Senior Director, Facilities Management - AlerisLife Inc.

Position Overview:

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations, the Senior Director of Facilities will oversee the comprehensive management of facility operations across Five Star Senior Living’s owned and managed properties. This includes oversight of maintenance and housekeeping operations, developing comprehensive emergency response and business continuity plans to safeguard residents and team members during emergencies and ensure that essential operations can continue. This role is also responsible for managing capital budgets, improvement projects and renovations, collaborating with project managers, vendors and engineers to ensure timely and budget-compliant completion. This role will partner closely with the Capital Management team, divisional, regional, and area chief engineers & project managers. The ideal candidate must be able manage large, diverse teams across multiple locations and will be expected to travel frequently.

Work Mode: Primarily remote with travel to communities up to 80% of the time.

Key Responsibilities:

FACILITIES & MAINTENCE

Safety Procedures & Compliance

• Life Safety Systems: Ensure that life safety systems (e.g., alarms, sprinklers, emergency lighting) are functional and regularly tested. Prioritize the maintenance of critical systems essential for safety during emergencies.
• Compliance with Regulations: Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations and standards including building codes, safety regulations, and health codes.
• Training Programs: Implement training programs for team members on emergency procedures, safety protocols, and the use of emergency equipment.

Maintenance & Vendor Relations

• Systematic Maintenance: Oversee the maintenance and repair of buildings, equipment, and infrastructure including regular inspections, addressing maintenance requests, and coordinating repairs to ensure that communities are safe and well-maintained.
• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers, such as maintenance contractors, landscapers, and security companies. This includes negotiating contracts, monitoring performance, and ensuring that services are delivered effectively and efficiently. Manage national contracts versus local vendor programs.

Systems, Standards & Tracking

• Effective Program for Room Turn & Room Readiness Standards: Implementing standards and conducting quarterly analyses of opportunities and challenges by market.
• Established Routines for Regional Maintenance Team: Daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly routines for the regional maintenance team, including critical SOPs and KPIs.
• Portfolio/Regional Dashboard for Life Safety and Critical Facilities Repairs: Create and maintain dashboard of all life safety and critical facilities repairs/maintenance with routines for regular inspections of grounds, facilities, and equipment.

Talent Development & Leadership

• Community Facilities Success Profile: Defining hiring criteria and expectations for in-house work vs. vendor work, with talent and succession planning routines in place.
• Team member training, onboarding and development: Provide opportunities for facilities team members to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge needed to perform their jobs effectively.

CAPITAL PROJECTS & RENOVATIONS

Budget Development & Financial Management

• Capital Project Budget: Accurately estimate costs for routine maintenance, refresh projects, and major renovations ensuring that capital project budgets, permits, and schedules are current and accurate. Identify cost saving opportunities.
• Budget Tracking: Implement tracking mechanisms to monitor budget performance. Be prepared to adjust budgets based on project changes, unforeseen issues, or shifts in financial priorities.

Scheduling

• Quarterly, Annual, and Long-Range Plans: Portfolio has quarterly, annual, and long-range plans for the efficient operation and maintenance of facilities, grounds, and utility systems.
• Capital Projects and Renovations: coordinate capital improvement projects and renovations, working closely with capital Mgmt. PMO, contractors, architects, and engineers to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to specifications.

Alignment with Capital Management Team

• Regular Communication: Maintain consistent communication with the capital management team to ensure alignment on budgets, schedules, and project priorities.
• Collaborative Planning: Work collaboratively with Capital Management team to integrate feedback, adjust plans, and address any discrepancies between departmental needs and capital management objectives.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Emergency Preparedness & Response

• Emergency Preparedness Plans: Develop and maintain comprehensive emergency/crisis preparedness plans covering various scenarios (e.g., natural disasters, fire, medical emergencies).
• Response Drills: Conduct routine emergency response drills (e.g., fire drills, evacuation drills, lockdown drills) to ensure readiness and efficiency.
• Business Continuity Planning: Establish strategies to ensure the continuation of essential operations during and after an emergency.

Skills/Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. A Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Project Management Professional (PMP)) is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in facilities management, including at least 5-7 years in a leadership role managing large teams and complex projects.
• Project Management: Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale projects and complex facility operations. Ability to handle financial planning, forecasting, and reporting effectively.
• Capital Projects: overseeing capital projects from conception through completion, including budgeting, scheduling, and execution. Extensive experience in budget management and financial reporting within a facilities management context.
• Safety & Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of local, state, and federal building codes, regulations, and environmental standards.