Plant Operations Specialist
About The Position
The Plant Operations Specialist ensures continuity of plant operations, regulatory compliance, life safety, preventive maintenance, environmental standards, and building functionality across a portfolio of communities. The role provides interim leadership coverage when a Plant Operations leadership position is vacant or additional support is needed, and helps communities adopt standardized programs, policies, and procedures as practical tools. This is a remote position involving extensive travel to and work within multiple communities in multiple states. The specialist assesses operational needs through inspections and reporting, sets priorities, and directs and coaches maintenance and plant operations teams in partnership with community leadership. The role also collaborates with the Home Office to maintain a safe, well-maintained environment for residents, families, visitors, and associates. The position requires working knowledge of senior living environments, building systems, maintenance operations, computerized maintenance management systems such as TELS, building automation systems, life safety, regulatory requirements, and renovation and construction processes. It also requires technology skills ranging from general to expert, including mobile software, artificial intelligence, and digital organizational techniques, and the ability to bring order to ambiguous or rapidly changing situations and establish maintenance and environmental services operations when needed. Responsibilities include regional operational support and reporting; interim community leadership; support for capital and unit turn projects; management of TELS, compliance, and life safety programs; team development; and implementation of organizational standards and systems. The role reports directly to the Regional Director of Plant Operations. During interim assignments, it takes daily direction from the Executive Director while continuing regional responsibilities as determined by the Regional Director of Plant Operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent facility experience required.
- At least 5 years of experience in physical plant management or commercial construction management.
- Experience leading maintenance teams or supporting capital projects.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to juggle and prioritize several ongoing projects.
- Strong understanding of life safety systems, emergency preparedness, building maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
- Working knowledge of construction and renovation processes, including reading plans and scopes, evaluating bids, and reviewing submittals and change orders.
- Ability to lead through relationships and influence, building trust with Executive Directors and Directors of Plant Operations without relying on direct authority.
- Ability to independently assess operational needs and establish priorities.
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment and manage extensive travel.
- Ability to lead teams and quickly establish trust and credibility.
- Proficiency with TELS or comparable maintenance management systems, spreadsheets, and presentation tools, and comfort learning new technology.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively to communities in multiple states.
Nice To Haves
- Degree or certificates/licenses in project management, construction management, or a specialized trade field.
- Experience in the healthcare industry.
Responsibilities
- Support the Discovery, Development, and Execution pipeline across communities so long-range needs, active planning, and committed work are tracked and progressing.
- Help communities prepare for and respond to Regional Director of Plant Operations site visits by documenting building and grounds conditions, aging systems, deferred maintenance, contract renewals, and emerging needs, and tracking follow-up items.
- Participate in monthly capital and unit turn reviews with Executive Directors and Directors of Plant Operations, tracking timelines, budgets, and postponements.
- Support Directors of Plant Operations with TELS use and preventive practices.
- Contribute to annual campus capital budgets, the five-year capital plan, and annual reviews and updates of preventive maintenance and service agreements.
- Track and administer vendor relationships and service agreements across communities, including renewal dates, required documentation, and vendor performance.
- Monitor operational indicators, including preventive maintenance completion, work order performance, inspection results, safety issues, and facility risks, and provide regular updates to the Regional Director of Plant Operations.
- Provide interim Plant Operations leadership support at assigned communities during vacancies, extended absences, or periods requiring additional support.
- During interim assignments, take daily direction from the Executive Director while remaining a direct report of the Regional Director of Plant Operations, and maintain regional responsibilities at the level set by that director.
- Lead, inspect, and oversee plant operations, maintenance, environmental services, and related functions as applicable, coordinating work through associates and vendors.
- Assess an assigned community’s operational condition and establish immediate, short-term, and long-term priorities.
- Provide continuity during leadership transitions and support recruitment and onboarding of permanent Plant Operations leadership when appropriate.
- Build working relationships with Executive Directors, community leadership, department leaders, residents, families, vendors, and employees.
- Identify potential building or equipment failures and take proactive measures to mitigate risk and prevent service disruptions.
- Coordinate emergency repairs and respond to urgent facility-related issues.
- Direct vendors and contractors to ensure quality, timeliness, safety, and appropriate cost management.
- Support community capital and unit turn projects, including review of scope, design, and equipment selections for maintainability, life safety, and system setup.
- Maintain building-system and equipment asset and lifecycle information and support lifecycle planning and reserve forecasting.
- Evaluate facility needs and recommend repairs, replacements, capital expenditures, and operational improvements.
- Oversee and manage TELS across assigned communities, including system setup and configuration, preventive maintenance and life safety schedules, corrective work orders, vendor service documentation, compliance reporting, and training task tracking.
- Coach Directors of Plant Operations and their teams in consistent TELS use, and monitor task completion and data quality for survey readiness.
- Support community compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and senior living requirements related to physical plant operations, life safety, emergency preparedness, environmental conditions, and building maintenance.
- Ensure required inspections, testing, certifications, permits, licenses, and documentation are maintained for fire alarms, sprinklers, generators, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, and other life safety systems.
- Support mock surveys and preparation for and response to mock and regulatory surveys, inspections, audits, and accreditation reviews; organize documentation and reporting, review findings, identify risks, and develop and track corrective action plans.
- Review life safety guidelines and manuals annually with Directors of Plant Operations and confirm life safety drills are conducted routinely and related logs are current.
- Participate in emergency preparedness planning, drills, and response activities.
- Assess staffing needs and assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and developing Plant Operations employees, including staff scheduling during interim assignments.
- Ensure team members receive appropriate training and understand applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
- Support development and implementation of organizational standards, policies, procedures, and programs as practical tools communities can adopt and own.
- Participate in monthly Director of Plant Operations group meetings to support operational alignment, peer learning, and goal setting.
- Serve as a subject matter resource to community leadership and other departments on plant operations and facility-related matters.
- Support special projects and operational initiatives as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and procedures, including updates.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
