Director of Operations

The Missouri Historical Society seeks a strategic, collaborative, and experienced Director of Operations to lead facilities operations across its properties, including the Missouri History Museum, the Library and Research Center, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and leased spaces.

This position provides leadership for facilities, maintenance, housekeeping, sustainability, capital planning, and related operational functions. The Director works in close collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure that MHS buildings are safe, accessible, efficient, well maintained, and aligned with institutional priorities, including the environmental standards required to support collections care.

The Director manages long-range infrastructure planning, departmental budgets, vendor and service contracts, emergency preparedness coordination, and asset lifecycle planning while fostering strong partnerships across the organization and with external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for facilities, maintenance, housekeeping, sustainability, and related operations across all MHS locations.
• Supervise, coach, and support departmental managers, supervisors, and staff to promote high performance, accountability, safety, and service excellence.
• Oversee day-to-day building operations, staffing schedules, work order coordination, and communication with internal departments to ensure responsive and efficient service.
• Develop, manage, and monitor annual departmental budgets; support competitive bidding processes in accordance with MHS policies and maintain accurate records of requests for proposals, bids, awards, and contracts.
• Partner closely with the CFO and senior leadership to align departmental budgets, capital projects, vendor contracts, and long-term infrastructure planning with institutional priorities.
• Lead capital improvement planning and execution, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and in alignment with institutional goals.
• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance programs, equipment replacement schedules, and long-term asset lifecycle plans for MHS properties and leased spaces.
• Ensure building systems and environmental conditions support collections care, public access, staff needs, and safe daily operations.
• Strengthen departmental processes by creating, evaluating, and refining policies, procedures, workflows, and performance standards.
• Cultivate strong working relationships with MHS departments, contractors, vendors, partner organizations, and regional operations leaders.
• Support emergency management planning and response protocols for MHS properties in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
• Serve as an institutional representative on facilities-related committees, including committees with other Zoo-Museum District organizations.
• Stay informed about emerging facilities, operations, sustainability, and museum-sector best practices and apply relevant improvements at MHS.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, facilities management, engineering, construction management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible facilities, operations, or property management experience.
• At least 5-7 years of supervisory experience leading teams in facilities coordination, maintenance, operations, or a related environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, budgets, vendor relationships, service contracts, and cross-functional priorities.
• Ability to respond to urgent facilities needs and support occasional evening or weekend work as required.
• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in a museum, cultural institution, nonprofit, public-facing facility, campus environment, or multi-site organization.
• Knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance practices, capital planning, sustainability practices, and asset lifecycle management.
• Familiarity with environmental standards that support collections care, visitor experience, and public facility operations.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, technical manuals, building documentation, contracts, and project specifications.
• Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, and facilities- or project-management systems.
• LEED accreditation or other sustainability-related certification is desirable.

Schedule and Work Environment

This position is based in St. Louis, Missouri and requires work across multiple MHS locations. The role may require occasional evening, weekend, or emergency response work based on operational needs.