Director of Operations

Description

At Easterseals Chicago & Rockford Regions (ECR), we are committed to transforming the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of the Chicago and Rockford regions since 1936. For more information, visit www.eastersealschicago.org.

The Director of Operations provides strategic leadership for Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford's facilities, safety, security, risk management, and operational infrastructure. This role is responsible for ensuring the safety, functionality, compliance, and long-term sustainability of ECR's physical environments while supporting organizational growth and operational excellence.

Working closely with program leaders and functional department heads, the Director of Operations develops and implements systems, processes, and standards that promote safety, efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement. This position also serves as a key organizational leader in facilities planning, risk management, insurance administration, lease management, and operational innovation, including the exploration and implementation of AI-enabled process improvements.

This position is located at Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES

Operations Management

• Provide day-to-day oversight of ECR's Facilities Team, ensuring effective operations across all agency locations.
• Work closely with ECR’s Vice President of Communications & Operations to develop and implement professional development and growth plans for Facilities Department staff that establish clear performance expectations, accountability measures, and career development pathways for team members.
• Facilitate cross-training among facilities personnel to ensure continuity of operations and organizational resilience.
• Oversee the development and implementation of preventive maintenance programs for all ECR-owned and leased facilities.
• Ensure facilities systems, equipment, and infrastructure are maintained in accordance with industry best practices.
• Oversee facility improvement, renovation, and capital projects as assigned.

Safety, Security & Risk Management

• Chair ECR's Health & Safety Committee, facilitating ongoing dialogue among departments regarding organizational risks, vulnerabilities, compliance requirements, and opportunities for improvement.
• Spearhead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of agency-wide health, safety, and security policies and protocols.
• Oversee development and maintenance of standard operating procedures related to safety, security, emergency preparedness, and facilities operations.
• Coordinate and document required safety drills and emergency preparedness exercises.

Maintain current building inspection records, safety documentation, and compliance records.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, licensing, OSHA, and other applicable safety and facilities regulations.
• Facilitate the annual review and revision of ECR's Health & Safety Manual in partnership with operational and program leaders. 

Insurance Administration & Compliance

• Lead ECR's annual insurance renewal process: coordinate with ECR’s program leaders, Finance team, People & Talent Culture team, and external insurance broker to gather required information and assess coverage needs.
• Recommend risk mitigation strategies that reduce organizational liability and strengthen operational resilience.
• Maintain documentation necessary to support audits, insurance renewals, compliance reviews, and regulatory reporting requirements.

Real Estate, Facilities Planning & Lease Management

• Oversee lease renewals, negotiations, and administration for leased properties.
• Partner with commercial real estate professionals to identify and evaluate potential locations for program expansion, relocation, or consolidation.
• Support organizational growth through strategic facilities planning and portfolio management.

Process Improvement & Operational Innovation

• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, efficiency, and service delivery.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of AI-powered automated workflows that enhance operational effectiveness while maintaining compliance, security, and responsible technology practices.
• Develop performance measures and reporting mechanisms to assess operational effectiveness and support continuous improvement.

Grants, Capital Projects & Stakeholder Support

• Support the development of grant applications for facilities, capital improvement, safety, security, and operational initiatives.
• Provide facilities, operational, compliance, and budget information required for grant proposals and funding requests.
• Support grant stewardship and reporting activities by providing operational metrics, project updates, and outcomes data.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend required trainings, meetings, and professional development activities.
• Maintain knowledge of industry best practices in facilities management, occupational safety, risk management, and operational efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Education and Credentials

• Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Public Administration, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Relevant professional certifications (e.g. Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), OSHA 30-Hour Certification, or related credentials) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible operational, facilities, and/or risk management leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and organizational change initiatives.
• Experience managing facilities operations across multiple locations preferred.
• Experience overseeing safety, compliance, insurance, and/or risk management functions preferred.
• Experience supporting capital projects, lease negotiations, and/or facility expansion initiatives preferred.

Knowledge / Abilities

• Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of facilities management, preventive maintenance, safety programs, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to analyze operational challenges and develop practical solutions.
• Effective communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong budgeting and contract negotiation abilities.
• Ability to gather data, prepare reports, and present information to leadership.
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications and operational technology systems.
• Demonstrated interest in process improvement, automation, and responsible AI applications.
• Ability to work independently while building strong collaborative relationships across teams.

 ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.