Director of Facilities & Security

Description

THIS JOB POSTING WILL CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2026, AT 11:00 PM EST.

The Director of Facilities & Security is a key leadership position at Fair Lane Estate, with overall responsibility for the estate’s facilities, including the maintenance and security of the buildings and grounds. This role will have significant autonomy in overseeing and administering the estate’s maintenance, custodial, and security staff. They will oversee operations that include building maintenance, custodial, infrastructure systems, Information Technology, and capital improvement plans.

Fair Lane Estate, the Home of Clara & Henry Ford, is currently comprised of approximately 53,000 sqft of building space, including a main residence, powerhouse/garage, welcome center, and potting shed/greenhouses. Most of these structures are historic and have a variety of uniquely installed mechanical systems, including boilers, chillers, fan coil units, and a closed loop water infrastructure for both heating and cooling.

In collaboration with two direct reports (Facilities & Custodial Technician and Manager of Security, to-be-hired) and several contracted partners, this role will serve as the subject matter expert for all building systems: mechanical/HVAC, electrical, plumbing, security, and IT.

• Reports to the President but collaborates and interacts inter-departmentally at all levels daily.
• Communicates and presents to leadership and the Board of Trustees as needed.
• Works with the Senior Director of Finance and Administration to develop, monitor, and manage budgets for Maintenance, Facilities, Security, and IT.
• Works closely with the Senior Director of Gardens and Grounds, the Senior Director of Historic Resources & Education, and the Marketing and Advancement Team to ensure operational alignment with preservation standards, public programming, and revenue generation.
• Continuously evaluates facilities system effectiveness by identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies, cost savings, and risk mitigation, develops recommendations, and leads implementation.
• Identifies and implements operational efficiencies, cost-control measures, and long-term infrastructure strategies.
• Provides full oversight of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression, security, and life-safety systems.
• Serves as a primary on-call responder for operational emergencies, including after-hours incidents.
• Oversees Emergency Preparedness Planning and on-site safety/security.
• Manage and oversee the ordering of all custodial supplies for the facility.
• Manage and oversee day-to-day IT management and strategy in partnership with the Senior Director of Finance and Administration.
• Manages vendor relationships, contract negotiation, and service oversight across multiple trades and service providers.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable OSHA regulations and workplace safety standards.

Recruits, supervises, leads, and develops two direct reports and several indirect reports:

• Manager of Security (Title TBD), who has the responsibility for
• -Leads a team of security specialists, who monitor access points for the estate including all buildings, gates, and public access points, while enforcing guest policies.
• -Ensure guest & staff security across entire estate.
• -Maintain security and life safety systems: building access (keys and digital controls), burglar alarms, and fire monitoring.
• -Create and maintain structured onboarding and ongoing training programs focused on security protocols.
• -Leads security initiatives for all events & programs.
• Facilities & Custodial Technician, who has the responsibility for
• -General maintenance and custodial tasks, inside the home and, to a lesser degree, outdoors, around the gardens and grounds.
• -General mechanical (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing maintenance, repair, and contractor coordination.
• -Manages cyclical maintenance and inspections.
• Backup on all direct report responsibilities.

Additional applicable responsibilities as assigned by the department director or the President & CEO to support the work of the organization.

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), exempt (ineligible…