The Vancouver Art Gallery is at an important moment. With a new purpose-built gallery on the horizon and a facilities function that touches every corner of the organization, this is not a role for someone who wants to manage from behind a desk. 

Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance & Administration, the Director, Facilities & Operations is responsible for the day-to-day operation and long-term stewardship of the Gallery's physical plant, building systems, security operations, and the teams that keep everything running. You will work alongside a capable and experienced group of tradespeople and security professionals who know their work well and are looking for a leader who earns their trust, helps them make better decisions, and removes the obstacles in their way. 

This role is ideal for someone who is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves and thinking strategically, who sees process modernization as an opportunity rather than a burden, and who wants to grow into a role that will expand significantly as the Gallery's new building project advances. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO 

Facility Operations 

• Lead the daily operations of the Gallery's physical plant, ensuring building systems, maintenance, janitorial services, and HVAC operate to institutional and museum standards 

• Be present, visible, and hands-on with the team; this is not a purely administrative role 

• Identify inefficiencies, document processes, and implement practical improvements 

• Coordinate departmental work requests, prepare work orders and supporting documentation, and ensure follow-through 

• Develop and maintain preventative maintenance programs, lifecycle plans, and asset replacement schedules 

• Ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC, WHMIS, and all Occupational Health & Safety requirements, including active participation on the Joint OHS Committee 

• Maintain facility documentation including operating manuals, emergency and fire safety plans 

• Coordinate with external contractors, establish specifications, and hold vendors accountable to those standards 

• Support event set-up, strike, and coordination in a high-traffic, high-profile public environment 

• Monitor building trends and emerging practices; bring creative, well-reasoned recommendations to leadership 

Security 

• Oversee Gallery security operations, ensuring the safety of the building, the collection, staff, and visitors 

• Support development and implementation of security policies, systems, and operational plans 

• Lead evaluation and modernization of security technology, including CCTV, access control, and monitoring systems 

• Coordinate with the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Police Department, and emergency services 

People Leadership 

•  Build genuine, trust-based relationships with a unionized team that is experienced and self-sufficient but needs a decision-making partner 

• Be the leader people come to when something is unclear, or needs escalating or judgment 

• Recruit, onboard, and develop staff in collaboration with People & Culture 

• Administer collective agreements and manage labour relations matters professionally 

• Provide coaching and feedback; address performance issues in a timely and respectful manner 

• Model respectful and inclusive workplace behaviour through a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, including Indigenous ways of being, ensuring these principles are embedded in all the work we do 

Financial Management 

• Develop and manage the departmental budget in collaboration with the Senior Director of Finance & Administration 

• Track and report on expenditures against budget monthly; identify variances and recommend corrective action 

• Ensure GL codes and budget-to-actual reporting are current and accurate in the Gallery's financial system 

• Oversee procurement of supplies and services within established budgets 

• Manage vendor relationships proactively, including payment prioritization and issue escalation 

Strategic Planning & New Gallery Development 

• Contribute to long-term facilities planning and capital project scoping as the Gallery prepares for a new building 

• Provide technical and operational input on new building design, equipment requirements, systems planning, and staffing models 

• Identify and implement sustainable, innovative practices across facilities and security operations 

• Support the Senior Director in preparing materials for leadership and board-level discussion on facilities strategy 

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE ROLE 

You have at least seven (7) years of progressive experience in facilities, building operations, or a related field, including meaningful leadership experience in a complex, public-facing organization. You have worked in or alongside unionized environments and understand how to build credibility with trades and operational staff. 

More than your credentials, we are looking for someone who is curious, practical, and relationship driven. You document what you find, communicate clearly with people at every level, and take pride in leaving things better than you found them. 

• Minimum three (3) years in a people management role, preferably with unionized staff 

• Demonstrated experience modernizing processes or systems in a facilities or operations context 

• Strong knowledge of building systems including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and life safety 

• Comprehensive knowledge of WorkSafe BC, WHMIS, and OHS requirements; active JOHSC experience is a strong asset 

• Experience managing vendor relationships and holding contractors accountable to specifications 

• Financial literacy: ability to build, manage, and report on departmental budgets 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present ideas and recommendations clearly to non-technical audiences 

• University degree in business administration, engineering, facilities management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience 

• Facilities Management Professional (FMP) designation or Fifth Class Power Engineering Certification is a strong asset 

• Experience in a museum, heritage building, or cultural institution is an asset 

• Experience contributing to capital or new building projects is an asset 

COMPENSATION AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This is an excluded (non-unionized), permanent full-time position based at the Vancouver Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver. 
 

Salary: $105,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience and education. 

WHAT WE PROVIDE FOR YOU  

The Vancouver Art Gallery wants you to be your best.  We provide full-time and regular part-time employees with extended medical and dental coverage, long-term disability and life insurance, joint employer/employee pension contributions and generous vacation entitlements.   

Our Values   

The Vancouver Art Gallery commits to five core values that guide all that we do:   

• We are respectful of the unceded Indigenous territory upon which we are situated   

• We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment   

• We believe that curiosity is a pathway to innovation   

• We establish clear goals and expectations to cultivate a culture of accountability   

• We foster successful collaboration through thoughtful communication and active listening   

The Vancouver Art Gallery is situated on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations. We offer a welcoming, team-based office culture, and we are committed to providing equitable access to everyone.  We actively support accessibility, anti-racism, LGBTQ2S+ inclusion, and encourage diversity in our staff, volunteers, visitors, and programming. We cultivate a safer space where all voices are heard, valued and represented.    

More About the Vancouver Art Gallery   

Founded in 1931, the Vancouver Art Gallery is recognized as one of North America’s most innovative visual arts institutions. The Gallery’s celebrated exhibitions, extensive public programs and emphasis on advancing scholarship all focus on historical and contemporary art from British Columbia and around the world. Special attention is given to the accomplishments of Indigenous artists, as well as to those of the Asia Pacific region through the Centre for Global Asias (formerly the Institute of Asian Art) founded in 2014. The Gallery’s exhibitions also explore the impact of images in the larger sphere of visual culture, design and architecture.   

The Gallery’s new Art of Wellbeing Lab furthers its commitment to community by promoting the role of art in fostering health and wellbeing. Developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers and Indigenous Elders, the lab creates opportunities for individuals to engage with art in ways that support mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.   

The Vancouver Art Gallery is a charitable not-for-profit organization supported by its members, individual donors, corporate funders, foundations, the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.