Director of Facilities and Grounds

Director of Facilities and Grounds

Penland, NC

Make lives meaningful through making.

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a staff of 70+. Penland operates with a $70 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $10 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC.

At Penland School of Craft, we believe that fostering a climate of equity, inclusion, diversity, and antiracism are essential to our work. We are committed to creating a campus community free of discrimination, and we welcome everyone who supports this commitment.

Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

Reports to: Executive Director

Department: Facilities & Grounds

Supervision: Associate Director of F&G, Shop & Fleet Coordinator, Lead Facilities Technician, Facilities Technicians

Employment Status: Full-time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Start date: TBD

Position Summary

The Director of Facilities and Grounds leads the stewardship, care, and long-term planning of the physical campus of Penland School of Craft. The campus includes historic and contemporary buildings, working studios, roads, forests, utilities, vehicles, and other infrastructure that support Penland's vibrant creative craft community.

This role oversees maintenance operations, capital improvements, and new construction projects while managing both operating and capital budgets. The Director supervises three direct reports and a total team of seven staff members, along with contracted service providers.

This position serves as staff liaison to the Penland Board's Facilities and Grounds Committee and plays a key role in campus planning and strategic decision-making. As a member of the executive team, the Director works closely with institutional leadership to ensure the campus remains safe, functional, sustainable, and inspiring for students, artists, and staff.

We seek a collaborative leader with over five years of experience in facilities or construction who enjoys working with skilled teams, contractors, and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational and technical skills, sound judgment, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for the maintenance and operation of Penland's buildings, grounds, vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Supervise three direct reports and a total team of seven staff members, along with contracted service providers, fostering a supportive and effective team environment.
• Partner with the Director of People and Culture on hiring, training, annual work plans, and conflict resolution.
• Coordinate facilities operations with executive leadership and other departments to support daily campus activities and special events.
• Ensure safe working conditions and compliance with Penland policies and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations; serve on the Penland Safety Committee.
• Oversee fleet and maintenance equipment management.
• Maintain a reliable facilities on-call system and respond to campus emergencies when necessary.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Penland Board Facilities and Grounds Committee and related task forces.
• Maintain relationships with local and state agencies and stay current on regulations and industry practices.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Fiduciary Responsibility

• Works with managers to guide and ensure that the annual operational and capital budgets for facilities and grounds are financially prudent and tied to strategic goals.
• Oversee building and equipment reserve funds in collaboration with the Executive Director and Finance Director. Ensures adequate budget controls of these funds.
• Manages ongoing facility, grounds, and equipment review and assessment, and provides short and long-term budget projections for maintenance and capital improvements.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and purchasing to ensure quality work and competitive pricing.

Facilities and Grounds Management

• Develops, updates, and implements a comprehensive plan for maintaining facilities, including scheduling needed repairs, preventive maintenance, and long-term renovations.
• Works closely with the Executive Director and the Penland Buildings & Grounds committee on achieving the campus master plan goals. This includes ensuring responsible forest management.
• Serves on each capital project planning committee. In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Director of Finance, develops a plan and timetable for new construction and renovation projects.
• Manages construction and renovation projects, including coordination with architects, contractors, and project committees.
• Ensures a clear process and recordkeeping for all maintenance and repair records to meet internal, county, and state requirements. Manage the campus-wide work order system.
• Oversees the Penland water supply and distribution system, Penland septic system, and long-term water plan and goals. Ensure the systems are managed by certified operators (preferably class A).
• Oversees septic, utilities, and schoolwide hazardous waste disposal management systems.
• Works with the Director of Operations to evaluate and update building values for annual insurance premium renewals.
• Promotes energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives aligned with LEED and environmental best practices.
• Oversees land management, campus cleanup, and property stewardship.
• Ensures that all property acquisition processes are thorough and strategically focused.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in construction, facilities management, or a related field, including 1–3 years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor's degree preferred. Backgrounds in architecture, civil engineering, surveying, landscape planning, or related fields are helpful but not required.
• Experience developing and managing operational and capital budgets.
• Experience negotiating and managing construction contracts and interpreting construction documents.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to motivate and support a team.
• Sensitivity to historic preservation and principles of universal access.
• Knowledge of energy efficiency, sustainability practices, and groundwater management.
• Familiarity with the North Carolina State Building Code and OSHA regulations.
• Certification as a Class B water system operator, First Aid, and CPR (may be obtained after hire).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Valid driver's license required.
• A collaborative approach, practical mindset, and sense of humor.

Physical Demands

This position involves working both indoors and outdoors across Penland's campus. The role requires frequent walking across uneven terrain, accessing buildings and maintenance areas, and occasional lifting or moving of materials or equipment up to 40–50 pounds. The Director must be comfortable working in varying weather conditions and visiting active maintenance or construction sites. Occasional evening or emergency response related to campus facilities may be required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Benefits

Penland is proud to offer a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package for our staff. We provide a selection of medical plans along with vision, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, retirement options, and an employee assistance program to support your overall wellness. Our generous leave programs include paid time off (PTO), sick leave, and extended sick time. Employees also enjoy limited access to studios, free classes after two years of employment, meals during programming, and additional discounts. We look forward to sharing more about our full range of benefits during the interview process.

Compensation

This is an exempt, full-time, year-round, benefits-eligible position. The salary range for this position is $91,046 to $115,000, with negotiation based on the skills and experience an applicant brings to the position. Employees at Penland enjoy competitive pay, attractive benefits, and a lively, creative work environment.

To Apply

The position will remain open until filled; an initial review of applications will begin after May 4th, 2026.