Director of Operations

Colorado Academy • Denver, CO

16d • $140,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Colorado Academy (“CA”) seeks an experienced Director of Operations to join CA’s Leadership Team and to ensure a safe, efficient, and future-ready campus that directly supports educational excellence. This is full-time, exempt, 12-month position reports directly to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO) and is responsible for overseeing all campus operations across 22 buildings (approx. 300,000 sqft) on a 95-acre campus. Key departments/areas of responsibility include facilities/maintenance, grounds, safety/security, transportation, custodial services, and capital projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in facilities, operations, or campus management
• Demonstrated experience managing large teams and complex operations
• Strong knowledge of building systems, maintenance, and regulatory compliance
• Motor vehicle record must meet standards
• Strong operational systems fluency (e.g. spreadsheets, CMMS, building automation systems, budgeting tools, etc.)
• Proven budget management and project execution experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and high emotional intelligence
• Calm, decisive leadership under pressure

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in an independent school, higher education, or multi-building campus environment preferred
• Experience with facility planning, design, and major construction projects

Responsibilities

• Oversees maintenance, repair, and operation of all campus buildings, grounds, and infrastructure
• Develops policies and procedures for facility management, maintenance, and operation
• Manages the work order system so that all requests are addressed and completed in a timely fashion
• Develops and implements preventive maintenance and lifecycle replacement programs
• Coordinates regular plant maintenance and repair activities including interior housekeeping activities and grounds maintenance activities
• Ensures compliance with code compliance programs, including but not limited to, asbestos management, lead in water, radon, underground gasoline storage tanks, hazardous material storage, and hazardous waste reduction, management, and disposal
• Responsible for fire safety procedures including the coordination of fire alarms and equipment.
• Ensures campus appearance, functionality, and safety meet high standards
• Manages utilities (electricity, natural gas, water, waste removal, etc.) and infrastructure planning
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, environmental, DOT, fire safety, etc.)
• Negotiates, selects, and manages third-party vendors and service providers in compliance with Board procurement policies
• Monitors the performance, cost, and service quality of third-party vendor
• Leads, supervises, and develops the operations teams and their supervisors, including the following direct reports: Maintenance Supervisor, Grounds Supervisor, Transportation Supervisor, Custodial Supervisor, Director of Risk Management, and the Operations Administrative Assistant
• Coordinates operational support for school events, including set up, logistics, and teardown, partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure seamless execution
• Schedules, supervises, and works with outside s and monitor their performance
• Conducts safety meetings for all staff members of operations department
• Establishes clear performance expectations, training programs, and accountability systems
• Builds a culture of responsiveness, professionalism, customer service, and continuous improvement
• Serves as support staff for the Building & Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees
• Develops and manages the annual operating budget for facilities and operations
• Develops and manages the annual plant projects capital budget
• Assists the CFOO with capital planning, including major maintenance and capital replacement forecasting as well as campus improvements
• Identifies cost efficiencies, sustainability initiatives, and long-term savings opportunities
• Plays a key role in the planning, design, development, and execution of new construction and renovations projects
• Monitors contractors and construction work to assure that projects are constructed in accordance with specifications, timelines, budgets, and quality control
• Ensures projects align with institutional priorities and regulatory requirements
• Serves as on-call leader for critical campus operations and emergency response
• Performs other duties as required.
• All employees at CA are expected to carry out the CA Mission, "Creating Curious, Kind, Courageous, and Adventurous Learners and Leaders," to support the vision of CA , and to contribute to the life of the school outside of the classroom.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance benefit programs are available, as is a 403(b) retirement plan.
• Eligibility for all benefit programs is defined by the applicable plan document.

What This Job Offers

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