Job Description

Executive Director, Physical Facilities and Capital Projects
Banff Centre exists to inspire artists and leaders to make their unique contribution to society and aspires to be the global leader in arts, culture, and creativity. Founded in 1933 and located in Banff National Park, on Treaty 7 land, Banff Centre's history is comprised of the stories of some of the most iconic and outstanding artists and leaders from Canada and around the world who have helped forge the Canadian cultural identity.
In January 2009, Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education and Technology confirmed a mandate for Banff Centre as a specialized Arts and Culture Institution providing non-parchment, post-secondary education programs in the arts and creativity, as well as in leadership development, mountain culture, and the environment. As Canada's leading post-graduate arts institution, Banff Centre offers intensive training and career development programs for emerging and established artists across all artistic disciplines, including opera, music, dance, film and media, mountain culture, visual arts, and Indigenous arts. As a champion of arts and creativity, Banff Centre Leadership programs prepare and empower leaders from a wide range of sectors to make an impact in a rapidly shifting world. Its programs integrate the power of the arts, the wisdom of Indigenous practice, and the extraordinary beauty of Banff National Park. Programs in the cultural, Indigenous, and corporate sectors connect participants with others who share their commitment to positive change in cultural institutions, Indigenous communities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government.
The Role: Executive Director, Physical Facilities and Capital Projects
The Executive Director, Physical Facilities and Capital Projects provides strategic leadership, oversight, and direction for the stewardship, maintenance, and development of the organization's physical plant. This role ensures that all facilities, buildings, grounds, and utilities systems are safe, reliable, and aligned with organizational goals, regulatory requirements, and long-term campus planning. The Executive Director leads a multi-disciplinary team responsible for preventative and corrective maintenance, capital project delivery, asset lifecycle management, and sustainability initiatives.
Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Works with The Leadership Group to ensure new and existing facilities align with organizational goals, asset management principles, and long-term campus development plans.
• Lead the creation and execution of multi-year capital plans, including prioritization, budgeting, and risk assessment.
• Provide executive-level guidance on infrastructure needs, energy management, sustainability practices, and operational efficiencies.

Advise senior leadership on facilities conditions, emerging risks, and opportunities to enhance organizational resilience.
Operations & Maintenance

• Oversee the planning, resourcing, and execution of preventative and corrective maintenance across all buildings, grounds, equipment, and utilities.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant building codes, safety standards, environmental regulations, and operational policies.
• Implement industry best practices for asset lifecycle management, work order systems, and maintenance standards.

Promote reliability, uptime, and safety through high-performing operational processes.
Capital Projects & Construction Management

• Lead all aspects of capital project delivery, including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, design management, and construction oversight.
• Oversee consultant and contractor relationships, ensuring projects meet quality, cost, and timeline expectations.
• Establish and maintain rigorous project governance, risk management, and reporting frameworks.

Ensure capital projects embody the organization's culture, values, aesthetic standards, and sustainability commitments.
Team Empowerment and Oversight

• Provide strong, values-based leadership to a diverse team of trades, technical, professional, and management staff.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and service excellence.
• Support workforce development, succession planning, and ongoing training to maintain high professional standards.
• Build collaborative relationships across departments to ensure seamless coordination of facilities activities.
• Recruit, lead, motivate, and mentor a diverse staff and set clear performance accountability measures.
• Influence and inspire others to act in an energetic, committed fashion in pursuit of a positive organizational culture.
• Ensure that the necessary policies, systems, safety responsibilities, and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
• Establish and manage division budgets, providing analysis, oversight, and administrative rigor to all areas of the division.
• Guide a regular process of staff review and evaluation that ensures the highest ethical standards in all division activities.
• Collaborate with Vice President, Talent, and Culture and the President & CEO to ensure the necessary organizational structure is in place and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
• Recruit and develop succession planning for key positions as needed.
• Provide executive oversight and foster a culture of empowered, high performing teams.
• Implement strategies for attracting, retaining, and developing top talent within the organization, ensuring a capable, diverse, motivated, and productive work environment.

Commit to leading a healthy work and learning environment free of harassment.
Financial Management

• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Optimize resource allocation through data-informed decision making and performance measurement.

Lead procurement and contract management processes for services, equipment, and capital works.
Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders and vendors on facilities and capital matters.
• Communicate complex technical information in clear, accessible ways to leadership, staff, and partners.
• Build relationships with regulatory agencies, consultants, community partners, and contractors.
• Support organizational programming and operations by ensuring high-quality facility support and responsiveness.

Works with area leaders to ensure facilities meet current standards within specialized industries (e.g. galleries and performance spaces).
Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Foster collaboration between different departments to ensure smooth communication and efficient workflows, ultimately leading to improved overall performance.

Identify opportunities for improving communication processes, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing productivity across the organization.
Risk Management
Identify potential brand and reputational risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards.
Change Management
Lead organizational changes, restructures, process reengineering efforts, ensuring seamless transitions, and maintaining operational continuity.
Resource Management

• Oversee resource allocation, including budgeting, staffing, and allocation of assets, to achieve optimal utilization and meet strategic goals.

Budget Management: Develop budgets and forecasts as per established deadlines while meeting targets, managing the budget for marketing and communication activities, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

• Support the development and implementation of strategies to promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and access across Banff Centre.
• Support team members participating in training session to educate on unconscious bias, cultural competency, and other diversity-related development processes.
• Conduct and support assessments of workplace accessibility for employees, participants and guests with disabilities and determine and implement improvements as required.
• Ensure work environment is welcoming and progressive for members of diverse and Indigenous Communities.
• Design, implement and monitor Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Actions where appropriate.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Facilities Management, Business Administration, or related field. A master's degree is an asset.
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in facilities management, capital project delivery, and/or operations in a complex, multi-building environment.
Demonstrated success managing large capital projects, budgets, and infrastructure portfolios.
Strong knowledge of building systems, construction practices, asset management, and regulatory requirements.
Exceptional leadership, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
Ability to develop long-term strategies while managing day-to-day operational demands.
Express Your Enthusiasm
Banff Centre offers a comprehensive compensation package with a competitive and equitable salary, professional development opportunities, and subsidized fitness membership, among other benefits. The Banff Centre offers extended health and dental insurance, life insurance, vacation time, and participation in an employer-matched pension plan. The quality of life in Banff and surrounding communities is simply extraordinary. Note: this position includes housing.
Application Process
We are accepting cover letters and tailored resumes for the Executive Director, Physical Facilities and Capital Projects until a suitable candidate is found. Candidates offered a position with Banff Centre, in this capacity, will be required to obtain a criminal record check verifying a clear record before a final job offer can be finalized.

Skills Required