Plant Operations Director

Plant Operations Director

Meadow Ridge is the premier life care retirement community in Fairfield County, located on 136 acres in beautiful Redding, Connecticut. In this unique and enriching environment, we offer Independent and Assisted Living apartment homes, as well as a skilled Health Center where we provide our residents with quality care and services.

We are seeking an experienced Plant Operations Director to join our team!

The Plant Operations Director is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and strategic direction of the Maintenance and Housekeeping departments for a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). This position oversees the maintenance and operation of approximately 950,000 square feet of residential, healthcare, and common space while ensuring a safe, clean, compliant, and comfortable environment for residents, visitors, and staff.

The Director provides leadership to a team of approximately 60 employees, manages departmental budgets, develops preventive maintenance programs, and ensures all building systems operate efficiently and in compliance with applicable regulations.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and supervision for the Maintenance and Housekeeping departments, overseeing approximately 60 team members, including managers, supervisors, technicians, mechanics, custodial staff, and contracted vendors.
• Develop departmental goals, performance standards, staffing plans, and succession planning initiatives.
• Maintain all campus buildings, grounds, and infrastructure to ensure safety, reliability, and resident satisfaction.
• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs for all building systems and equipment.
• Ensure continuous operation of critical infrastructure, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, life safety, and emergency power systems.
• Manage all capital improvement projects, renovations, equipment replacements, and construction activities.
• Develop and administer annual operating and capital budgets while identifying cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or service.
• Establish and monitor maintenance work order systems, preventative maintenance schedules, and key performance indicators.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, fire safety, environmental standards, and healthcare accreditation requirements where applicable.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness planning and response for weather events, utility outages, and other facility emergencies.
• Manage vendor relationships, negotiate service contracts, and oversee contractor performance.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and department directors to support organizational goals and resident satisfaction initiatives.
• Foster a culture focused on customer service, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• Seven to ten years of progressive facilities management experience, preferably within healthcare, senior living, hospitality, or institutional environments.
• Minimum of five years of leadership experience managing multiple departments and large teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing facilities exceeding 500,000 square feet.

Technical Knowledge

Candidates must possess strong working knowledge of:

• HVAC systems and controls
• Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems
• Building automation systems (BAS)
• Electrical distribution systems
• Fire alarm and fire suppression systems
• Emergency generators and backup power systems
• Preventive maintenance software and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• OSHA regulations and life safety compliance
• Capital planning and facility asset management

Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills
• Strong leadership and team development abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strategic planning and problem-solving capabilities
• Financial and budget management experience
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Commitment to exceptional customer service and resident satisfaction
• Sound decision-making under pressure and during emergency situations

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk throughout a large campus daily.
• Ability to inspect mechanical spaces and construction areas.
• Ability to respond to facility emergencies outside of normal business hours as required.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM)
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
• Facility Management Professional (FMP)
• EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification (preferred)
• Valid driver's license

Work Environment

This position serves as a key member of the leadership team and requires regular interaction with residents, families, staff, contractors, and regulatory agencies. The Director is expected to maintain a visible presence throughout the campus and participate in an on-call rotation for facility emergencies.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 annually.

In addition to base compensation, this position may be eligible to participate in the Company's annual incentive or community bonus program, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan. The actual salary offered will be determined based on relevant experience, education, licensure or certifications, demonstrated skills, market considerations, and internal equity.

As a community leader at Benchmark, you will have access to a variety of benefits including, but not limited to, the following:

• 8 holidays & 3 floating holidays
• Vacation and Health & Wellness Paid Time Off
• Discounted Meal Program
• Associate Referral Bonus Program, up to $1,500
• Physical & Mental Health Wellness Programs
• Medical, Vision & Dental Benefits; no enrollment waiting period
• 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Company-provided Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability

Benchmark Senior Living is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We embrace and encourage our associates' differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our associates unique.