Senior Director of Campus Operations & Planning

Overview

About The Bishop’s School 

Founded in 1909 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, The Bishop’s School is an independent, all gender college-preparatory day school for 800 students in grades six through twelve located on a historic campus in the heart of La Jolla, just 10 miles north of downtown San Diego. With a student-teacher ratio of approximately 9 to 1, Bishop’s is known for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence while celebrating character development, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Last year’s applicant pool drew from 72 zip codes and 168 middle and high schools throughout San Diego County and beyond. Fifty-one percent of the student population self-identify as students of color. Additionally, over $4 million in need-based grants is awarded annually.

Anticipated Base Compensation: $175,000 – $200,00

Summary Description: 

The Senior Director of Campus Planning & Operations (SDCPO) is responsible for the fiscal and administrative management of all campus and facility operations, including seven internal units: maintenance, groundskeeping, housekeeping, food services, transportation, campus events and campus security. This role is also responsible for capital improvements for the campus including renovations and new construction. The Director develops strategies and policies to support effective and efficient operation, maintenance, and renewal of the School’s campus and real estate assets. The Senior Director will lead a diverse team of professionals and work closely with school leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners to deliver exceptional operational support and plan for future campus development. The Director provides a positive, service-oriented workplace and an effective and safe physical environment for students, employees and visitors consistent with the values and mission outlined by the School. 

Essential Functions and Specific Duties:

• Develop and execute strategic plans for campus operations, aligning with the school’s mission, educational philosophy, and long-term goals.
• Lead campus master planning efforts, including space utilization studies, sustainability initiatives, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Collaborate with school leadership on capital improvement projects, ensuring facilities meet the evolving needs of the school community.
• Manage all construction, renovation, and major maintenance projects from planning through completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Coordinate with architects, contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure that project outcomes align with the school’s needs and quality expectations.
• Oversee bid processes, contract negotiations, and vendor relationships to ensure high-quality and cost-effective service delivery.
• Develop and oversee the department’s annual operating and capital budgets, aligning resources with strategic priorities.
• Monitor expenditures and identify opportunities for cost savings while maintaining high standards of service and facility quality.
• Pursue funding sources to support capital projects, sustainability initiatives, and operational enhancements.
• Lead, mentor, and support a diverse team of facilities, event, and food service staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Supervise direct reports: Hire, train, coach, discipline, and evaluate direct reports. Delegate effectively to ensure workload is balanced for efficiency and effectiveness. Provide appropriate feedback and coaching to assigned direct reports on a regular basis. Support and encourage employees to achieve performance and development goals. Accountable for employees’ performance results. Provide leadership and guidance for direct reports.
• Provide professional development opportunities to enhance team skills and operational effectiveness.
• Promote a customer-focused approach to service delivery, ensuring high levels of satisfaction among students, staff, and visitors.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of campus facilities, including maintenance, groundskeeping, custodial services, and security.
• Ensure all campus facilities comply with safety, regulatory, and compliance standards to maintain a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors.
• Implement and manage preventative maintenance programs to extend the life of campus assets and enhance facility performance.
• Direct the event management team to support school functions, community events, and external rentals, ensuring events are well-coordinated and meet school standards.
• Oversee food service operations, including cafeteria services, catering, and nutrition programs, ensuring high-quality, healthy, and safe food offerings.
• Collaborate with event and food service managers to streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and meet financial targets.
• Ensure all campus operations adhere to local, state, and federal safety regulations, including emergency preparedness, security protocols, and health standards.
• Collaborate with security personnel to maintain a safe and secure environment for all campus users.
• Oversee campus safety initiatives, including drills, inspections, and compliance audits.
• Champion sustainability efforts across campus operations, including energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmentally friendly practices.
• Develop and track sustainability metrics, and implement strategies to improve the school’s environmental impact.
• Act as the primary liaison between campus operations and the school community, ensuring transparent and effective communication about projects, changes, and initiatives.
• Engage with parents, faculty, staff, and external partners to understand needs, address concerns, and provide solutions.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with internal and external key partners such as service providers and contractors, ensuring reliable, high quality and timely work. Formulate and negotiate contracts, agreements, and guarantees with vendors. Responsible for strategic sourcing/procurement of facilities components.  
• Represent the school at meetings, committees, and public forums related to campus operations and planning.
• Act as a core member, possible lead of the Emergency Response Team.
• Participate in Board of Trustee and Senior Leadership meetings when appropriate to keep them apprised of Campus Operations and to assist with campus planning and strategic acquisitions.
• Provide leadership and expertise in evaluating current local, state, and federal regulatory requirements, including work safety regulations. Oversees inspections of all facilities as needed for compliance.
• Establish policies, systems, and procedures to be implemented to ensure financial, administrative, and management control of each unit and all contracted vendors.  
• Oversee and maintain, Workplace Violence Plan, Injury and Illness Prevention Plan, campus-wide Emergency Response and Business Continuity Plan and related training and programs covering disaster preparedness and recovery. Coordinate with administrative leaders to implement School-wide emergency response plan. 
• Embrace the special needs and requirements associated with an academic calendar and schedule which may necessitate fluctuations in workdays and hours.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in facilities management, campus operations, event management, or planning, with at least 5 years in a leadership role, preferably in a K-12 school or educational setting.
• Experience managing food services, event planning, or hospitality operations.
• Strong knowledge of building codes, safety regulations, and compliance standards applicable to educational institutions.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale construction and renovation projects.
• Contractor management experience with aptitude to judge quality of performance in all major trades required.
• Must be available for occasional evening and weekend meetings and events.
• Firm commitment to provide exemplary services in an environment of high achievement.  
• Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality. Must understand confidentiality of relevant information in accordance with school policies, as well as other applicable local, state and federal regulations.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage complex budgets.
• Commitment to creating a safe, welcoming, and sustainable campus environment.
• Professional certifications or knowledge such as Certified Facilities Manager (CFM), LEED Accreditation, or similar credentials.
• Working knowledge of specialized software and online programs as applicable.
• Intermediate proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, and willingness to become proficient in new programs, collaboration and productivity apps as needed.
• Experience working in K-12 private schools or educational institutions

Core Competencies:

• Uphold the School’s Core Values.
• Demonstrate professionalism, tack and an unwavering positive attitude.
• Stay up to date on industry standards, trends, developments and legal updates.
• Make timely and ethical decisions both systematically and under pressure.
• Comply with School’s reporting policies and procedures.
• Maintain a clean, safe and organized work area.

Role Specific Competencies:

• Sound judgment and decision making
• Manage performance
• Relationship building
• Planning and organizing 
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Leadership and talent development
• Qualify control and focus 
• Project management
• Emergency planning and preparedness
• Environmental sustainability

Application Deadline

Applications received before September 27, 2024 are preferred. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Anticipated start date is October/November 2024.

Please do not contact the school directly.

EEO

The Bishop’s School is an equal opportunity employer. We are a diverse community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the San Diego area and the United States at large. We aim to align our hiring process with our mission and institutional goals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. The Bishop’s School takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance all qualified candidates.