Plant Operations Specialist

Position Summary

The Plant Operations Specialist is responsible for ensuring continuity of plant operations, regulatory compliance, life safety, preventive maintenance, environmental standards, and overall building functionality across the portfolio. This includes providing interim leadership coverage at one or more communities when a Plant Operations leadership position is vacant or additional support is needed, and advancing standardized programs, policies, and procedures that communities adopt as practical tools.

This individual will work remotely, travel extensively to and work within various communities, quickly assess operational needs through inspection and reporting, establish priorities, direct and coach maintenance and plant operations teams in partnership with community leadership, and work with the Home Office to ensure a safe, well‑maintained environment for residents, families, visitors, and associates.

This position requires a strong working knowledge of senior living environments, building systems, maintenance operations, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) such as TELS, building automation systems (BAS), life safety, regulatory requirements, renovation and construction processes, and team leadership. The role also calls for a range of technology skills from general to expert level, including mobile software, artificial intelligence, and digital organizational techniques, along with the ability to bring order to ambiguous or fast changing situations and help establish maintenance and environmental services operations from the ground up when needed.

Essential Functions, Key Duties, & Responsibilities

Regional Operations and Pipeline Support

• Support the Discovery, Development, and Execution pipeline across all communities, so that long horizon needs, active planning, and committed work are each tracked and moving.
• Support communities in preparing for and responding to Regional Director of Plant Operations site visits through documentation and reporting that capture building and grounds conditions, aging systems, deferred maintenance, contract renewals, and emerging needs, and track follow up items to completion.
• Participate in monthly capital and unit turn reviews with Executive Directors and Directors of Plant Operations, tracking timelines, budgets, and postponements.
• Support Directors of Plant Operations with a focus on TELS use and preventive practices.
• Contribute to annual campus capital budgets, the five year capital plan, and the annual review and update of preventive maintenance and service agreements.
• Track and administer vendor relationships and service agreements across all communities, including renewal dates, required documentation, and vendor performance.
• Monitor key operational indicators, including preventive maintenance completion, work order performance, inspection results, safety issues, and facility related risks, and provide regular updates to the Regional Director of Plant Operations on operational risks, priorities, projects, and community needs.

Interim Community Leadership

• Serve as interim leadership support for Plant Operations across one or more assigned communities during leadership vacancies, extended absences, or periods requiring additional operational support, with assignments structured to allow flexibility across multiple communities as needs arise.
• During interim assignments, take daily direction from the Executive Director while remaining a direct report of the Regional Director of Plant Operations, and continue regional responsibilities at a level set by the Regional Director of Plant Operations.
• Assume responsibility for the daily leadership, inspection, and oversight of plant operations, maintenance, environmental…