Director of Campus Operations
About the Role
Excelon Associates is recruiting on behalf of a respected higher education institution seeking an experienced leader to serve as Director of Campus Operations. This individual will oversee the daily and strategic management of all campus facilities, including maintenance, construction, custodial services, and safety operations.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in facilities management with a forward-thinking approach to sustainability, budgeting, and team leadership. This role ensures the institution’s physical environment aligns with its academic mission and long-term strategic goals. Reporting to senior leadership, the Director of Campus Operations carries broad institutional influence and touches every corner of the campus experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee maintenance, custodial, and operational teams to ensure efficient, safe, and well-functioning campus facilities at all times.
- Develop and manage annual budgets for facilities operations, utilities, and capital improvement projects, ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional resources.
- Direct new construction and renovation projects from planning through completion, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, building codes, and institutional standards.
- Design and implement sustainability initiatives, energy management programs, and environmentally responsible operational practices across the campus.
- Maintain and grow vendor relationships, negotiate contracts for services and materials, and evaluate contractor performance against service level agreements.
- Lead emergency preparedness planning, business continuity protocols, risk mitigation strategies, and ongoing regulatory compliance across all facilities.
- Collaborate with senior leadership, academic deans, and department heads to align facilities operations with institutional priorities and long-term campus master plans.
- Establish and track key performance indicators for facilities operations, reporting outcomes to institutional leadership on a regular basis.
- Oversee the campus work order system, preventive maintenance programs, and space utilization planning to optimize operational efficiency.
- Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing facilities team, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
- Minimum eight years of progressively responsible experience in facilities or campus operations, preferably within higher education or a large institutional setting.
- Strong working knowledge of mechanical systems, HVAC, electrical systems, plumbing, building codes, and capital project management processes.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, and organizational skills with a track record of managing large, diverse facilities teams.
- Experience developing and managing multi-million dollar operating and capital budgets in a complex institutional environment.
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines and stakeholder priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
Why This Role Matters
The Director of Campus Operations ensures that every student, faculty member, and visitor experiences a safe, functional, and inspiring physical environment. The quality of campus facilities directly affects enrollment, retention, accreditation standing, and the institution’s ability to attract talented faculty and staff.
This role safeguards the physical foundation of the institution, balancing operational excellence with sustainability, fiscal discipline, and long-term vision. As campuses face increasing pressure to modernize aging infrastructure, meet sustainability goals, and operate more efficiently, the Director of Campus Operations is at the center of those challenges. The individual in this position shapes the daily campus experience and supports the institution’s mission through strategic facilities stewardship.
A campus that runs well is a campus that learns well. The Director of Operations makes that possible — every building, every system, every day.
Retained Search by Excelon Associates
Excelon Associates is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Asheville, NC, with additional offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL. Since 2007 we have placed leaders across higher education, healthcare, financial services, and government. Our higher education practice covers the full organizational chart, from presidents and provosts through directors and department chairs, at institutions across the United States and internationally.
For colleges and universities committed to operational excellence and the continuous improvement of campus environments, Excelon Associates serves as a trusted recruitment partner. We identify experienced facilities and operations professionals who combine technical expertise, fiscal discipline, and strategic vision to strengthen the physical and operational foundation that supports academic missions.
If your institution is seeking a Director of Campus Operations or a similar higher education leadership role, reach out to start a confidential conversation.
Hiring a Director of Campus Operations?
Excelon Associates places facilities and operations leaders at higher education institutions nationwide. Headquartered in Asheville, NC. Retained search since 2007.