Reports to: Executive Director
Department: Facilities & Grounds
Supervision: Associate Director of
F&G,
Shop & Fleet Coordinator & Lead Facilities Technician; Total F&G Team is seven staff
Employment Status:
Full-time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Start date: June 15, 2026
Last Updated: March 5, 2026
Who We
Are
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 $55 million endowment
and an annual operating budget of $10 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC.
Our mission supports
making lives meaningful through making.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and
Inclusion Penland
welcomes everyone. 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.
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 welcome
everyone who
supports this commitment.
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.
The Director of Facilities and Grounds 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 management disposal
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. Apply at, https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/penlandschoolofcraft/jobs/5146
799008
