Director of Facilities & Engineering

Bozzutos•Cheshire, CT

About The Position

The Director of Facilities & Engineering oversees facilities and engineering operations to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the organization’s physical infrastructure and engineering systems. The role develops and implements strategies to optimize facilities performance, improve operational efficiency, and drive continuous improvement. It provides leadership to facilities and engineering teams and coordinates facilities planning, construction, renovation, maintenance, engineering systems, regulatory compliance, budgeting, emergency response, and team development. The position coordinates planning, construction, renovation, and maintenance across distribution centers, warehouses, fleet maintenance facilities, offices, and manufacturing operations. It manages local and state planning, zoning, land-use, and building permits; maintenance programs for refrigeration, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other infrastructure; vendor relationships; environmental, health, safety, food safety, quality, and environmental programs; energy procurement; emergency response; restoration operations; and facility-related loss prevention. It also manages the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of production equipment, utilities, and automation systems, and collaborates on process improvements and technology upgrades. The Director develops and manages budgets, identifies cost-saving and efficiency opportunities, and reports operational performance and KPIs to senior management. The role recruits, coaches, develops, and leads facilities and engineering professionals. The schedule is Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. Travel may be required up to 50% of the year based on project scope. The work environment includes warehouse and office settings, typically 65°F–75°F, with varying temperatures depending on projects.

Requirements

Preferred five years of experience in facilities management, engineering, or a related field, including at least three years in a leadership position.
Strong knowledge of building systems, maintenance practices, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA PSM and EPA RMP programs.
Working knowledge of environmental regulations and programs involving water, air, waste, and hazardous materials, including CAA, CWA, SWPPP, SPCC, RCRA, and EPCRA.
Working knowledge of HACCP and FSMA food safety programs.
Demonstrated experience managing large-scale facilities and complex engineering systems.
Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans and drive operational excellence.
Strong leadership and team-management skills, including the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
Proficiency in written and verbal English to communicate effectively with associates and leadership.
Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback and communicate expectations and directions clearly.
Effective coaching, facilitation, presentation, and team-building skills, with inclusive decision-making.
Results-driven approach to KPIs and metrics, willingness to participate in continuous-improvement projects, and ability to manage multiple deadline-based projects.
May be required to lift up to 75 pounds; ability to operate required facility equipment and to stand, walk, and sit throughout the workday, including walking on carpet, concrete, tile, and other flooring.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed based on projects and business needs.
Ability to travel up to 50% of the year based on project scope.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
Knowledge of sustainability practices and energy management.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a facilities and engineering strategy aligned with organizational goals and provide strategic guidance to the teams.
Drive initiatives to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance performance; stay current on industry trends and integrate technologies and innovations into operations.
Coordinate planning, construction, renovation, and maintenance of company distribution centers, warehouses, fleet maintenance facilities, offices, and manufacturing operations.
Coordinate local and state planning and zoning, land-use, and building permitting for company locations.
Develop and implement maintenance programs for facilities, including refrigeration, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other critical infrastructure.
Manage vendors, contracts, and service-level agreements to ensure service quality, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance.
Implement and maintain environmental, health, and safety policies and procedures.
Coordinate and support food safety and quality policies and programs to meet applicable regulatory requirements.
Coordinate and support environmental policies and programs to meet applicable regulatory requirements.
Administer energy procurement and contracts for company locations.
Oversee emergency response operations related to distribution facility refrigeration systems.
Coordinate and manage emergency and restoration operations related to storms, power loss, flooding, and other events, protecting public and employee safety and minimizing operational impact.
Manage facility-related insurance loss-prevention initiatives for physical structures, equipment, and human-element programs.
Develop and execute logistics requirements for company charitable and special-event functions.
Manage the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of engineering systems, including production equipment, utilities, and automation systems.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams on process improvements, automation initiatives, and technology upgrades to improve productivity and quality.
Ensure engineering operations comply with applicable regulatory standards and industry best practices.
Optimize energy usage, reduce waste, and implement sustainable practices across facilities and engineering operations.
Develop and manage facilities and engineering budgets, allocate resources effectively, and implement cost controls.
Identify and evaluate cost savings, process improvements, and operational efficiencies.
Provide senior management with reports and updates on operational performance, metrics, and KPIs.
Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing facilities and engineering team; provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.
Promote professional development and training opportunities for team members.
Maintain and promote safety policies and accountability for safe practices among associates.
Support product-handling quality standards and participate in continuous-improvement projects while managing multiple deadline-based projects.