Director of Facilities & Maintenance

Posted January 26, 2026

The Director of Facilities & Maintenance for St. Margaret's Episcopal School (SMES) will report to the Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO) and oversee a team of 22. They are responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, day to-day operations, and long-term care of the School’s physical plant, including buildings, grounds, custodial services, and mechanical systems. This role is essential in maintaining a safe, clean, and functional environment across all school facilities to support the school’s mission. The Director will also supervise major and minor construction projects, preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, vendor coordination, and custodial services while maintaining compliance with regulatory and safety standards.

Major Capital Projects and Campus Transformation The new Director will oversee the opening and management of St. Margaret's largest-ever construction project ever—The Commons, a 30,000 square foot, $40M+ building scheduled to open summer 2026. This represents both an exciting opportunity and an immediate challenge, requiring the Director to:

• Ensure successful completion and occupancy certification of The Commons
• Manage the complex transition of repurposing current weight room spaces into classrooms and educational technology facilities 
• Oversee multiple million-dollar projects scheduled for August 2026 
• Close out the current 10-year master plan while contributing to the development of a new strategic master plan
• Participate in the school's long-term vision to provide future athletic facilities including a pool, track, and tennis courts (10–20-year horizon) 

Operational Excellence in a 12-Month Environment     St. Margaret's operates year-round with extremely limited windows for major maintenance and projects. The Director must:

• Navigate the complexities of a meticulously maintained campus that never truly closes
• Work within a compressed summer window (primarily 2 weeks) when athletics, camps, and special programs continue 
• Coordinate maintenance around overlapping sports seasons on natural grass fields with winter growing cycles
• Manage night crew operations that handle much of the work when day activities prevent access
• Plan proactively for major infrastructure replacements

Team Development and Leadership The facilities team operates as a well-established organization with strong day and night shift managers and dedicated staff members. There are significant opportunities to:

• Strengthen communication channels across all stakeholder groups
• Empower the capable management team to operate with greater independence and efficiency
• Develop talented staff members who have potential for expanded responsibilities
• Establish transparent, proactive communication with all stakeholders, from senior leadership to division principals to the Church that shares the campus •
• Implement systems that ensure timely follow-up on all commitments and keep leadership informed 

Municipal and Community Relations San Juan Capistrano is a close-knit town of 30,000 residents with a committed city council and community that cares deeply about St. Margaret's. The Director will need to:

• Represent the school professionally in dealings with city officials, the Orange County Fire Authority, and other governmental agencies
• Balance the pace of the town’s processes and procedures while meeting the school's operational needs
• Maintain positive relationships in a community where the school frequently sponsors local events like the Swallows Day Parade 

Strategic Leadership and Vision The Director steps into a pivotal role at an exciting time in the school's history. Success will require:

• Hitting the ground running with strong facilities management expertise from day one
• Building credibility quickly with a senior leadership team that values data, transparency, and decisive action 
• Balancing immediate operational needs with strategic planning for a campus that will continue to evolve dramatically over the next decade
• Serving as fiscal steward of significant resources while delivering the meticulous attention to detail that defines the St. Margaret's campus experience
• Contributing meaningfully to the development of the school's next master plan and long term vision 

Construction Management

• Serve as the school’s project manager for major construction and renovation projects 
• Coordinate feasibility studies, design development, budgeting, permitting, and contractor management from project conception through completion
• Liaise with architects, engineers, contractors, the City of San Juan Capistrano, Orange County Fire Authority, and other governmental agencies for all planning, permit, and inspection needs
• Manage project schedules, budgets, quality standards, and safety protocols 
• Oversee bidding, contracting, budgeting, and execution of capital projects from concept through completion 
• Approve invoices and monitor progress reporting; provide timely updates to CFOO and Board of Trustees as required
• Ensure project timelines, quality standards, and budgets are met Strategic Planning and Budgeting Management
• Develop and manage the annual PPRSSM budget and facilities-related capital budgets in collaboration with the CFOO 
• Prioritize projects based on facility needs assessments, risk mitigation, and strategic plan alignment
• Identify and implement cost-saving measures and sustainable operational practices 

Facilities Management

• Oversee daily operation of all physical plant components, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and infrastructure systems
• Develop and execute a preventive maintenance plan and maintenance request system
• Maintain campus equipment, vehicles, and shop tools in working and safe condition
• Participate in regular training sessions to stay current on best practices and emergency preparedness 
• Coordinate inspections, regulatory compliance, and required documentation for building safety, fire, elevator, HVAC, and other systems
• Collaborate with school leadership and departments to ensure facilities support school programming and events 

Qualifications Required

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in facilities management, construction oversight, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale construction projects
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Knowledge of building systems, maintenance operations, and safety standards
• Proven ability to manage complex budgets, vendors, and long-term planning initiatives
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills 

Qualifications Preferred

• Experience in independent schools or educational settings
• Familiarity with sustainable building practices and environmental health and safety standards
• Facilities Management Certification (e.g., FMP, CFM, or similar) 

To Apply: Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations should be submitted by email to Thomas at thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net.

Facilities Lead - Working Supervisor

Posted January 23, 2026

The ideal candidate is a hands-on operator who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environments and can balance tactical execution with continuous improvement. A senior facilities executor and working supervisor who performs hands-on work, owns tasks end-to-end, directs day-to-day execution by junior staff, and utilizes vendors as needed.

Core Responsibilities

Hands-On Facilities Execution (40–50%)

• Personally perform preventive, corrective, and reactive maintenance across building systems and site infrastructure.

• Execute repairs and improvements involving mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and general facilities trades.

• Troubleshoot complex facilities issues impacting production, safety, or operations.

• Perform work in active manufacturing, lab, and office environments while maintaining safety and operational continuity.

• Maintain tools, equipment, and work areas in a safe, organized, and compliant condition.

Task Ownership & Small Projects (15–25%)

• Independently own discrete facilities tasks and small projects from planning through close-out

• Execute defined scopes supporting minor build-outs, renovations, equipment installations, and infrastructure improvements under the direction of senior leadership.

• Define task scope, sequence work, obtain materials, execute work, and verify completion.

• Coordinate field activity to minimize operational disruption in live manufacturing environments.

• Close out tasks with documentation, verification, and stakeholder communication.

Outsourced Service Provider Utilization (15–25%)

• Utilize outsourced service providers as execution resources to support defined tasks and scopes when self-performance is not practical.
• Coordinate vendor scheduling, site access, and task sequencing.
• Provide field-level oversight to ensure work is completed to defined scope, quality, and safety expectations.
• Verify task completion and close out vendor-supported work.

• Working Supervision & Task Direction (10–20%)

  • Provide day-to-day task direction to lower-level facilities technicians and in-house janitorial staff.

  • Assign work, set daily priorities, and ensure tasks are executed safely and to standard.

  • Work alongside team members while performing hands-on facilities tasks.

  • Provide technical guidance, coaching, and on-the-job support.

  • Monitor work quality and address performance issues through coaching and escilation.

  Documentation, Safety & Compliance Support (5–10%)

  • Support EHS, OSHA, fire/life safety, and site compliance requirements by executing inspections and corrective actions.

  • Participate in emergency response and recovery activities as required, supporting established plans and procedures.

  • Maintain accurate work orders, task records, logs, and basic facilities documentation.

  • Support audit and inspection readiness through timely execution and documentation of assigned tasks.

  • Accurately track and report time worked in accordance with wage and hour requirements.

  Minimum Qualifications

  • Demonstrated hands-on facilities maintenance experience in manufacturing, industrial, or technical environments.

  • Proven ability to independently execute complex tasks and small projects in active facilities.

  • Experience providing day-to-day task direction in a working supervisor capacity.

  • Working knowledge of building systems, trades, and facilities operations.

  • Experience coordinating outsourced service providers at the task level.

  • Strong safety, compliance, and operational awareness.

  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

  Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience as a senior technician or working supervisor.

  • Experience working within a regulated or mission-critical manufacturing environments.

  • Experience supporting aerospace or regulated manufacturing environments.

  • Familiarity with CMMS or work order systems.

To Apply: Click here to submit an application.