Title: Senior Director of Facilities, Buildings &Grounds, & Capital Outlay
State Role Title: Trades Manager II
Hiring Range: $115,000 - $145,000 commensurate with experience
Pay Band: 6
Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Location: MAIN MUSEUM
Agency Website: https://www.vmfa.museum/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
About Virginia Museum of Fine Arts:
The VMFA is a major cultural and public serving institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia, stewarding, in conjunction with its affiliated Foundation, an approximately 700,000 square foot campus that includes an art museum with multiple galleries, a nearly 500 seat theater, a 600 space parking structure, residences, and a dedicated art storage facility among other properties. The campus spans 10 acres of horticulturally curated public spaces and includes structures from the historical to modern. A major 173,000 square foot expansion and 45,000 square foot renovation project is scheduled to begin later this year.
Recently named the 11th-best art museum in the United States by The Washington Post, VMFA is the only US art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission.
VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.
General Information:
We are currently seeking applications for an exceptional individual to join our Building and Grounds Department as a Senior Director of Facilities, Buildings and Grounds, and Capital Outlay.
Position Overview
Reporting to the CFO, the Senior Director of Facilities, Buildings & Grounds, and Capital Outlay provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for all physical assets, infrastructure systems, and capital development initiatives. This role is responsible for the stewardship, modernization, and long term sustainability of a complex, high visibility campus that blends historic structures, contemporary architecture, public spaces, and specialized environments for art conservation and public viewing.
The Senior Director serves as the agency’s primary facilities executive, overseeing a multidisciplinary team and managing relationships with state oversight bodies, design and construction partners, regulatory authorities, and community stakeholders. This position is critical to the visitor experience and fundamental to the Museum’s mission to serve all Virginians.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Facilities Leadership
• Develop and execute a comprehensive facilities strategy aligned with the agency’s mission, long term strategic plan, and capital priorities.
• Oversee operations, maintenance, and lifecycle planning for 11 buildings exceeding 700,000 sf.
• Ensure the reliability and performance of critical systems, including HVAC, life safety, security, and environmental controls for art preservation.
Capital Outlay & Construction Management
• Oversee all capital outlay processes in accordance with Commonwealth of Virginia requirements, including project initiation, budgeting, procurement, and reporting.
• Serve as the Museum-side point of contact for a major 173,000 sf expansion project and 45,000 sf renovation project scheduled to begin in 2026.
• Manage relationships with architects, engineers, construction managers, JOC Contractors, service vendors and state oversight entities (e.g., DGS, DEB).
• Oversee feasibility studies, design development, approved project construction administration, commissioning, and project closeout.
Grounds & Horticultural Stewardship
• Direct the care and enhancement of 10 acres of curated, horticulturally managed public spaces.
• Ensure landscape design, maintenance, and sustainability practices support the agency’s aesthetic, environmental, and public use goals.
Operational Excellence & Compliance
• Maintain full compliance with state building codes, environmental regulations, ADA requirements, and safety standards.
• Develop and manage operating budgets, capital budgets, and long range financial plans for facilities and infrastructure.
• In conjunction with colleagues, participate in emergency preparedness, risk mitigation, and business continuity planning for the facilities related aspects of the physical campus.
Team Leadership & Organizational Collaboration
• Lead a diverse team of facilities, maintenance, horticulture, custodial, and project management professionals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, with a special emphasis on service excellence, internal communication, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with all divisions including the Director’s Office, security, visitor services, curatorial, events, and administrative departments with a ‘visitor experience forward/customer service’ mindset.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will bring experience comparable to senior facilities leadership roles at:
• A major Virginia state university (e.g., AVP/Director of Facilities Management, Capital Construction, or Campus Planning)
• The Virginia Department of General Services (DGS)
• A large municipal or state level public facilities portfolio
• A complex cultural, research, or healthcare institution with significant capital programs
Benefits:
The Commonwealth of Virginia offers a comprehensive total compensation package that includes health benefits, paid leave, and flexible work schedules. The following benefits are available to classified employees:
• Vacation and Other Leave
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Health Benefits
• Sickness and Disability Program
• Deferred Compensation with Cash Match
• Group, Optional Life, and Long-term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Retirement Plans
• State Employee Resources
Additional information relating to the benefits available to eligible state employees can be found online at: https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits
Minimum Qualifications
• Knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies typically obtained through the completion of a Bachelor’s degree academic curriculum in engineering, architecture, construction management, facilities management, or related field (Master’s preferred) or equilavent level of practical experience and/or training.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience managing large, complex facilities portfolios.
• Demonstrated leadership of major capital projects ($50M+), preferably within the Commonwealth’s capital outlay system.
• Experience with historic buildings, modern systems, and mixed use public environments.
• Strong financial acumen, including capital planning and multi year budgeting.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
Additional Considerations
Preferred Credentials
• PE, RA, PMP, CCM, or Certified Facility Manager (CFM).
• Experience in museums, cultural institutions, or environments requiring specialized environmental controls.
• Familiarity with Virginia’s DEB, eVA procurement (VCCO preferred), and state construction processes.
Conditions of Employment:
The selected candidate must complete the Statement of Economic Interest form and associated Conflict of Interest training as a condition of employment.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
All applicants must submit an online application. This position will close at 11:55 pm on the designated closing date listed at the top of this posting on Jobs.Virginia.gov.
Please provide three professional references, including their full name, phone number, and email address. References should be able to speak to your qualifications for the position and may be included in your resume or cover letter or attached separately in the portal’s "other" field.
VMFA is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer. Diverse and inclusive hiring practices are at the heart of what we do at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Contact Information
Name: Human Resource Services
Phone: N/A
Email: recruitment@vmfa.museum
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.