement, or recommend, Thacher policies and procedures for facilities and utilities systems management, maintenance and operation, major repair, replacement and upgrading. Carry out a computerized work-order and preventive maintenance program for facilities and related equipment; provide for routine and emergency maintenance, service calls, and maintenance service requests and complete major maintenance and repair projects.
• 11.   In cooperation with facilities leads, provide general oversight responsibilities for ancillary Plant Facilities operations such as the avocado and orange orchards. With appropriate facilities’ staff, ensure facilities and services support for all major School sanctioned public occasions, i.e. graduation exercises, Gymkhana, reunion, and visitations by dignitaries.

Qualifications

• ·         Bachelor’s degree and a combination of education, training or experience, which meets the School’s needs.
• ·         Five to ten years of progressively responsible experience in facility operation and management
• (in which at least three years have been in a supervisory capacity) and demonstrated ability/knowledge which are required to provide leadership for planning, development, and operation of a complex plant and properties operation.

Abilities and Skills

• ·         Comprehensive knowledge of all phases of physical plant operation, maintenance and repair; of planning, scheduling, supervision and physical plant administration; of physical plant safety practices; of record keeping and report writing.
• ·         Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse constituencies and with a variety of skilled/unskilled, professional, administrative, and plant personnel.
• ·         Ability to manage, plan and administer a large plant operation and program; to supervise the work of others; to maintain operating costs and other records and to make necessary operation and progress reports; to oversee planning for repairs, alterations and construction, equipment, vehicles, grounds and landscaping.
• ·         Demonstrated knowledge of the terms and nature of all related trades, buildings, grounds, equipment, housekeeping, construction, repair, maintenance, purchasing, inventory control, fire, safety management, and California building & OSHA codes.
• ·         Demonstrated experience in construction management is essential, as is knowledge and general expertise in historic preservation.
• ·         Superior written and oral communication skills are required. Demonstrated capacity to express ideas effectively orally and in writing. Computer literacy, including ability to work with plant work order database systems and office management systems essential; knowledge and ability to work with architectural plans and specifications.
• ·         Willingness to seek training.
• ·         Ability to work constructively and effectively with other stake holders in the School community.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• ·         Frequently lift equipment and materials weighing 50 pounds or more.
• ·         Crawl, climb ladders, twist, turn and reach in completing a variety of job duties.
• ·         Work outside in hot or cold conditions for extended periods of time.
• ·         Work in a wide variety of environments found in all areas of the school.

Schedule Requirements

• ·         Willingness to be accessible and available on campus to ensure the proper management and operation of plant activities at all times including weekends and nights as necessary.

Salary Range

Salary range is $130,000-$175,000. Final salary will depend on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Thacher offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 403(b) match, healthcare coverage, and a broad range of other benefits.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume via email to jobs@thacher.org with the subject line “Director of Facilities”

Thacher School does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or national or ancestral origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other School-administered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices. The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.