Director of Facilities and Operations

About the role

The Director of Facilities and Operations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for district facilities, maintenance, custodial services, grounds operations, environmental safety, and capital construction activities. This position is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality learning and working environments while advancing long-range facility planning, stewardship of public resources, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and operational leadership for all district facilities, maintenance, custodial, grounds, and capital construction activities.
• Develop, mentor, supervise, and evaluate facilities leadership staff.
• Establish departmental goals, performance measures, and operational priorities aligned with district strategic objectives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee district-wide maintenance operations, ensuring buildings and grounds remain safe, functional, and well-maintained.
• Conduct routine facility inspections to assess building conditions, infrastructure performance, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure timely response to facility-related concerns and emergency situations.
• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of the district's preventive maintenance program through FMX and related operational systems.
• Maintain and update the district's long-range facilities plan to align with enrollment trends, district priorities, and fiscal resources.
• Evaluate facility conditions and infrastructure needs to support future capital investment decisions.
• Collaborate with the Business Office to develop and manage annual facilities and operations budgets.
• Ensure cost-effective procurement of maintenance supplies, equipment, contracted services, and capital assets.
• Monitor operational and capital expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility and compliance with district purchasing procedures.
• Develop multi-year capital replacement forecasts for major building systems, vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure assets.
• Analyze operational and capital expenditures to maximize efficiency and long-term value.
• Provide district leadership for bond-funded, sinking fund, and capital improvement projects.
• Coordinate planning, design, construction, and project closeout activities with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain and update the district's long-range facilities plan to align with enrollment trends, district priorities, and fiscal resources.
• Evaluate facility conditions and infrastructure needs to support future capital investment decisions.
• Collaborate with district safety personnel and external agencies to support districtwide security and emergency response initiatives.
• Monitor fire alarm, life safety, and security system inspection and maintenance programs.
• Support effective coordination among custodial, maintenance, grounds, construction, and administrative teams.

Qualifications

• A combination of education, certifications, and experience will be considered.
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 5+ years of leadership experience in facilities management, maintenance, or operations, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, personnel, and operational systems.
• Experience in general maintenance, mechanical/electrical systems, HVACR, facilities planning, water testing, and preventive maintenance.
• Relevant trade certifications or licenses (such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or facilities management certifications), preferred.
• Facilities Planning Certification or other applicable certifications, preferred.
• Strong project management and team leadership experience.

Additional Duties

Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Executive Director of Finance and Business Operations and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Experience managing large teams and multiple facility-related departments.
• Strong budgeting, financial planning, and cost control expertise.
• Knowledge of building codes, environmental laws, and safety regulations.
• Experience with capital projects, facility renovations, and infrastructure planning.
• Ability to quickly address facility issues and emergencies.
• Strong skills in building partnerships, engaging school leaders, and maintaining external relationships.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
• Able to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in an economically, culturally and racially diverse environment.

Physical And Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment), taste and smell.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.

ADA Requirements

• The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate.
• Mental Functions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

FLSA Status

Exempt

Application Instructions

To apply, submit an application, individual cover letter, and resume through the online applicant center at kentwoodps.employment.org. All application materials must be uploaded and submitted no later than 5:00 PM on the specified posting deadline. Visit the district website: kentwoodps/employment.org for more information. Kentwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in its employment decisions or the provision of services.