Director of Buildings and Grounds (Historic Preservation Specialist)

Grace Church In New York is an inclusive Episcopal community in Greenwich Village that has served its members, neighbors, and visitors through a variety of ministries and programs since 1846. We enjoy an especially close relationship with our neighbors, and over time, our church community has come to represent a diversity of faith backgrounds. The doors of our magnificent church are open every day, and we strive to serve the people who come inside regardless of who they may be. All are welcome.

Grace Church is recognized as an architectural masterpiece and classified accordingly with three significant distinctions: New York City Landmark; National Register of Historic Places; and National Historic Landmark.

Position Summary

The Director of Buildings and Grounds is responsible for the daily supervision and care of the collection of buildings and grounds of Grace Church. We are seeking a dedicated individual to serve as a primary advocate for a piece of history. This is not a desk job for a building manager; it is a role for a hands-on individual who views masonry, timber framing, and vintage systems as a legacy to be protected. Your goal is to ensure that Grace Church remains structurally sound and aesthetically authentic while keeping the doors of this historic church open daily.

The Director will provide leadership and direction to the Sexton/Chief Engineer and a team of maintenance technicians. The Director manages relationships with curators, contactors and project managers. Maintains building files, safety logs and inspection schedules, and is responsible to identify, budget and oversee the preventative maintenance schedules and capital improvements of the Church properties. The Director oversees all construction and capital improvement projects, assures compliance with regulatory requirements, and is the representative of Grace Church at public conservation hearings and meetings.

Key Responsibility

Restoration Oversight: Lead all restoration and preservation projects, ensuring all work adheres to the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Identify, forecast and budget capital improvement initiatives including, but not limited to mechanical systems and equipment.

Pro-Active Assessment: Conduct regular, rigorous on-site inspections of the building envelope, including roofs, attics, basements, and tight crawlspaces.

Cyclical Maintenance: Develop, budget, and execute multi-year/decade maintenance plans that prioritizes preventative care over reactive repairs.

Vendor Management: Identify, vet, and supervise specialized artisans (masons, woodworkers, slate roofers) who understand traditional building techniques. Serve as the primary contact for Grace Church with architects, engineers, contractors, and trades.

Compliance & Documentation: Maintain meticulous records of all restorations, repairs, and construction documents to serve as a historical record for future stewards and Grace Church archives. Responsible for the safeguard of maintenance and safety logs for all systems and equipment, and the proper and timely filing and completion of required permits, licenses, annual inspections and other requirements of local law, and ensure parties under contract do the same.

Access Requirements

Agility & Access: Must be able to safely ascend/descend ladders with heights of +15ft, navigate interior/exterior pipe scaffolding, and enter confined or difficult-to-access areas (crawl spaces, naturally lit, dark, dusty, unheated, tight spaces, stair wells, attics, undercrofts) to personally assess equipment and structural integrity.

Stamina: Ability to remain active on-site throughout the day in various weather conditions to oversee indoor and outdoor masonry or grounds projects.

Qualifications

Experience: 10+ years of experience specifically in the restoration and maintenance of 19th-century structures is preferred. Commensurate professional experience in the restoration of landmarked, or similar historically significant structures is considered equally valuable.

Technical Knowledge: Deep familiarity with stone and marble architecture and construction, limestone, timber framing, lath and plaster, and the integration of modern HVAC/electrical systems into historic properties without compromising integrity. Possess the mechanical aptitude to ensure that all life safety systems are fully functioning and that the security systems are adequate to the task.

Organizational Expertise: Exceptional project management skills. You must be able to juggle long-term restoration budgets while handling day-to-day facilities logistics. Ability to work collaboratively with people with diverse experiences, responsibilities and professional backgrounds.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor, or Master of Science in Historic Preservation preferred, but commensurate professional experience considered equally valuable. A minimum of ten years prior experience, directly managing cultural heritage conservation projects on landmark buildings in New York City, including robust and wide-ranging experience supervising contractors and preservation specialists on such projects. Management of a staff of five or more, is required. Experience working with NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission is expected.

The Director of Buildings and Grounds must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with superior training and leadership abilities, and should have excellent mechanical aptitude augmented by formal training sufficient to provide technical leadership and coverage. The Director should be computer-literate, have demonstrated comprehension of construction documents and drawings.

The Director of Buildings and Grounds will have considerable contact and direct involvement with a large congregation, comprised of individuals from all walks of life, and must accept a myriad of additional responsibilities, and execute those responsibilities with courtesy and diplomacy. The Director will represent Grace Church, and is expected to perform in a leadership capacity with moderate supervision, and be proactive in support of the Church’s mission, goals, policies and programs.

Group Medical and Prescription Drug coverage, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance, Short & Long-term Disability Coverage, 403(b) Retirement Saving Plan with Company match, Commuter Benefits (parking & transit), paid vacation, personal & sick days, paid holidays, summer hours.