NYBG Job Description

Associate Director for Maintenance

The Associate Director for Maintenance supports the oversight and execution of daily operations for the Maintenance Department at NYBG, encompassing 35 buildings and associated infrastructure across a 250-acre campus. This includes office buildings, historic glass houses, laboratories, museums, and public-facing facilities. The role involves direct coordination with department leadership to manage skilled trades and unionized personnel in delivering essential maintenance and repair services. The Associate Director will collaborate closely with multiple Garden divisions to ensure facilities are safe, functional, and event-ready. Strong technical knowledge in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, equipment, and fleet repair and general construction is essential, as well as the ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex maintenance and facilities-related projects.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide daily oversight and supervision of a unionized workforce, including task delegation, job tracking, scheduling, and quality assurance.
• Lead the coordination and completion of work orders through a computerized maintenance management system; analyze data to improve workflow and performance metrics.
• Maintain expert-level working knowledge in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, painting, general construction, and grounds support; maintain operational readiness of facilities infrastructure and fleet.
• Collaborate on the development and implementation of training programs for maintenance staff to ensure proficiency in various aspects of maintenance and safety protocols.
• Manage refuse, recycling, and sanitation pickups in coordination with NYC Department of Sanitation and internal departments.
• Assist management in snow and ice removal operations, including planning, supervision, and emergency response across all Garden facilities.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA safety standards and internal environmental health and safety (ESH) procedures.
• Assist with the procurement and inventory control for tools, parts, equipment, and maintenance supplies.
• Serve as a liaison with vendors, contractors, inspectors, and regulatory agencies.
• Provide on-site support for Garden programming and special events, ensuring that physical spaces meet operational and aesthetic standards.
• Provide leadership coverage during evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergencies as needed.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in facilities maintenance, operations or construction management; experience in an institutional or cultural environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in managing a unionized workforce, including performance management and compliance with labor agreements.
• Strong knowledge of facility systems including electrical distribution, plumbing, and general building construction.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting construction drawings, site plans, and utility schematics.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills with an emphasis on planning, recordkeeping, and resource management.
• Experience with work order and inventory tracking systems.
• OSHA certification or other relevant safety training preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to lead and work collaboratively across departments.
• College degree or technical school certification preferred.
• Must be available for 24-hour on-call duty, including weekends, holidays, and emergency response situations.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands, handle tools, use motorized/heavy equipment, climb ladders, reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Work outdoors under a variety of weather conditions. Work under low, moderate or loud work conditions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Baseline Work Schedule: Thursday-Monday, 8am to 5pm. Salary: Commensurate with experience within the range of $90,000-$100,000.