Chief Physical Plant Officer

Candidates who are blind or visually impaired and/or deaf or hard of hearing are encouraged to apply for this position and may be given preference in hiring as permitted by federal laws. Information related to disability is not required, and if disclosed voluntarily, will be used only in AIDB’s efforts to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Non-disclosure will not subject any applicant to adverse treatment.

Position: Chief Physical Plant Officer

Reports to: AIDB President

ABOUT ALABAMA INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND BLIND

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) is the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and service program serving individuals of all ages who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, multidisabled, and their families. Founded in 1858, AIDB serves more than 30,000 infants, toddlers, children, adults, and senior citizens with hearing and vision loss throughout Alabama each year.

Our services span a lifetime and include five campuses in Talladega, a statewide network of regional centers, Early Intervention services, traditional and nontraditional educational opportunities in residential, day, and outreach settings, and a manufacturing facility known as Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB), the state’s largest employer of adults who are Blind. AIDB’s three K-12 schools — Alabama School for the Blind, Alabama School for the Deaf, and Helen Keller School of Alabama — provide specialized educational services that empower students to achieve their full potential. Our employees are among the organization’s most valuable assets and resources. We share a commitment to leveling the playing field for all. Our mission makes AIDB a unique place to work.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Chief Physical Plant Officer is a senior executive management position reporting directly to the AIDB President. This role provides strategic vision, operational leadership, and administrative oversight for all AIDB physical plant facilities, infrastructure, capital projects, and maintenance operations statewide.

The position leads multi-campus facilities management, architectural and engineering capital developments, environmental health and safety, third-party vendor contracts, preventative maintenance programs, and physical plant personnel.

The Chief Physical Plant Officer ensures that all physical environments across AIDB's residential, academic, regional, and industrial facilities are safe, sustainable, fully accessible (in compliance with Title II ADA standards), compliant with regulatory building codes (including IBC and NFPA), and closely aligned with overall institutional priorities

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Capital & Master Plan Execution: Drive the strategic development and implementation of facilities projects under the approved AIDB Master Plan, leading capital renewal and new construction initiatives.
• Operational Excellence: Establish, optimize, and oversee comprehensive preventative maintenance, work-order management, and asset optimization frameworks across all campuses and facilities.
• Fiscal & Contract Stewardship: Develop and direct the physical plant operating budgets, capital expenditures, and major third-party service and construction contracts.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the chief facilities authority to internal stakeholders, executive leadership, architects, engineers, contractors, and public entities.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor Degree
• Five years of maintenance management and facility leadership experience in an institutional, medical, industrial, agriculture or multi-campus setting.
• Must meet suitability requirements for employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Engineering, Building Science, Facilities Management, or Business Administration.
• Advanced working experience referencing International Building Code (IBC), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code handbooks for institutional compliance.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership & Strategic Facilities Planning

• Strategic Leadership: Provide executive oversight and direction for the Physical Plant Department, establishing short- and long-term goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and operational strategies aligned with AIDB's mission.
• Master Plan Implementation: Lead the strategic execution of physical plant projects under the approved AIDB Master Plan and enforce the institutional Facilities Maintenance and Renewal policy.
• Departmental Management: Oversee day-to-day internal department functions, including staff scheduling, resource allocation, equipment utilization, performance evaluations, time-keeping, and discipline in accordance with AIDB policy.
• Talent Management & Development: Interview, select, and recommend hiring of departmental personnel; provide continuous mentorship and evaluate employee performance annually.

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

• Statutory & Regulatory Oversight: Direct enterprise-wide compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, environmental health and safety standards, building codes, and regulatory mandates governing educational, residential, and industrial physical plants.
• Accessibility & ADA Compliance: Serve as the chief physical plant authority ensuring all campuses, facilities, grounds, and architectural modifications comply strictly with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and federal accessibility guidelines.
• Life Safety & Building Codes: Enforce strict adherence to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) life safety codes, International Building Code (IBC) standards, and state fire marshal regulations across all building operations, fire suppression systems, and alarm infrastructure.
• Contractual & Legal Instruments: Provide executive oversight and approval for all third-party vendor contracts, public bid solicitations, capital project agreements, and legal service instruments to protect institutional interests and minimize organizational liability.
• Record Integrity & Municipal Governance: Direct the legal maintenance, archiving, and security of all official construction documents, environmental permits, blueprints, and municipal inspection records in full alignment with AIDB procedures and state retention policies.

Capital Projects, Engineering & Construction Governance

• Design & Capital Oversight: Partner with external architects, engineers, and consultants in developing plans, schematics, and technical specifications for new construction, capital improvements, and major renovation projects.
• Plan & Bid Approval: Review, evaluate, and approve all technical plans, construction drawings, and specifications prior to bid letting on new construction, renovations, and major equipment acquisitions.
• Bid Specification Support: Collaborate with the Purchasing Department to draft technical bid specifications, work scopes, and contract documentation for supplies, equipment, and contracted construction projects.
• Quality Assurance & Inspection: Oversee and inspect internal construction and repair work executed by in-house technicians, as well as capital projects completed by external general contractors.
• Document Architecture: Maintain a central, secure, up-to-date repository of all blueprints, building plans, technical drawings, and engineering specifications for all AIDB facilities and equipment statewide.

Contract Management & Third-Party Oversight

• Vendor Contract Governance: Direct and manage performance compliance for external vendor and service contracts, including custodial/janitorial contracts, HVAC maintenance, fire protection/alarm systems, emergency generators, and commercial kitchen suppression systems.
• Service Level Verification: Ensure third-party contractors strictly adhere to contract terms, scope obligations, safety protocols, and quality standards.

Operations, Asset Optimization & Emergency Management

• Maintenance Optimization: Implement, manage, and optimize computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) for work-order tracking, preventative maintenance scheduling, asset tracking, and inventory control.
• Preventative & Corrective Maintenance: Establish comprehensive preventative maintenance and component asset management programs to maximize system lifespans and ensure operational safety.
• Event & Asset Coordination: Direct and organize the setup, logistics, and staging of institutional assets for special events, ceremonies, and major functions.
• Emergency Response & On-Call Operations: Serve as the executive point of contact for campus central station alerts (fire alarms, elevator emergencies, utility outages) and direct emergency on-call technical teams during after-hours, weekends, crisis situations, and severe weather events.

Fiscal & Administrative Governance

• Budgetary Oversight: Formulate, manage, and monitor the department's annual operating and capital budgets; determine optimal allocation and utilization of AIDB physical resources.
• Financial Approvals: Review, verify, and approve departmental payroll, purchase requisitions, account number assignments, travel authorizations, and travel vouchers.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all campus infrastructure, building modifications, and physical plant operations comply strictly with applicable federal, state, and local laws, environmental regulations, and safety mandates.

Professional Development and Certifications

• Sign Language Proficiency: Obtain a sign language proficiency level of SURVIVAL according to the AIDB evaluation system within the designated timeframe.
  

Upon offer of employment, the applicant must submit to a fingerprint background check at an agency designated and paid by AIDB. This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job goals, qualifications, and responsibilities, and the employee may be required to perform other related duties as assigned.

Salary: $100,000.00 - $145,000.00 Rank A1 Scale 02

260 days

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: October 14, 2026

CLICK HERE TO APPLY