Executive Director of Operations

Salem Academy and College invites applications for the Executive Director of Operations.  The Executive Director of Operations reports to the Vice President of Finance and Administration/ Chief Financial Officer.

About Salem Academy and College:

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country.  Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 250-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders.

Salem College has more than 40 full-time faculty and over 150 staff members who support approximately 500 students including full-time undergraduates, part-time students and graduate programs. Salem recently received the largest philanthropic gift in its history with a $5M anonymous donation focused on enabling our health leadership transformation as well as a $3.6M estate gift to support the College. Salem completed its 250th-anniversary campaign this year exceeding a $12.5M goal.

U.S. News & World Report 2022-2023 Rankings, ranked Salem College No. 1 among all National Liberal Arts Colleges in America as a Top Performer on Social Mobility. Our institution has rapidly moved up the national ranking for Social Mobility, from No. 10 in 2020 and No. 4 in 2021 to No. 1 in 2022.  Salem College is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 2 National Liberal Arts College in North Carolina. Salem has been ranked among the top three National Liberal Arts Colleges in North Carolina for the past seven years. In addition, Salem College was ranked 6th in the nation for college affordability last year.

Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a vibrant college town known as the “City of Arts and Innovation". Winston-Salem is a lively academic community, home to six institutions of higher education and more than 26,000 students. Winston Salem has a collaborative and engaged academic community with strong private and public schools, excellent healthcare systems, and affordable housing. The Winston-Salem area also offers a rich variety of cultural opportunities and has a vibrant art and restaurant scene. Within a few hours of campus are mountains for skiing, camping, or hiking; rivers for whitewater rafting; and the beautiful ports and beaches of North and South Carolina.

Position Summary:

Provides management and leadership for the physical plant department, the public safety department, and the mail center. Responsible for delivery of excellent services in these departments in an economical and cost effective manner.  Promotes campus sustainability initiatives. Supports the institutional mission and strategic plan through excellent services from operations.  Sets measurable goals to efficiently plan, operate and maintain campus facilities in a manner that aligns with the Academy and College’s strategic, capital, sustainability and annual operating plans. A key member of the leadership team for Finance and Administration. Reports directly to the Vice President of Finance and Administration and collaborates to support the work of the Trustee’s Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with the Vice President of Finance and Administration to develop facilities, capital, maintenance, and operating plans.
• Directs, supervises, and evaluates departmental directors and managers; ensures staff receive training related to specific job tasks and responsibilities.
• Develops and monitors departmental budgets; orders equipment and supplies and monitors inventory; and makes requests for capital outlay expenditures as needed.
• Develops, implements and supervises deferred and preventative maintenance and renovation programs for buildings, grounds, mechanical and electrical, utility, and safety and security systems.
• Supervises Mail Center staff and activities to ensure efficient and effective campus mail center and related activities.
• Ensures that facilities meet safety and building codes and physical ADA and accessibility compliance standards; works closely with staff and local and state officials to meet college health and safety expectations and OSHA requirements.
• Evaluates the need for and arranges facilities personnel training sessions (bloodborne pathogens, HAZCOM, and other OSHA and job-related training).
• Prepares specifications for physical plant projects; estimates costs of equipment, materials labor and supplies; prepares bid specifications for projects, equipment and contracted services; oversees site and building projects performed by outside contractors.
• Develops cost-effective campus energy management and facility sustainability programs; supervises the operations, maintenance and repair of such systems and programs.
• Ensures the proper disposal of hazardous and controlled wastes in compliance with regulations and guidelines; works directly with outside agencies such as OSHA, NCOSHA, and local and state health departments as required. Serves as the campus lead for environmental, health and safety.
• Oversees fleet vehicles maintenance.
• Contributes to strategic planning by evaluating and projecting future facility needs and proposing options to achieve them.
• Serves on campus committees, task forces, and emergency operations teams as directed by administration to support responsive actions related to physical plant, facilities, and mailroom operations.
• Performs other related duties as requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in operations management, facilities management, business administration or closely related field. Equivalent education, certification, or experience may be substituted for the degree.
• Five (5) years of progressive experience to include supervision in planning, maintenance, and/or operations related to facilities and/or public safety.
• Experience and success with interpreting and implementing rules, regulations, and codes related to facility development, maintenance, operations, environmental health and safety.
• Computer proficiency; experience using spreadsheets, word processing, and other management software.
• Experience in developing goals and monitoring and managing departmental budgets with regular assessments of goals.
• Must have valid driver’s license.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills (prefer bilingual English/Spanish).

Physical Functions:

• Bend, squat, stand, kneel, walk, run, crawl, and climb.
• Regularly ascend/descend stairs.
• Walk for long distances and sit for varying lengths of time.
• Reach above shoulders, handle keys/tools/objects, push, pull, carry, or lift over 80 lbs.
• Work may necessitate accessing and working in confined spaces or high spaces.
• Must be physically able to perform tasks appropriately.
• Must be physically able to operate the equipment required to perform duties.
• Work in an indoor/outdoor environment subject to changing temperatures.
• Ability to lift heavy objects, climb ladders, and work at heights
• Considerable physical activity. Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing or pulling required of objects up to 80 pounds. Physical work is a primary part (more than 70%) of the job.
• Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions.
• Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.
• Exposure to cleaning agents and chemicals such as disinfectants, grease, lubricants, solvents, graffiti remover, floor stripper, floor wax, propane, paint thinner.
• Perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and receive detailed information through oral communication; express and exchange ideas by means of verbal communication.

Application Process:

To apply, please send a letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position along with a resume and three professional references to hr@salem.edu. The letter of interest may be addressed to the “Search Committee.” The review of applications will begin immediately and will be ongoing until the position is filled.

Salem Academy and College is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.