Director of Facilities & Operations

Description

Job Title: Director of Facilities & Operations

Department: Operations

Supervisor: Vice President Finance and Operations

Supervises: Manager of Site Operations; Building Maintenance Manager; external vendors and contractors and indirect reports of the Facilities & Operations team

FLSA Salary Classification: Exempt

Last Update: April 2026

Availability: Regular business hours with the ability to work a flexible schedule including occasional extended work hours, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Position Summary

The Director of Facilities & Operations provides strategic, operational and financial leadership for the Garden’s operations across its 118-acre site and facilities, excluding horticulture. This role is responsible for ensuring that the Garden’s physical environment is safe, reliable, accessible, sustainable, and visitor-ready at all times.

Serves as the primary owner of campus operations and is accountable for integrating daily facilities management with capital project planning and execution. This role leads capital project coordination and delivery while protecting the visitor experience, staff effectiveness, and long-term asset health.

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance and Operations, the Director of Facilities & Operations translates institutional strategy into consistent operational performance and provides leadership during periods of growth, construction, and change.

Essential Functions

• Provide leadership and oversight for all campus operations, including facilities, grounds, equipment, safety, security, sustainability, and facilities services.
• Serve as the operational owner of the Garden’s 118-acre campus and facilities, excluding horticulture.
• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of capital projects, renovations, and major infrastructure improvements.
• Manage capital project schedules, budgets, scope, and contractor relationships in collaboration with Finance and Advancement as applicable.
• Ensure projects are delivered while maintaining uninterrupted daily operations and positive visitor experiences.
• Oversee preventive maintenance programs and reduce deferred maintenance through disciplined planning and execution.
• Ensure operational readiness of all public-facing facilities to support visitation, programs, exhibitions, and events.
• Supervise and support direct reports, providing coaching, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Lead safety, emergency preparedness, and risk mitigation efforts across campus.
• Oversee vendor and contract management to ensure quality, cost control, and alignment with Garden standards.
• Partner with internal departments including Visitor Experience, Learning and Engagement, Advancement, and Horticulture to align operations with programmatic needs.
• Track, analyze, and report operational and capital performance metrics to senior leadership.
• Advance sustainability initiatives related to energy, water, waste, and climate resilience and performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in facilities management, engineering, construction management, operations, or a related field along with a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in operations or facilities leadership or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex campuses or multi-building facilities
• Experience leading capital projects or major renovations
• Supervisory experience managing managers and cross-functional teams
• Strong financial, organizational, and problem-solving skills
  
  

Success Factors

• A commitment to, and ability to effectively convey, the Garden’s mission of connecting people with plants with a genuine passion that also embraces and exemplifies the Garden’s core values.
• Capital projects delivered on schedule and within approved budgets.
• Stable and reliable campus operations during construction periods.
• Reduced deferred maintenance and improved asset condition.
• Low facilities-related visitor complaints.
• Proactive identification and mitigation of operational and safety risks.
• Strong cross-department collaboration and leadership credibility.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a public garden, museum, cultural institution, university, or large public-facing campus.
• Experience supporting operations during active capital projects or major renovations.
• Knowledge of sustainability practices related to facilities operations.
• Certification in facilities management, safety, or related disciplines.
  
  

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent lifting, carrying (up to 50 lbs.) and assisting with heavier items, amount of walking over varied terrain, and traveling by vehicles across the 118 acre complex. Occasional off site travel required. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment required.
• Work Environment: Office environment and Garden grounds. Work is performed indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions, and construction environments.
• Equipment: General office equipment, two-way radio, multiple types of vehicles, basic hand power tools.
  
  

Job descriptions are guidelines that attempt to characterize essential functions and responsibilities of a job and are subject to change as needs and programs change. At Huntsville Botanical Garden job descriptions are considered neither inclusive nor exclusive. It is expected that up to 20% of your duties may change annually.

Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

The Huntsville Botanical Garden supports a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Garden is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.