Director of Facilities

Reports to: EVP Strategy and Administration

Location: San Francisco, CA (in-person)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary Range: $120,000–$135,000, based on experience and qualifications

About the Role

Minerva University seeks an experienced and strategic professional to lead all operational, leasing, and housing responsibilities for its San Francisco headquarter and residential facilities. The Director of Facilities & Housing Operations is responsible for overseeing real estate strategy, occupancy management, vendor coordination, and facilities logistics in order to provide a high-performing and cost-effective environment for students and staff.

This role oversees the university’s facilities and housing operations and the San Francisco headquarters, including coordination with work-study staff. While reporting directly to the EVP of Strategy and Administration, the position also requires a strong, ongoing partnership with the Student Life team, particularly on housing-related initiatives.

This position is positioned for long-term institutional impact and may evolve to include oversight of facilities and housing operations across multiple cities or international locations, in alignment with the university’s global growth strategy.

Responsibilities

1. Leasing, Subletting, and Housing Strategy  (50%)

• Achieve and maintain 95% year-round occupancy (key milestones: 40% by Jan, 50% by Apr, 75% by FY-end)
• Oversee all leasing functions: marketing, outreach, budgeting, license agreements, and billing
• Handle all aspects of subletting including contract compliance, tracking, and dispute resolution
• Proactively market vacant units to external tenants and groups
• Track performance and optimize leasing outcomes using CRM and property tools

2. Facilities & Headquarters Management (25%)

• Manage daily operations of HQ including mail, IT, cleanliness, security, and supply inventory
• Maintain ongoing positive relations and communications with owners and Property Managers of HQ and residence halls to ensure ongoing readiness of building systems and respond to emerging concerns (pest control, janitorial services, fire safety, elevators, utilities, etc)
• Maintain strong relationships with property owners to ensure high standards across vendor-managed services (e.g., WiFi, pest control, janitorial services, fire safety, elevators, security) and proactively monitor quality across all buildings
• Lead logistical operations for student move-in/move-out periods and coordinate facility readiness
• Prepare buildings for student move-in/move-out and oversee physical readiness
• Support bank deposit coordination with Finance team (if applicable)
• Supervise work-study students and interns supporting building operations and front desk 

3. Budgeting & Financial Oversight  (10%)

• Build and manage operational budgets related to housing, leasing, and facilities
• Partner with Finance and Admin teams to align budgeting with institutional priorities
• Support acquisition and expansion planning including due diligence and cost modeling

4. Staff Supervision & Institutional Collaboration (10%)

• Supervise a team of student workers and temporary support staff across three buildings
• Manage staff members temporarily in residence at 851 California 
• Serve as the primary liaison with city landlords, property managers, and community stakeholders
• Provide operational oversight of residence halls, including coordination with live-in staff as necessary
• Collaborate with Student Life, Finance, Facilities, and Strategy/Admin in a high-matrix org

5. Support Student Life Programs & Housing Logistics (10%)

• Provide facilities support for Student Life initiatives such as Foundation Week and Elevation, including logistics for orientation and milestone events
• Assist with residential life logistics and updates (e.g., building codes, move-in/out processes)
• Ensure emergency phone responsibilities are covered and ensure rapid response protocols are in place. Being accessible for emergency situations for 24 hours. 
• Be visible during the work week, with demonstrable active contributions during the entire semester, including the requirement for some weekend or evening work
• Coordinate with Student Life Staff to ensure ongoing day-to-day and integral building systems are maintained

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in real estate operations, leasing, facilities, or student housing.
• Proven ability to manage leasing and subletting cycles end-to-end.
• Strong understanding of contracts, compliance, and rent collection.
• Experience managing budgets, vendor relationships, and complex reporting structures.
• Ability to effectively connect with diverse stakeholders (students, landlords, teammates).
• Collaborative mindset with comfort working in a matrixed organization
• Experience with move-in/out logistics, facility liquidations, and rapid response operations.
• Proficiency in tools like Asana, Google Workspace, and CRM/property platforms.
• Bonus: Higher education or international facilities experience
• Strong attention to detail and communication skills (written & verbal)
• Presence in San Francisco is required

Preferred qualifications

• Proficiency with CRM/property management tools (Buildium, Notifi, GoogleAds, and Squarespace)
• Experience using project management tools like Asana & Notion
• Skilled in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Forms), Slack, Zoom

The Growth Path

This role is designed to scale beyond San Francisco. As Minerva expands its residential presence globally, this position could evolve into a university-wide or international leadership opportunity overseeing multi-city housing and operations strategy.