Senior Director, Maintenance & Safety

Reporting to the Head of Stadium Facilities Management, this fully onsite role is based at Etihad Stadium, Queens, with occasional travel to CFA, Orangeburg.

About the Role

New York City FC is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Director, Maintenance & Safety to lead all aspects of stadium maintenance, asset management, engineering operations, life safety systems, and workplace safety programs. This role ensures Etihad Stadium and associated facilities are maintained to the highest standards of safety, reliability, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and guest experience. The Senior Director will oversee multidisciplinary maintenance and engineering teams, manage third-party service providers, and drive continuous improvement across all facility operations. A critical component of this role is supporting the transition from construction to operations by leading maintenance, asset management, and safety readiness activities through project closeout, commissioning, and stadium activation.

Responsibilities

• Stadium Commissioning & Operational Readiness
  • Provide operational and maintenance expertise during the construction closeout and stadium activation phases.
  • Review design documentation and building systems to support maintainability, operational efficiency, and long-term asset performance.
  • Participate in coordination meetings with architects, engineers, contractors, and project teams throughout closeout and turnover activities.
  • Lead operational readiness planning, including participation in system commissioning, integrated testing, acceptance processes, and occupancy preparation.
  • Validate operation and maintenance manuals, warranties, as-built documentation, and turnover requirements.
  • Ensure all building systems meet applicable accessibility, life safety, code, and regulatory requirements prior to opening.
• Maintenance & Asset Management
  • Direct all day-to-day maintenance operations across the stadium campus and associated facilities.
  • Develop and oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs that maximize asset reliability while minimizing operational disruption.
  • Establish and maintain enterprise asset management strategies, including lifecycle planning and capital renewal programs.
  • Ensure the effective operation, maintenance, and reliability of all facility systems, including:
    • HVAC systems
    • Electrical distribution systems
    • Plumbing systems
    • Fire protection and life safety systems
    • Elevators and escalators
    • Building automation systems (BAS/BMS)
    • Roofing and building envelope systems
    • Structural components and mechanical equipment
  • Lead implementation, optimization, and ongoing performance management of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
  • Coordinate rapid response and recovery efforts for equipment failures, facility issues, and operational interruptions.
• Safety, Risk Management & Compliance
  • Develop, implement, and continuously improve workplace health, safety, and environmental programs in accordance with OSHA, New York State, New York City, fire code, and industry standards.
  • Maintain and oversee the stadium's Safety Management System (SMS).
  • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement across all teams and contractors.
  • Lead incident investigations, corrective action programs, safety inspections, audits, and risk assessments.
  • Manage permit-to-work processes and ensure safe execution of all maintenance and contractor activities.
  • Maintain compliance with all regulatory, safety, environmental, inspection, certification, and documentation requirements.
• Contractor & Vendor Management
  • Procure, negotiate, and manage maintenance service agreements and vendor contracts.
  • Establish performance standards and accountability measures for contractors and service providers.
  • Monitor contractor performance, quality of service, safety compliance, onboarding requirements, and adherence to applicable warranties and service agreements.
  • Ensure contractor activities are conducted in accordance with all stadium safety, operational, and regulatory requirements.
• Event Operations & Facility Support
  • Provide engineering and maintenance leadership during sporting events, concerts, and other venue activities.
  • Ensure facilities and critical systems are operationally ready before, during, and after events.
  • Serve as a key operational leader during emergencies, business continuity incidents, and crowd-safety situations.
• Capital Projects & Continuous Improvement
  • Support planning, execution, and delivery of capital improvement projects, renovations, and new installations.
  • Provide technical oversight to ensure new assets are effectively commissioned, documented, and integrated into operational maintenance programs.
  • Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, asset performance, reliability, and service delivery.
• Financial Management & Strategic Planning
  • Develop, manage, and administer departmental operating and capital budgets.
  • Monitor expenditures and identify opportunities for cost optimization and operational efficiencies.
  • Prepare business cases and recommendations for asset replacement, capital investment, and long-term facility improvements.
  • Provide executive-level reporting on asset performance, maintenance KPIs, safety performance, operational trends, and capital planning initiatives.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead and develop a high-performing Maintenance & Safety organization, including engineers, skilled trades personnel, and third-party contractors.
  • Establish department objectives, KPIs, staffing plans, operational procedures, and workforce development strategies.
  • Develop training programs that support operational performance, safety compliance, and business needs.
  • Promote collaboration, accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement throughout the department and across the organization.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in facility maintenance, engineering, or building operations, including significant leadership responsibility within large, complex facilities.
• Experience in stadiums, arenas, airports, convention centers, healthcare facilities, large entertainment venues, or similarly complex environments preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading maintenance operations, engineering teams, contractors, and capital projects.
• Experience implementing and utilizing CMMS and asset management systems. Experience with Willow technology platforms strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS).
• Knowledge of unionized work environments and labor relations preferred.
• Proven ability to lead effectively during emergencies, operational disruptions, and time-sensitive situations.
• Strong people leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.
• Experience managing operating and capital budgets.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Occupational Safety, or a related discipline preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CFM, FMP, CMRP, CSP, CHFM, NEBOSH, or equivalent are preferred.
• Collaborative mindset with the flexibility to support broader organizational and operational objectives as needed.

Additional Requirements

• Must comply with MLS Next Safety and Well-Being policy and any other applicable child safety policies provided by NYCFC.
• Must be available to work major scheduled events, which may occur at night, on weekends, and holidays.
• Must be able to regularly traverse a multi-level industrial stadium campus, including access tunnels, seating bowls, mechanical rooms, and confined utility areas during high-density event windows.
• Must be able to observe, inspect, and interpret technical building schematics, digital building automation system alarms, machinery gauges, and potential physical hazards.
• Must be able to withstand regular exposure to outdoor weather elements, heavy mechanical machinery noise, localized dust, electrical currents, and industrial environments.
• Able to remain calm under pressure and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

Pay

This exempt position has an estimated annual base salary range of $150,000 - $170,000 and is not overtime eligible. Final compensation offer amounts are based on factors unique to each candidate, including demonstrated skill set, years and depth of relevant experience, and role-dependent factors such as certifications and software expertise.

Benefits

• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance, with options to fit individual and family needs.
• Comprehensive and competitive benefit programs, including maternal and paternal leave.
• Ancillary benefits: Commuter and Citi Bike discounts.
• Wellness strategy focusing on mental and physical wellbeing through in-office and virtual programs.
• Four complementary tickets to every NYCFC home match.
• Team outings, happy hours, and annual staff gatherings.
• A dynamic, ambitious, and fun work environment.