General Services Director, City of Durham, NC

About the role

The City of Durham is seeking a General Services Director to provide executive leadership for the stewardship of City facilities, property, and public spaces. This is a rare opportunity for a leader who enjoys running large, complex operations and working in public service.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Engage consultants and partners through structured feedback and focus groups to improve processes, accountability, and results on future capital projects.
• Review and realign departmental services and resources to improve efficiency and collaboration across teams and divisions, ensuring standard operating procedures, key performance indicators, peer benchmark metrics, and accountability.
• Develop a clear and consistent project communications approach that provides internal clients and the public with timely updates on milestones, phase changes, impacts, and progress.
• Rebalance leadership and operational support by giving managers and supervisors equal access to decision-making, strengthening support for operations staff, and focusing on the everyday services residents rely on most.
• Prepare the Department for the city’s current and future growth by embracing technology and systemization with innovation and creativity, fostering a culture of what’s next?

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, business/public administration, or a related field. Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in one or more of the following: facilities/asset management, capital program delivery, real estate portfolio management, or public-sector infrastructure operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing large budgets, complex vendor/consultant contracts, and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree (MPA, MBA, Engineering/Architecture, or related). Experience leading an enterprise-wide facilities or capital program in a growing city/county.
• Professional credentials or equivalent (as appropriate to background).
• Demonstrated success in reducing deferred maintenance, improving building performance/energy outcomes, and institutionalizing asset management practices.