Director of Facilities

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Northeastern University is seeking a Director of Facilities to lead the maintenance and operations of its Portland, Maine campus.

Under the direction of the Associate Vice-President of Facilities Operations, the Director of Facilities – Portland is responsible for ensuring the effective planning, coordination, delivery, and daily management of the maintenance and operations of the Portland campus, delivered primarily through a contracted Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) provider.

The Director is responsible for defining the scope of work, confirming the proposed solution meets the need, and ensuring the final action plan meets facility requirements and stays within budget. The Director oversees operating procedures, financial requirements and objectives, and maintains optimal operating levels for building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, cleaning, security, life safety) and campus infrastructure.  

The Director is directly responsible for grounds maintenance (landscaping, snow/ice removal, exterior upkeep) and general labor functions (moving furniture and equipment, event setup/breakdown, minor repairs, and other physical tasks not requiring a licensed trade), whether these are performed personally, by campus staff, or coordinated through contracted services. The Director also develops budgets, resource allocation plans, and tracking/reporting mechanisms for facilities operations and preventive maintenance.  

The Director is responsible for developing and maintaining a customer relations philosophy focused on response time, facilities stewardship, and consistent service delivery regardless of whether work is performed by contracted or in-house personnel. This includes managing the campus operations team comprised of both full and part-time staff to ensure that standard of service is met. This role is expected to scale in scope and structure as the organization transitions to a significantly larger facility in approximately early 2028.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, or related field. 

• Ten or more (10+) years of related experience, including direct experience managing an outsourced or Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) contract.  

• Working knowledge of building trade systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety) sufficient to evaluate the quality of contracted work.  

• Demonstrated experience developing budgets and preparing financial reports. 

• Experience interpreting and applying applicable codes, regulations, and university policy in a facilities context as well as developing operating procedures. 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and vendor relationships simultaneously. 
• Ability to interact effectively at all levels, including with vendor executives, on-site contracted staff, faculty, and University leadership. 

• Proficiency with computerized maintenance management systems (Archibus preferred), vendor performance dashboards, and comfort adopting new facilities technology. 

• Demonstrated commitment to regulatory compliance, safety, and environmental standards. 

• Comfortable operating as an individual contributor day-to-day while also planning for future team growth. 

Preferred 

• Experience helping scale a facilities function including strategic planning for growth.  

• APPA Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) or similar facilities management certification is a plus.  

Position Type

Facilities

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

114S

Expected Hiring Range:

$130,945.00 - $189,868.75

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.