Director of Facilities

About the Role

Lead the maintenance, facilities, electrical, grounds, and construction operations of the 330-acre Florida State Fairgrounds. This hands-on leadership position drives operational excellence through planning, preventive maintenance, safety, and continuous improvement. You will work alongside your team to ensure facilities are safe, efficient, and event-ready year-round while supporting a culture of teamwork, innovation, and service.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and evaluate activities within maintenance, electrical, grounds, landscape, and construction, including critical infrastructure, and manage supervisors, leads, and contractors.
• Increase revenue by strengthening core processes for proposals and collaborating with the purchasing manager on material and safety equipment orders.
• Foster a culture of safety by maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, ensuring a safe event facility, and proposing safety requirements and goals.
• Facilitate staff training on maintaining grounds and facilities at an optimal and cost-efficient level.
• Oversee all facility life safety systems and ensure yearly compliance with equipment inspections.
• Monitor utility infrastructure for safe operation and regulatory compliance, working with outside agencies to correct issues.
• Develop process and cost efficiencies by identifying hiring needs and cross-training opportunities to sustain a qualified team.
• Research and implement an online work order system for facility repairs and capital projects.
• Drive operational excellence by determining time, equipment, material, and personnel requirements for projects. Prepare recommendations and reports on construction, maintenance, capital development, and technical issues.
• Establish or review plans and specifications for contract work. Consult with engineering consultants, hire and oversee project consultants (e.g., designers, surveyors, architects, engineers), and inspect work for compliance.
• Ensure department standards and goals are met through proper maintenance of facilities and equipment, and guarantee timely completion of preventive maintenance programs.

Leadership/Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise up to five employees, including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning work, scheduling, appraising performance, and addressing complaints.
• Act as a change agent to develop a high-performing team focused on exceptional service to internal and external partners.

Requirements

• Associate degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of six to eight years of experience with increasing responsibility in facilities management or construction.
• Minimum of two years in a management position, with experience planning, organizing, and supervising maintenance and construction crews, managing a multimillion-dollar budget, and implementing preventive maintenance programs.
• Certifications in A/C Refrigeration, EPA, OSHA, Construction, Electrical, Plumbing, or Welding are a plus.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, blueprints, and sketches, and prepare plans.
• Knowledge of materials, methods, practices, equipment, and building codes used in maintenance and construction.
• Strong understanding of safety regulations, safe work practices, and safety equipment.
• Ability to make decisions and use independent judgment on complex issues, and effectively communicate with work groups and management.
• Strong leadership and team development skills with a “can do” attitude.
• Strong math skills with the ability to deal with abstract and concrete variables.
• Intermediate computer skills with MS applications.
• Flexibility to work unusually long hours during large-scale events, including the annual State Fair.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Some duties performed in an office setting; operates computer and standard office equipment.
• Ability to stand, sit, hear, taste/smell, use hands, walk, talk, reach with hands and arms, and have visual depth perception.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crawl, crouch, climb, balance, and lift or move more than 50 pounds.
• Occasional exposure to environmental demands, including wet/humid weather, high or precarious places, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme temperatures, and risk of electrical shock.
• Work near mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and outdoor weather conditions.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance.
• 457(b) retirement plan with company match.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.