About Us
The Fessenden School is an all-boys independent day and boarding school serving 540 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 9th Grade who come from all over the world. The Fessenden School’s mission is to cultivate each boy’s talents and develop in balance his character, mind, and body in an inclusive and joyful community. For more than 100 years, The Fessenden School has offered state-of-the-art facilities, curriculum, and programs specifically designed to meet the educational needs of boys.
Position Summary
The Director of Campus Facilities is responsible for the leadership, daily operations, and overall stewardship of all physical facilities on The Fessenden School’s 41-acre PK–Grade 9 independent school campus that includes academic buildings, athletic facilities, student residences, and 37 on-campus faculty and staff apartments and houses. This role ensures that maintenance, custodial services, groundskeeping, physical plant operations, construction management, and security are well managed and positioned to ensure a safe, sustainable, and mission-aligned environment for day students, faculty, families, and visitors.
The Campus Facilities Director, reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, serves as both a hands-on operational manager and a strategic partner in campus planning, sustainability, and capital project development.
The ideal candidate is a collaborator with strong technical expertise and project management experience who wants to be both hands-on and a strategic leader.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Campus Operations & Maintenance
- Oversee all aspects of maintenance, repair, and operation of academic, residential, athletic, and administrative facilities, as well as mechanical systems, grounds, vehicle fleet, and infrastructure.
- Maintain a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to prioritize, manage, track daily work tickets, and make strategic decisions.
- Manage preventive maintenance and repair schedules to ensure campus assets are well-maintained and fully operational.
- Manage schedule and work for outside vendors, including custodial service, landscaping, pest control, waste management, and MEP contractors.
- Coordinate with event managers to ensure facility, security, and parking needs are met before, during, and post events.
- Oversee snow removal program to ensure that campus remains safe and operational for a residential community and is able to remain open/reopen for normal operations as weather allows.
- Participate in the on-call coverage schedule for after-hours and weekend/holiday emergencies.
Personnel and Team Management
- Direct the daily work of 9 maintenance and grounds team members, fostering a culture of teamwork, quality control, accountability, and efficiency.
- Manage the workload of the team, assigning daily, weekly, and seasonal tasks for routine operations, special events, and emergencies.
- Onboard new staff, supervise and train personnel on safety protocols, and promote ongoing professional development.
Campus Planning & Sustainability
- In partnership with the COO and school leadership, develop long-range facility renovation and expansion plans aligned with the school’s strategic goals.
- Collaborate with contractors, architects, and engineers in design and construction phases, ensuring quality, cost control, and compliance with all applicable codes.
- Develop and implement sustainability practices in energy use, waste management, and water conservation.
- Advance initiatives in energy planning that enhance operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen resilience in a cost-effective manner.
Safety and Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with all building codes, required inspections, environmental regulations, and safety standards. Maintain up-to-date records of permits, warranties, inspections, and compliance documentation.
- Lead and coordinate fire safety, emergency preparedness, and environmental health programs.
- Maintain strong relationships with local officials, inspectors, and emergency personnel.
- Work with the security team to coordinate campus safety and emergency preparedness, including safety drills and staff training. Participate as an active member of the school’s Safety Committee.
- Conduct safety checks and ensure fire exits and emergency systems are functional
- Coordinate with the IT Department to oversee access control and video surveillance systems.
Financial Management & Administration
- Develop, monitor, and manage the Buildings and Grounds Department operating budget.
- Collaborate with the Chief Operations Officer to build an annual and long-term capital budget.
- Oversee vendor selection and negotiate and manage contracts for facilities-related services (e.g., HVAC, landscaping, pest control, waste management).
Qualifications and Characteristics
- Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive facilities leadership experience, preferably in a campus-based environment.
- Demonstrated success in leading teams, managing complex facilities operations, budget management, project management, and vendor oversight.
- Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, building automation, and life safety systems.
- Familiarity with building codes, safety regulations, and environmental compliance.
- Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across departments.
- Background check clearance for CORI, SORI, national fingerprinting, and DMV.
- Post offer pre-employment physical testing.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or degree in facilities management, engineering, construction management, or a related field required and/or certification in Facilities Management (CFM) or similar credential.
- Experience with sustainability initiatives and energy efficiency programs.
- Experience working in both residential and commercial environments.
- Familiarity with independent school or college campuses.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $135,000 - $160,000, commensurate with skills and experience.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Ability to regularly walk the 41-acre campus in varying weather conditions.
- Frequent lifting (up to 50 lbs), use of ladders, crawling, twisting, turning, and reaching to access various spaces and complete a variety of job duties.
- Ability to work in hot or cold conditions for extended periods of time.
- Availability for evening and weekend hours as necessary and for on-call emergency response outside normal working hours.
