Director of Facilities Management and Campus Planning

Description

The New England College of Optometry (NECO) prepares the next generation of eye care providers, educators, and innovators through a rigorous curriculum and extensive clinical experiences. NECO graduates compassionate and skilled optometrists prepared to practice in diverse settings. Located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, the College is a small, independent graduate institution located at 424 Beacon Street, Boston with 2 additional clinics located in Boston and Roslindale.

NECO is seeking a Director of Facilities Management and Campus Planning to provide leadership and direct operational oversight for NECO's facilities, campus operations, maintenance, safety, security, and capital construction projects across three locations in the Greater Boston area.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership position in a small academic institution. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable providing direction and oversight as well as actively engaging in the day-to-day work required to keep facilities operating effectively. This is not a position that can be managed from behind a desk or solely through delegation. The Director is expected to be actively present throughout the campuses, work directly with Facilities staff, troubleshoot operational issues, coordinate vendors and contractors, and personally drive projects and initiatives to completion.

The Director must also understand the unique culture and operating environment of an academic institution. NECO's facilities support a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, researchers, clinicians, and visitors. The ability to build relationships across the institution, understand competing academic and operational priorities, and respond effectively to the needs of these constituencies is essential.

A significant component of this position involves planning and managing major capital construction and renovation projects. The Director will serve as NECO's primary facilities representative and project lead, working directly with architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors, regulatory agencies, and institutional leadership. Candidates must bring demonstrated experience managing substantial construction and renovation projects, from initial planning and budgeting through design, bidding, construction, and completion.

The Director is also a member of NECO's essential personnel team and must participate in 24-hour emergency response activities, including weather-related and other facilities emergencies. Flexibility, sound judgment, a strong sense of ownership, and a willingness to step in wherever needed are essential to success in this role.

The salary for this role is $140,000-$160,000.

Campus Locations and Scope

The Director is responsible for three primary locations:

• Beacon Street Campus (owned facility): Approximately 60,000+ square feet, consisting of five attached brownstones in Boston's Back Bay. The campus includes research facilities, classrooms, a clinical training center, student study areas, a library, a cafe, administrative offices, and outdoor parking.
• Commonwealth Center for Eye Care (leased facility): Approximately 14,000+ square feet, including an eye clinic, retail optical space, and administrative offices.
• Roslindale Center for Eye Care (leased facility): Approximately 6,000+ square feet, including an eye center and retail optical space.

The Director is responsible for the maintenance, operations, custodial services, event management, security, safety, compliance (including research-related compliance), and food service oversight at the Beacon Street Campus. The position also coordinates and oversees lease-related matters, maintenance, cleaning, and security activities at the two leased clinical locations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership, Administration & Staff Management (25%)

• Establish departmental goals, priorities, and budgets aligned with NECO’s institutional strategic plan.
•  Provide direct leadership, technical coaching, and operational guidance to key facilities staff—including the Manager of Building, Grounds & Security, the Manager of Compliance & Safety, and the Maintenance Technician—while maintaining an active, visible presence across all locations. 
• Manage departmental and capital budgets, forecasting, and resource allocations in collaboration with senior leadership.

2. Campus Operations & Maintenance (25%)

• Direct routine, preventive, and emergency maintenance across all campus buildings, grounds, and mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire/life safety, lighting).
• Oversee facilities services to ensure a safe, clean, and functional environment for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors with minimal disruption to academic and clinical operations.
• Manage multi-site operations, including furniture/equipment logistics between campus sites and off-site storage.
• Oversee food service operations at the Beacon Street campus and implement energy conservation strategies.

3. External Relations, Compliance & Vendor Management (25%)

• Serve as NECO’s primary liaison to regulatory agencies and municipal entities (e.g., Boston Fire Department, Inspectional Services, historic preservation committees).
• Oversee external contractors, architects, engineers, and tradespeople; lead RFP creation, competitive bidding, contract negotiations, and lease administration.
• Ensure institution-wide compliance with building codes, ADA/accessibility standards, environmental regulations, hazardous waste management, and campus safety protocols.

4. Capital Projects & Campus Planning (25%)

• Lead the planning, budgeting, scope development, design, and execution of major construction, infrastructure, and campus renovation initiatives from concept to closeout.
• Partner with executive leadership and the Board of Trustees on capital priorities, space utilization, and potential property acquisitions/dispositions.
• Oversee project management teams, budgets, schedules, change orders, and risk mitigation to ensure projects meet institutional standards on time and within budget.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership in facilities management, campus operations, and capital project management.
• Project Management: Proven track record of personally managing major renovation and construction projects (dynamic budgets, design coordination, bidding, contractor management, and commissioning).
• Sector Background: Experience within higher education, academic medical centers, or comparable multi-building institutional environments is strongly preferred.

Technical & Operational Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of complex building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection) and multi-site operational management.
• Comprehensive understanding of local/state building codes, life safety codes, environmental regulations, and historical preservation requirements.
• Strong financial acumen: experience in budget development, cost control, lease negotiation, and interpreting technical/financial contracts.
• Experience utilizing facilities systems software (CMMS, BMS, EMS) and standard office productivity tools (Microsoft Office Suite).

Leadership & Core Skills

• Strong leadership flexibility—ability to move seamlessly between executive strategic planning and hands-on operational troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with navigating academic and clinical cultures, balancing competing stakeholder needs (faculty, researchers, clinical staff, students).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, analytical, and conflict-resolution skills.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between local campus sites.
• Successful completion of standard background checks (criminal history, education verification, motor vehicle record, and credit review).

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

This is an active, mobile position requiring frequent movement throughout the campus and facilities. The Director must be comfortable working in a variety of physical environments and accessing building systems, mechanical spaces, storage areas, and active construction and maintenance sites.

Physical Demands

• Frequent walking and standing throughout the workday.
• Regular climbing of stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching to inspect facilities, equipment, and work sites.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials, supplies, tools, equipment, and furnishings as required by essential job functions.
• Regular access to and interaction with building systems, mechanical equipment, storage areas, and other physical spaces.
• Use of computers, phones, radios, and other communication technology.
• Frequent in-person interaction with employees, faculty, students, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.

Work Environment

• Work takes place throughout campus and facilities, including offices, classrooms, common areas, mechanical and service spaces, storage areas, outdoor locations, and active construction and maintenance sites.
• May encounter varying temperatures, noise levels, dust, odors, cleaning products, mechanical equipment, and construction-related activities. Appropriate safety procedures and personal protective equipment may be required.
• As a member of the essential personnel team, the Director must be available to respond to facilities, safety, security, weather-related, and other emergencies, including outside normal business hours.
• Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required.
• Frequent travel between NECO's three facilities is required.

New England College of Optometry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply. 

Benefits @ NECO:

New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:

• 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage
• Mental Health and Wellness benefits
• BCBS Dental
• Discounted vision services 
• 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
• Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, 
• Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance 
• 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer