Director of Facilities

Job Title: Director of Facilities

Organization: G&A Museum Operations Mantua LLC, operating at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University in Mantua Township, NJ 

Position Overview: “Discover the Past. Protect the Future.” This is an opportunity to join a mission-driven organization dedicated to education, science, conservation, and visitor engagement. Reporting to the Senior Director of Administration and Finance, the Director of Facilities will serve as a key member of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum’s team, with primary responsibility for strategic and operational leadership for the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum’s buildings, grounds, infrastructure, safety, security, and physical assets.

This position will lead property repair and maintenance, landscaping, safety and compliance, janitorial services, vendor relationship management, and space management. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience managing budgets and leading diverse teams of employees and contracted service providers and contracted staff including salaried maintenance staff, hourly maintenance staff, full-time and part-time janitorial staff, and contracted security and landscaping teams. 
 

The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, communication, and relationship management skills, along with a thorough understanding of building systems, safety regulations, and compliance requirements.

 

Major Tasks and Responsibilities:

1.Facilities Operations & Building Maintenance

• Provide overall leadership and management of the museum’s facilities, building systems, infrastructure, and physical assets. 
• Oversee the operation, preventive maintenance, repair, and replacement of all building systems, including HVAC, geothermal heat pump systems, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, security, access control, radio, and building automation systems. 
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive preventive maintenance program utilizing a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). 
• Establish maintenance schedules, inspection protocols, and equipment replacement plans to maximize the reliability, efficiency, and useful life of facility assets. 
• Serve as the museum’s primary representative for Rowan-controlled systems, including CCTV, access control, and associated hardware and staff/temporary access credentials. 
• Coordinate specialized repairs and maintenance with contractors, engineers, manufacturers, and other qualified service providers. 
• Maintain accurate records of equipment, warranties, service agreements, inspections, permits, and facility documentation. 
• Ensure compliance with manufacturer specifications and warranty requirements. 
• Perform and oversee general building maintenance and repairs, taking a hands-on approach when appropriate. 

 

2. Grounds, Landscape & Fossil Park Stewardship

• Oversee the maintenance and stewardship of the museum’s grounds, trails, gardens, landscapes, and outdoor visitor areas. 
• Implement the Fossil Park’s regeneration and stewardship plan, in collaboration with the Chief Science Officer. 
• Promote sustainable landscape management practices that prioritize native species, environmental stewardship, and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Oversee trail maintenance, landscaping, gardens, erosion control, invasive/unwanted plant management, and general grounds maintenance using organic and pesticide-free practices whenever possible. 
• Maintain the fossil quarry pumphouse, water management infrastructure, and related systems in accordance with DEP permits. . 
• Oversee snow and ice removal operations and other seasonal grounds maintenance. 
• Coordinate contractors and staff responsible for specialized landscaping, tree care, snow removal, and grounds services. 

 

3. Safety, Emergency Preparedness & Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as a senior leader responsible for ensuring the museum’s facilities and operations comply with applicable local, state, and federal safety requirements. 
• Maintain compliance with applicable building, fire, environmental, OSHA, DEP, Soil Conservation, and other regulatory requirements and permits. 
• Ensure required inspections, certifications, reporting, and permit renewals are completed accurately and on schedule. 
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the museum’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP). 
• Coordinate emergency preparedness activities, including drills, training, evacuation procedures, severe weather response, and other emergency protocols. 
• Serve as the museum's primary facilities contact during emergencies and participate in an on-call rotation to respond to significant facilities or safety issues, as required.
• Develop and administer the museum’s Hazard Communication Program in accordance with OSHA requirements, including maintaining Safety Data Sheets (SDS), required logs, training, and documentation. 
• Oversee the museum’s third-party security contractor and ensure appropriate 24-hour site security coverage. 
• Support the Director of Exhibitions, Experiences and Programming in maintaining required animal-related permits, inspections, and regulatory compliance. 
• Support the Café Manager in maintaining compliance with applicable health, sanitation, and food safety requirements. 

 

4. Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship

• Partner with the Chief Science Officer to advance the museum’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience. 
• Develop and maintain facilities-related sustainability goals, metrics, and performance benchmarks. 
• Identify opportunities to reduce energy and water consumption, operating costs, waste, and environmental impacts. 
• Promote the use of environmentally responsible products, equipment, materials, and maintenance practices. 
• Incorporate sustainability, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship into facilities planning and decision-making. 

 

5. Cleaning, Sanitation & Site Appearance

• Oversee in-house cleaning operations and Ensure the museum maintains established standards for cleanliness, sanitation, safety, and overall appearance.
• Establish cleaning schedules, standards, quality-control procedures, and performance expectations. 
• Ensure appropriate cleaning supplies, equipment, and resources are available to staff. 
• Implement and maintain environmentally responsible cleaning practices. 
• Coordinate cleaning and site-preparation requirements for special events, programs, and high-volume visitor periods. 

 

6. Vendor, Contractor & Service Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with contractors, vendors, consultants, and service providers. 
• Solicit bids, evaluate proposals, negotiate contracts, and ensure the museum receives quality services at competitive prices. 
• Manage service agreements, contracts, warranties, and vendor performance. 
• Establish clear scopes of work, performance expectations, schedules, and deliverables for outside contractors. 
• Monitor contractor performance and address deficiencies promptly. 
• Maintain an up-to-date vendor and service-provider database, including contacts, contracts, warranties, insurance documentation, and service history. 

 

7. Budget & Financial Management

• Develop, manage, and monitor the annual facilities and grounds operating budget. 
• Partner with Rowan University to develop long-term capital and asset-replacement plans for major building systems, equipment, infrastructure, and grounds. 
• Identify opportunities to reduce operating costs without compromising safety, visitor experience, or facility performance. 
• Monitor expenditures and ensure facilities operations remain within approved budgets. 
• Evaluate lifecycle costs when making purchasing, maintenance, and replacement decisions. 
• Provide leadership with recommendations regarding capital needs, deferred maintenance, and significant facility investments. 

 

8. Space Planning & Facility Improvements

• Work collaboratively with museum departments to evaluate facility needs and optimize the use of museum spaces. 
• Coordinate the planning and execution of space reconfigurations, renovations, installations, and facility improvements. 
• Ensure facility projects minimize disruption to visitors, staff, programs, and museum operations. 
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants, and internal departments on construction and improvement projects. 
• Ensure completed projects meet applicable safety, accessibility, operational, and quality standards. 

 

9. Staff Leadership & Department Management

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and develop facilities staff and other personnel under the department’s direction. 
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, schedules, performance expectations, and accountability standards. 
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development opportunities for facilities staff.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and identify opportunities for professional development and cross-training. 
• Ensure facilities staff have the tools, equipment, training, and resources necessary to perform their responsibilities safely and effectively. 
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement. 

 

10. Museum-Wide Operational Leadership

• Serve as the museum’s primary internal resource for facilities, building operations, safety, security, and physical infrastructure. 
• Work closely with senior leadership and department directors to anticipate operational needs and resolve facility-related issues. 
• Collaborate across departments to ensure facilities support an exceptional visitor and staff experience. 
• Participate in planning and execution of special events, exhibitions, programs, and other activities that have facilities or operational requirements. 
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and operational standards that improve the efficiency, safety, and reliability of museum operations. 
• Maintain an active and collaborative presence throughout the museum and Fossil Park to support operational needs. 
• Provide leadership and operational support to staff and contractors while ensuring timely resolution of facility-related issues.

 

Experience / Qualifications / Requirements

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in facilities management, building operations, or a related field; experience in a museum, hospitality, cultural institution, educational facility, or similar environment strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience may be considered.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, facility operations, safety standards, regulatory requirements, and preventive maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated experience managing HVAC systems, with experience operating and maintaining geothermal or heat pump systems strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of plumbing, electrical, carpentry, mechanical systems, and general building maintenance.
• Experience with building automation systems, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), access control systems, CCTV, fire alarm systems, and related facility technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage operating budgets, control costs, evaluate capital needs, and negotiate contracts with vendors and service providers.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, including experience hiring, training, supervising, and developing staff.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing needs, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and respond effectively to changing circumstances.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with staff, leadership, contractors, vendors, regulatory agencies, and members of the public.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office applications; familiarity with facilities management and work-order management software preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety, environmental stewardship, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including occasional lifting and carrying of materials weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in varying and sometimes challenging weather conditions.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as operational needs require.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation and respond to facilities or safety emergencies on a 24/7 basis.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both strategically and operationally, including supporting day-to-day facility operations as needed.  The successful candidate must be comfortable working alongside staff and contractors to address facility needs directly.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and strategic objectives of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and meet the requirements to operate a company vehicle, if applicable.

Work Setting:
 

• This is a full-time, exempt, on-site position with G&A Museum Operations Mantua LLC based at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in Mantua Township, New Jersey.
• The position requires regular interaction with staff, visitors, contractors, vendors, volunteers, and external partners.
• Work is performed in office, museum, outdoor, and maintenance environments.
• The role requires occasional evening, weekend, holiday, and special event hours based on operational needs.
• The position may require work in varying weather conditions and travel throughout museum grounds and outdoor visitor areas.

Physical Requirement

• Ability to move throughout museum buildings, grounds, trails, and outdoor work areas.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb stairs, reach, and perform duties associated with facilities management and maintenance activities.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely operate standard office equipment, maintenance equipment, tools, and vehicles as required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

 

Start Date: ASAP 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

G&A Museum Operations Mantua LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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