Director of Plant Operations
Stellar Senior Living
Cottonwood Heights, UT
We are looking for a Director of Plant Operations (DPO) to be the senior-most facilities leader within Stellar Senior Living, serving as the enterprise-level architect of standards, strategy, and systems across the entire portfolio. This is a true executive-level role — not an operational position. You set the direction; your Regional Maintenance Directors execute it. You will own the long-term health, compliance posture, and capital strategy of every building in Stellar's portfolio, while building and developing the facilities leadership team beneath you. You report directly to senior operations leadership and partner with Finance, Development, Ownership, and the C-suite.
What You Own:
- Enterprise-level facilities strategy, policy development, and standards across 44 SNF, IL, AL, and Memory Care communities
- Design and governance of preventive maintenance programs, capital planning cycles, and life-safety compliance frameworks
- Direct leadership of Regional Maintenance Directors — hiring, performance management, coaching, and succession planning
- Executive-level CapEx planning: multi-year capital forecasting, budget ownership, and partnership with Finance and Development
- Vendor and contract strategy: national relationships, contract negotiation, and performance accountability
- Portfolio-wide ESG strategy, utility management program, and sustainability reporting (Energy Star, ESG platforms)
- Technology ecosystem ownership: TELS, Yardi Voyager, and facilities data integrity at an enterprise level
- Regulatory and code compliance strategy — state licensing, CMS guidelines, NFPA, building codes, and ADA
- Risk mitigation leadership: capital risk identification, deferred maintenance tracking, and remediation planning
- New community integration and due diligence support for acquisitions and development projects
What Makes This Role Distinct: The DPO operates at the strategy and governance layer. Unlike the Regional Maintenance Director — who is accountable for day-to-day operational execution within a defined territory — the DPO is accountable for:
- Focus: Enterprise strategy, standards, and leadership development
- Accountability: Portfolio-wide outcomes, capital investment, and team performance
- Primary Partners: C-suite, Finance, Development, Ownership Groups
- Direct Reports: Regional Maintenance Directors
- Travel: Periodic (quarterly summits, due diligence, critical site issues)
Who You Are:
- A senior facilities or engineering executive with 8–12+ years of progressive experience, including multi-site portfolio ownership
- Proven track record in building and leading regional facilities teams — not just managing buildings
- Deep expertise in CapEx planning, contract management, and capital budgeting at scale
- Strong background in senior living, healthcare, hospitality, or similarly regulated, life-safety environments
- Fluent in TELS, Yardi, Energy Star, and facilities data management platforms
- Executive-level communicator — comfortable presenting to boards, ownership groups, and C-suite stakeholders
- Bachelor's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field required; advanced degree preferred
- CFM, FMP, or PMP certification strongly preferred
Compensation & Benefits:
- Base Salary: $110,000 – $130,000 (DOE)
- Bonus Performance-based annual bonus
- Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Retirement: 401(k) with company match
- Time Off: Unlimited PTO
- Growth: Direct path to VP-level as portfolio expands to 60 communities
Why Stellar Senior Living:
- Executive-level influence over a growing, 60-community portfolio by 2030
- High-trust culture — you'll have the autonomy to build real systems, not just maintain them
- Mission-driven organization where operational excellence directly improves residents' lives
- Competitive compensation with room to grow as the organization scales
"Our supreme goal is to do and be the best in all we undertake, and to provide a Stellar life for our residents, their families, and our employees." Evrett Benton, CEO
Stellar Senior Living is the premier Senior Living provider in the Western United States. Founded in 2012, we serve 44 communities across multiple states and are on a mission to improve the lives of 17,000+ residents by 2035. We believe great communities are built on safe, well-run, and thoughtfully maintained environments.
Ready to own facilities at the enterprise level? Apply now and help us build something extraordinary.