Director of Operations

Are you a strategic operational leader who thrives on transforming complex facilities, infrastructure, and operational challenges into efficient, high-performing systems? Do you believe that safe, well-maintained, accessible environments are essential to helping individuals achieve the highest possible quality of life? Are you looking for an opportunity to lead a critical function within a mission-driven organization where your decisions directly impact the lives of individuals with autism, their families, and the professionals who support them every day? As Director of Operations at Anderson Center for Autism, you will provide leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for the agency's facilities, maintenance, grounds, custodial services, utilities, environmental systems, fleet assets, capital projects, emergency preparedness efforts, and operational infrastructure. You will play an essential role in ensuring that Anderson's campuses, residences, classrooms, offices, and related properties remain safe, compliant, accessible, and supportive of the agency's mission to optimize quality of life for individuals with autism. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operations professional who enjoys balancing strategic planning with hands‑on leadership. As a member of the agency's leadership team, you will guide critical operational initiatives, oversee complex projects, manage vendor and contractor relationships, lead talented staff, and help shape the future of Anderson's physical environments and operational systems. What You Will Do as Director of Operations: You will provide leadership and oversight for facilities maintenance, groundskeeping, custodial services, utilities, fleet operations, environmental systems, construction projects, and related operational functions across the agency. You will lead, mentor, and develop operations staff while cultivating a culture of accountability, professionalism, customer service, safety, and continuous improvement. You will establish operational priorities and oversee the timely completion of maintenance, repair, custodial, grounds, inspection, and work‑order responsibilities across agency properties. You will ensure that buildings, residences, educational environments, offices, kitchens, recreational spaces, grounds, walkways, utilities, and related assets remain safe, functional, accessible, and well maintained. You will direct preventive maintenance programs and long‑range operational planning efforts designed to reduce system failures, improve reliability, and protect the agency's investments in facilities and infrastructure. You will oversee regulatory compliance activities, inspections, permits, records, testing requirements, environmental systems, life‑safety programs, and documentation necessary to meet local, state, federal, and agency standards. You will lead facility emergency preparedness efforts, coordinating responses to severe weather events, utility disruptions, security concerns, emergency relocations, and other operational incidents. You will develop and manage multi‑year capital plans, renovation initiatives, infrastructure improvements, equipment replacement strategies, and other projects that support the organization's long‑term objectives. You will oversee construction, renovation, security, accessibility, and infrastructure projects while collaborating with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and agency leadership. You will utilize operational data, maintenance records, asset management systems, and performance metrics to identify trends, improve efficiency, and support informed decision‑making. You will develop and manage departmental budgets, monitor expenditures, evaluate purchasing decisions, and ensure responsible stewardship of agency resources. You will oversee vendor, contractor, consultant, supplier, and fleet management activities while ensuring accountability for cost, quality, safety, and service performance. You will collaborate closely with executive leadership, program leaders, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Compliance, Safety, Education, Residential Services, and other departments to support organizational goals and operational excellence. You will serve as a key liaison to the Board of Trustees Facilities Committee by supporting meeting preparation, reporting, project updates, and long‑term facilities planning initiatives. You will help ensure that Anderson's physical environments continue to promote safety, dignity, accessibility, independence, and an enhanced quality of life for the individuals we serve. What You Can Bring to the Team: Visionary leadership combined with practical operational expertise. Strong experience leading facilities, maintenance, construction, infrastructure, or operational teams. The ability to balance strategic planning with day‑to‑day operational execution. Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and problem‑solving skills. Sound judgment and confidence managing complex projects, budgets, vendors, and compliance requirements. A collaborative leadership style that promotes teamwork, accountability, and professional growth. Strong organizational and project management abilities. A commitment to safety, stewardship, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. Alignment with Anderson's mission, values, and Quality of Life philosophy. The Qualifications We Seek: High School Diploma required; a degree in Facilities Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred. Project Management training or certification preferred. Significant experience leading facilities operations, maintenance programs, compliance initiatives, budgets, projects, emergency response efforts, vendor management, and operational teams required. Experience within human services, developmental disabilities, education, healthcare, nonprofit, residential, or similarly regulated environments preferred. Demonstrated leadership experience managing supervisors, technical staff, contractors, and cross‑functional teams. Strong financial, operational, analytical, project management, and technology skills. Ability to effectively collaborate as a member of the agency's administrative leadership team. In Addition, We Expect That You: Complete all required agency training programs. Maintain high standards of professionalism, accountability, integrity, and confidentiality. Demonstrate effective stewardship of agency resources and assets. Support emergency preparedness and organizational continuity planning efforts. Comply with all agency policies, procedures, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. Provide clear, timely, and actionable communication to stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Model mission-centered leadership and a commitment to operational excellence. Anderson's QUALITY OF LIFE Expectation: To actively support Anderson's mission by promoting and enhancing the quality of life (QofL) of the individuals we serve through thoughtful, comprehensive, and person-centered practices. A Benefits Package Designed to Optimize YOUR Quality of Life Too: Up to 6 weeks of paid time off (starting in your first year!) 403(b) retirement plan with employer match and annual contribution Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans Wellness program Ongoing professional development Discounted tuition at select colleges/universities Scholarship program for those seeking educational experiences aligned with the role (*restrictions apply) Invitations to staff appreciation events and experiences And much, much more! To get a better understanding of the benefits that will be available to you, visit andersoncenterforautism.org/benefit. Pay Range: $102,670.00 - $107,870.00 annually; based on experience Ready to Bring Your Purpose to Life? A bright future for you begins here at Anderson Center for Autism. Open the door to a rewarding career with advancement opportunities; expand possibilities for yourself AND for individuals with autism, their families, your colleagues, our cause, and society as a whole! Life as Part of our Anderson Center for Autism Team If you are looking to build a career that brings you a deep sense of purpose and a high quality of life, Anderson Center for Autism might be just the landing place you've envisioned. Here you will enjoy a supportive, friendly work environment that values your ideas and insights, provides rewarding mentorship experiences, and opens doors to new professional opportunities that can transform your journey. And by working at Anderson, you will be part of a movement so much bigger than all of us. Founded over 100 years ago (in 1924), our award‑winning, evidence‑based educational, vocational, residential, clinical, and consulting/training programs have successfully optimized the quality of life for individuals with autism for decades now. In addition, we work every day to cultivate a broader culture of acceptance in society, further adding to the legacy of compassion for which we have come to be known throughout the country and around the world. In addition to a rewarding career experience, as part of our team you'll also enjoy competitive pay, a generous retirement plan (including employer match and annual contribution), abundant vacation time, robust benefits, ongoing opportunities for learning and advancement, wellness programs, staff appreciation events, and a chance to work alongside wonderful professionals in a positive environment. Our Mission at Anderson Center for Autism: To optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism. Keyword Search: Director of Operations, Facilities Director, Operations Leadership, Facilities Management, Capital Planning, Construction Management, Asset Management, Fleet Management, Regulatory Compliance, Emergency Preparedness, Property Management, Maintenance Operations, Nonprofit Leadership, Hudson Valley Jobs, Anderson Center for Autism, Executive Leadership This position description in no way states or implies that the responsibilities listed are the only duties to be performed by the person filling this position. The person in the position may be required to perform other duties as necessitated by the situation or requested by his/her supervisor. Our organization is committed to providing a diverse workforce by ensuring that discrimination barriers to equal employment opportunity and upward mobility do not exist here. Equal opportunity means employment, development, and promotion of individuals without consideration of race, color, disability, religion, age, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, unless there is a bona fide occupational requirement which excludes a person in one of these protected groups. Our organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EOE #J-18808-Ljbffr