Chief Operating Officer
Bucks County Community College seeks an innovative and entrepreneurial Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our vibrant community to help us evolve into a more efficient and market-responsive organization and to increase revenue from auxiliary services, rentals, and conferences and events.
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the COO is a member of the college cabinet and is responsible for the safe operations of the college at all locations, oversees grounds, physical plant, custodial services, and security & safety services, establishes and leads revenue-generating operations, and manages contract services and relationships with vendors and contractors.
The COO is responsible for the maintenance of all properties of the College, capital projects, and developing long-range plans for the College including facilities master planning and overseeing construction and renovation projects. Ongoing contract services currently include the campus store, food service vendors, and an event planner and producer. Offices that directly report to the COO include the Office of Physical Plant, Office of Security & Safety, and a future Office of Conference & Event Services. An exciting opportunity for the COO will be to lead the College’s expansion of rentals and conference & event services in order to contribute to the regional economy and increase revenue for the College.
Qualifications
- Successful candidates will be dynamic and focused leaders with experience developing high-performing teams, managing facilities, and generating revenue through rentals and contracts
- They will have experience with facilities operations and maintenance, venue management, contracts, risk management, code compliance and safety, financial and budget management responsibility
- They will have seven to ten (7–10) years of progressive administrative experience in multiple administrative operations, such as business services, facility services, auxiliary services, hospitality management, or conference and venue management.
- A master’s degree in business, public, non-profit, or arts administration, or a related field preferred or a Bachelor’s Degree with relevant experience
- A minimum of three years of senior leadership experience.
Salary
Commensurate with background and experience.
Benefits
Bucks County Community College offers an exceptional benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, 403B pension plan, life insurance, short & long-term disability, generous paid time off, summer hours, tuition waivers, tuition assistance, wellness center, cafeteria, and free parking on a beautiful Bucks County campus.
Application and Deadline
Applications must include a letter of application addressing this specific position and the candidate’s interest and qualifications for coming to Bucks County Community College., curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references. References will not be contacted without prior permission. Finalists may be asked to provide additional materials.
Questions about the position or process should be addressed to Urszula Zak (Deputy Chief of Staff to the President) at Urszula.Zak@bucks.edu or (215) 968-5899.
Consideration of applications will begin on December 1, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
We are proud to be an organization that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Please Note: At this time, the College does not provide work visa sponsorships. To be considered for employment at Bucks County Community College, applicants must be permitted to legally work in the United States without employer sponsorship. Bucks County Community College participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Detailed Position Responsibilities
Physical Plant – Directly Supervise the Director of Physical Plant and provide administrative and budgetary oversight and strategic direction for maintenance and operations of all campuses and facilities, facilities design, capital planning, master planning, and capital expansion. Manage maintenance, scheduling, and use of all college spaces, including classrooms and instructional spaces, offices and conference rooms, athletic and recreational facilities, and conference and meeting spaces and event venues. Manage annual major maintenance plan and campus improvement projects. Work with the CIO, provost, and deans on five-year plans for laboratory and classroom equipment, furniture, and IT needs. Manage property acquisitions and real estate lease agreements.
Security & Safety – Directly supervise the Executive Director, Office of Security & Safety and provide administrative and budgetary oversight and strategic direction for security & safety of all College locations. Administer safety and environmental compliance services and programs. Work on any claims with the CFO and CHRO as needed.
Conference & Event Services – Directly supervise the Director of Conference & Event Services and provide administrative and budgetary oversight and strategic direction for the expansion of rentals, revenue-generating events, and conference & event services. Increase revenue generated through use of facilities by outside groups for conferences, business meetings, and events. Establish relationships with business partners who bring meetings and events to the campuses, manage requests and scheduling of all spaces, and lead a unit that provides professional caliber conference & event services such as scheduling and reservation, billing, reception, audio visual/IT & lighting, food & beverage services, event & stage management, and so forth. Collect insurance indemnification and ensure proper security and safety for events and visitors. Ensure compliance with all guidelines regarding visitors and youth on campus. Provide similar conference and event services for major College events.
Contract Services – Provide administrative oversight and strategic direction for auxiliary and contract services such as the bookstore and food service. Pursue and oversee additional opportunities for other such services that increase efficiency and service and generate revenue.
Government and Community Relations – Serve as College liaison to relevant county and local government offices and officials in communities in which the College campuses and facilities are located, as well as relevant community organizations. Represent the College at times to county and local government, agencies, boards, and organizations. Attend various hearings, meetings and events.
Department Oversight
The Office of Physical Plant consists of an Executive Director, 5 area managers, 2 administrative assistants and 41 employees who maintain 593,618 square feet of facilities on 225 acres across three campuses and two public safety training centers. The College’s specialized facilities include a boiler house which houses the College’s main transformers, chillers, and cooling towers, an IT center with College servers and network equipment, laboratories for science study and research with related storage and waste disposal facilities, health professions simulation laboratories, art studios with kilns and furnaces, and performing arts venues with recording, lighting, and sound equipment. The custodial, grounds, and maintenance employees are members of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Here is additional information about our three campus locations and other facilities. Learn more about the Newtown campus and many of the buildings using the campus map.
The Office of Security & Safety has 32 employees, consisting of an Executive Director, an Assistant Director, 2 Lieutenants (supervisors), 24 patrol officers, 2 Administrative Assistants, a dispatcher and 1 technology coordinator. The patrol officers patrol in vehicles, on bicycle, and on foot. They are members of the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America.
The Office of Conference & Event Services will be a new entity of 3 personnel built on the current office of Community Programming and College Events, which currently consists of two employees, who manage campus facilities rentals and the Zlock Performing Arts Center with a community-facing series. A newly appointed Director of Conference & Event Services will lead this three-person team. It will be expanded as staffing needs are determined and more revenue is generated. While all campus facilities will be available for Conference and Event Services, the primary facilities will be as follows:
- The Gateway Center is a 19,749 square foot conference facility consisting of a welcome/reception desk, manager’s office, lobby, coatroom, and ticket office, a 339-seat auditorium, and 9 IT-equipped conference rooms currently configured with 24 seats each in classroom/computer lab style set-up.
- The Gallagher Room in the Rollins Center is a conference/lecture style room of 2,867 square feet that can seat up to 130 people in classroom style and can be reconfigured in different setups with rectangular and round tables. It contains a small lecture stage with sound and projection capabilities. It is ideal for lectures, panels, forums, flexible-seating meetings, and luncheon meetings.
- The Linksz Pavillion Commons Area is a 10,016 square foot flexible venue suitable for trade show fairs and for which there is mobile staging and seating for 175 to 200 people.
- The Tyler Hall complex consists of the historic Tyler Hall mansion with three elegant rooms for intimate events, parties, and receptions and a terrace for outdoor events, the Orangery – a 1,458 square foot venue appropriate for intimate parties and receptions) and the romantic Tyler Gardens for outdoor events and a three-season wedding reception tent that seats 250 to 300 guests.