Director of Buildings & Grounds - Full Time

Northern Children's Services • Philadelphia, PA

18h • $88,000 - $95,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Northern Children's Services (Northern) is seeking a passionate Building and Grounds Director to support its mission of helping children, youth, and families. This role offers a leadership opportunity within a supportive environment focused on empowerment, effective communication, planning, continuous monitoring, documentation, and collaboration. The organization values Excellence, Respect, Resilience, Cultural Humility & Justice, Healing, and Wellness, and believes in the potential of every child and youth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Degree in a facilities management, construction management, or a related field preferred.
• Trade certification preferred.
• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible experience working in facilities, construction, or grounds management.
• At least 3-5 years of supervisory and at least 3-5 years of administrative experience.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee buildings & grounds operations across a campus or multiple sites.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear written reports, project documentation, and compliance materials for internal and external audiences.
• Experience managing capital campaign projects preferred.
• Expertise
• Physical Capabilities
• Trauma-Informed Approach
• Excellent collaboration skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple competing priorities.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from various internal and external stakeholders.
• Applies critical thinking to assess situations, triage issues, and prioritize responses based on urgency, safety, regulatory requirements, and organizational impact.
• Demonstrates the ability to work effectively with diverse populations, including residents with child welfare or justice system involvement and clients with behavioral health diagnoses.
• Maintains sound professional judgment and appropriate boundaries in all interactions with residents, clients, staff, and contractors.
• Excellent working knowledge of electrical, plumbing HVAC, and other systems and the ability for practical application.
• Ability to accurately calculate numbers, including addition, subtraction, and percentages.
• Ability to read and understand complex instructions, such as regulatory policies.
• Excellent working knowledge of computers, digital applications such as Fresh Desk, and pertinent software programs, including Microsoft Word, SharePoint, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to walk up and down stairs.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to operate a calculator and computer.
• Current valid driver’s license.
• Travel within the Philadelphia region is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing capital campaign projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensures full compliance of Northern’s buildings, grounds, and swimming pool with all applicable regulations and internal policies.
• Participates in campus planning, including sustainability, safety, and functionality of Northern’s facilities.
• Manages building and grounds improvements and projects, and new construction, including liaising between contractors, architects, and regulatory bodies.
• Facilitates the zoning and licensing processes when needed for specific projects, and follows through with all requests until approval is granted.
• Oversees a team of seven (7) full-time staff, including the direct supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor and Custodial Supervisor.
• Conducts weekly formal supervision with direct reports and plans and facilitates monthly team meetings.
• Serves as Northern’s security point-person for the 24-hour Security contractor and security camera contractor and ensures contractor accountability and incident response coordination.
• Oversees the management of key card access for all Northern contractors, ensuring proper authorization, tracking, and security compliance.
• Manages contractors and vendors effectively, ensuring accountability and adherence to contracts.
• Obtains multiple bids/estimates for facilities projects and upholds Northern’s commitment to equitable representation of a range of people and backgrounds.
• Collaborates with the programs and the Quality Assurance department on preparation for, participation in, and response to all city and state audits.
• Develops, oversees, and participates in the department’s emergency after-hours on-call schedule, ensuring adequate coverage when needed.
• Supports the planning and execution of organizational and program events hosted on Northern’s campus.
• Works closely with Northern staff and Buildings & Grounds Board Committee members by supplying details related to campus improvement projects, providing consultative input on the feasibility of proposed projects, and all other needs as requested.
• Serves as a partner to Northern’s Volunteerism staff to plan and support group volunteer experiences tied to campus improvement needs and serve as point of coordination for on-site volunteer events as needed.
• Takes the lead on administering and monitoring the department’s ticketing system, Fresh Desk, ensuring alignment with daily task assignments and effective communication with staff requesting tasks.
• Ensures that all projects are completed within the targeted completion dates and within stated costs.
• Develops preventative maintenance plan in alignment with organizational priorities and budget.
• Ensures the development, maintenance, and monitoring of department Standard Operating Manuals (SOPs), and task logs.
• Reviews (at least annually) the functions and performance of the Buildings & Grounds Department to ensure adequacy, efficiency, and adherence with regulatory requirements.
• Maintains organized electronic records of project plans, bids, estimates, permits, and compliance documentation, using Northern’s Microsoft 365 Office SharePoint app.
• Oversees implementation of safety protocols and ensures campus-wide compliance.
• Ensures the timely completion and documentation of all required fire drills, including monthly drills and semi-annual nighttime drills for residential buildings.
• Promotes and ensures effective communication between Buildings & Grounds staff and staff from other departments.
• Builds strong collaborative relationships with programs and administrative staff to ensure organizational needs are effectively supported.
• Prepares clear, well-structured written reports, manuals, and correspondence to support leadership decision-making and regulatory compliance.
• Provides regular updates to the Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, its’ Buildings & Grounds Committee, and Northern’s staff Safety Committee to ensure transparency and informed decision-making.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for full-time employees.
• $20,000 life insurance policy through Mutual of Omaha Company at no cost for full-time employees.
• Mutual of Omaha LTD coverage and AD&D insurance.
• Range of self-funded insurance plans, including accident insurance, cancer insurance, life insurance, critical illness coverage, and short-term disability insurance.
• 401(k)-savings plan with a generous matching contribution after one year of employment.
• Generous paid time off or sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential referral and counseling services.
• Self-funded legal services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager