Director of Operations

Position: Director of Operations 

Who we are:  The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization and has been a vibrant and vital institution, serving as an effective, critical bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs of the City since 1914. PAL operates diverse programs for children as young as 2 years old to young adults. Programs include Head Start, after-school programs and summer day camps for elementary, middle and high school youth, and summer Playstreets. PAL also runs evening teen centers and college readiness programs, youth employment, and juvenile justice programs. Staying true to PAL’s roots, a cornerstone of our youth development strategy includes offering competitive and recreational sports for children of all ages.  At PAL, we’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too. 

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Operations will implement, streamline, and sustain cross-functional systems for an organization that operates 17 sites and centers throughout all five boroughs of New York City. The ideal candidate must exhibit a commitment to excellence, have a history of high achievement, superior organizational qualities, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills. They must also possess a passion for youth services and child development.   

The Director of Operations will oversee all PAL facilities and ensure they are efficiently and effectively maintained and operated, with the goal for all PAL sites to be safe, comfortable and compliant spaces. They will oversee daily operational procedures, operational compliance with all New York City, New York State, and federal regulations pertaining to contracts and regulations. The Director of Operations will manage PAL’s Facility teams and IT managed service provider and on-site IT staff.    

What you’ll do:  

• Facility Management: 

• Oversee and manage the network of PAL locations, including Headquarters. 

• Ensure all buildings are well-maintained and repaired as needed. 

• Conduct and oversee preventative maintenance and coordination of unscheduled maintenance 

• Ensure that all work orders are submitted to address interior and exterior cleaning, repairs, and alterations, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, elevator, fire, traffic control, and life safety systems as well as any displays and alterations.    

• As needed, deploy Operations staff to ensure adequate coverage and respond to facility urgent or emerging situations.     

• Operational Policies and Systems Management: 

• Develop, communicate, and implement operational policies and procedures for IT and Facilities operations. 

• Maintain an accurate inventory and systems related to inventory management.  

• Implement effective systems for logging and tracking inspections, maintenance schedules, and repairs. 

• Manage maintenance of mechanical, electrical, HVAC, elevator, plumbing, fire, traffic control, and life safety systems. 

• IT Support: 

• Working closely with the COO to oversee the PAL’s out-source IT Managed Service provider (MSP) 

• Oversee the PAL’s on-site IT staff person to support on-site computer set up, network management working in close collaboration with the IT MSP 

• Establish and operationalize IT procurement and inventory of PAL’s IT equipment.  

• Ensure collaboration and efficient workflows across Facilities, operations, IT and HR to provision and de-provision (return) of IT equipment.  

• Contractor and Vendor Relations: 

• Responsible for all operational vendors from vetting to execution of services.   

• Manage relationships with external contractors and vendors. 

• Develop and execute facility assessments for existing sites with recommendations for infrastructure improvements. 

• Oversee the Request for Proposal (RFP) and competitive bidding process for facility improvement projects. 

• Project Management: 

• Oversee capital improvement projects for large-scale facility upgrades. 

• Present strategic space renovation plans, progress updates, and recommendations to the executive team. 

• Safety and Compliance: 

• Responsible for ensuring operational safety and excellence at all PAL facilities.   

• Foster a culture of safety across the organization. 

• Ensure facilities are clean, hazard-free, and provide a friendly atmosphere. 

• Conduct safety assessments, ensure code compliance, and manage inspection schedules and training programs. 

• Develop comprehensive manuals and staff communications to ensure safe and efficient facility management services. 

• Create best practice tools and processes that enhance both short-term and long-term operational and lifecycle maintenance strategies, anticipating needs, prioritizing resources, and optimizing investment to achieve superior operational performance. 

• Coordinates and monitors Fire and Life Safety program elements in compliance with Federal, State and Local regulations. 

• Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: 

• Establish strong communication with partners, including NYPD precincts, NYCHA, FDNY, property managers, and landlords. 

• Serve as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding facilities management issues, fostering strong relationships and ensuring consistent communication. 

• Work closely with program and administration staff on equipment maintenance. 

• Collaborate with senior management to develop strategic plans for the enhancement, refurbishment, and long-term sustainability of properties. 

• Staff Management: 

• Oversee and develop a team of up to 5-6 staff who support Facilities, Operations and IT as well as indirectly oversee on-site maintenance staff at each center in collaboration with the On-site Program Director.  

• Ensure the team is responding to work orders and maintenance requests in a timely manner and prioritizing tickets accordingly. 

• Develop evaluation and monitoring systems for routine facility maintenance. 

• Manage purchase orders for facility supplies and equipment. 

• Monitor staffing and retention. 

Who you are/What you bring:  

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Technology, or other related field; Master’s degree preferred  

• 5+ years of operations or facility management experience; familiarity with SACC guidelines preferred 

• 3+ years of direct staff supervisory and management experience 

• Experience in customer service, scheduling, purchasing, inventory management, facility management or building maintenance is required 

• Experience with vendor management, as well as overseeing and competitive bidding / RFP process is required. 

• Technologically savvy, with an ability to develop and implement new processes and systems that increase efficiency and ensure efficacy is required. 

• Experience overseeing budgets and finances, compliance, insurance and liability issues preferred    

• Professional certification, affiliation, and/or membership in fields of facilities management, Building Owners and Managers Association, desired 

• Excellent communication, team building, and leadership skills are essential is required 

• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and attention to detail 

• Highly professional and team oriented with a passion for excellence and eagerness to help the department meet our goals. 

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision 

• Have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite building tracking systems and ability to run reports is required 

Compensation: The salary for this role is $130,000 to $140,000; where the finalist falls in this range will be commensurate with skills and experience.  
 

Benefits: PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, a generous paid time off policy, training and more!  

Location: This position is based out of PAL's headquarters at 34 1/2 East 12th Street New York, NY 10003. In addition, travel locally within NYC to any of our program sites is required for this role. 

At the Police Athletic League, we seek people who are talented, creative and passionate to help create a more inclusive city and better futures for our youth. We’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too. 

The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy. 

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agency’s lawful pre-employment checks, which may include a background check.