Director of Facilities & Project Management

Job Description

Be a part of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s mission to welcome, inform and inspire all through outstanding displays, protected natural areas, horticultural research and education.

The Director of Facilities and Project Management works closely with the Executive Director and other departmental directors to provide strategic leadership in the areas of facilities and project management, space planning, and safety and security. The position coordinates multiple disciplines to ensure optimal operation and maintenance of Arboretum systems, buildings, structures, and facilities that support 200 staff, 1,000 volunteers, and 600,000 visitors annually. The position provides local leadership on health, safety, and security issues and serves as the liaison to University units including the offices of Planning, Space, and Real Estate, Capital Project Management, and Public Safety.

The Arboretum’s extensive facilities, located in four geographically separated areas, include:

1. the Oswald Visitor Center, historic Snyder Building, and Learning Center;
2. Horticultural Research Center and AppleHouse;
3.the Farm at the Arb complex; and
4. the Horticulture Headquarters and greenhouses.

In addition, the Arboretum owns several residential rental properties around its perimeter. The Director of Facilities and Project Management works closely with horticulture leadership to provide project management support and oversight for garden and landscape-related operational and capital projects as needed.

The successful candidate will join the Arboretum team at a pivotal moment in the institution’s history, playing a lead role in the planning and implementation of the Arboretum’s Parking, Access, and Egress (PACE) Project. A component of the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan and 2018 Master Plan, the successfully fundraised PACE project will increase safe access to the Arboretum in alignment with the concurrent MnDOT Highway 5 improvements. The project will create a new main entrance, gatehouse, and entry experience, expand visitor parking, improve circulation, and develop a new AppleHouse for expanded programming and retail operations. The target completion date for PACE is 2027. In coordination with the University’s Capital Project Management office, the Director of Facilities and Project Management is responsible for full scope of leadership activities in managing the PACE initiative and future capital projects.

In execution of these responsibilities the Director of Facilities and Project Management leads a team of full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, ensures appropriate personnel training, development, and performance feedback. The position fosters a workplace environment where all staff are committed to principles and practices of respect, diversity, inclusivity, continuous improvement, excellent customer service, and teamwork. The successful candidate is expected to play a leadership role on Arboretum-wide committees and regularly interact with- and present to- the Arboretum’s Board of Trustees, government agencies, and other community and stakeholder groups. As the Arboretum launches its next Strategic Planning process and review of its site master plan, the Director of Facilities and Project Management will work with fellow Directors and staff to envision, create, and advance the future of the Arboretum.

About Us

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a community outreach unit of the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences. The Arboretum is located west of Minneapolis/St Paul and its 1,200 acres traverse the municipalities of Chaska, Chanhassen and Victoria. As a member of the American Public Garden Association and an accredited museum through the American Alliance of Museums, the Arboretum is a tremendous public asset. Visitors engage with gardens, collections, natural areas, a farm, research demonstrations, youth and adult education, events and exhibits. Please visit us at arb.umn.edu for more information.

Duties & Responsibilities

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilities Management (40%)
– Provide expertise in facilities management: Organize and manage the overall maintenance and custodial services, repair and operation of the Arboretum’s buildings, including mechanical, electrical and monitoring systems, and related equipment across the 1,200 acre campus.
– Prepare, manage, and oversee resources and budgets for all functions of the Facilities and Project Management department.
– Oversee facilities condition assessments to establish priorities for facility repair, replacement, or renewal.
– Oversee the regular inspection of public and mechanical areas to ensure compliance with standards for maintenance
and cleanliness.
– In coordination with related University units, oversee the inspection of structures for health and safety and ensure that utility systems are fully operational.
– Establish operations, maintenance, and repair schedules/tracking systems, assign work, and train personnel.
– Ensure all preventative maintenance tasks are accomplished in a timely manner including task scheduling, tracking, and recording/filing proper documentation.
– Assure compliance with building codes, safety, and environmental health requirements.
– Meet regularly with Arboretum department representatives, insurance carriers, building inspectors, maintenance/operations contractors, engineers, and others involved in the operation and maintenance of Arboretum buildings and property.
– Coordinate 7-day a week operation including general maintenance and cleaning and setup and support for public and private events.

Project Management and Space Planning (30%)

– Provide expertise in capital planning and long-range space and facilities planning, project planning, and process oversight for new building and grounds construction, renovations, remodeling, and maintenance.
– Responsible for full scope of leadership activities in managing capital projects, in coordination with Capital Project Management at the University.
– Manage vendor relationships including communications, problem resolution, RFP and contract development, work schedules, compliance with design plans and legal regulations, and review and performance monitoring.
– Estimate cost of projects, write and review contracts, negotiate and secure bids from contracts, and determine labor, materials, and equipment needs to complete projects.
– Provide project management support and oversight for garden and landscape-related operational and capital projects as needed.
– Oversees coordination of building space allocation, office setups, and modifications
– Liaison as appropriate with related University units

Safety and Security (20%)

– Provide local oversight of health, safety, and security issues.
– Develop Arboretum security program, including related training for staff.
– Coordinate with Campus Office of Public Safety and local law enforcement as needed.
– Special event coordination

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

– Engage and support the Arboretum Foundation’s Board of Trustees in strategic activities; prepare and deliver regular reports to members.
– Work collaboratively with other units to provide broad types of analysis and internal oversight across the operations.
– Provide leadership for Arboretum-wide initiatives as assigned.
– Serve as Arboretum-wide weekend day lead administrator onsite and/or on call as assigned during peak seasons.

Education and Experience

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

– BA/BS in landscape architecture, architecture, project management, facilities management or related field
– Twelve (12) years of related experience, such as, but not limited to:
1. leading facilities and project management
2. construction design, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation
3. capital project and budgetary ownership
4. significant management or strategic leadership
5. garden or landscape-related leadership
– Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively across all levels of an organization.
– Excellent communication and organization
– Commitment to implementing sustainable and energy efficient initiatives
– Demonstrated commitment to advancing and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion including the ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals with diverse identities and underrepresented groups.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

– Master’s degree in related field
– Experience as an ambassador in various capacities for an organization, including but not limited to representing an organization in community and township hearings, serving on boards or other organizations in an advisory capacity.

Additional Information

Working Title: Director of Facilities and Project Management
Classification: 9375FP
Classification Title:  Campus Operations Director 1 – Facilities/Capital/Space Planning
Supervisor: Arboretum Executive Director
Location: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – Chaska, MN
Starting Salary Range (minimum to midpoint): $120,625.60 – $159,828.92/annually, depending on education/ experience and internal equity

Application Instructions

To apply please submit your application materials via the UMN Employment via the link provided below:
https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/358166