Deputy Director, Facilities Operations

This posting covers the County of Santa Clara. The location shown is the agency's own address; the work may be assigned anywhere in that area.

Description

Reimagine Facilities Leadership. Strengthen Public Service.

The County of Santa Clara is not just any government agency—it’s a premiere public agency known for its high standard of excellence, strategic leadership, and innovative thinking. With a population of more than 1.9 million residents, Santa Clara County is the largest of the nine Bay Area counties in Northern California, and larger than 12 states. With a workforce of more than 23,000 employees across 30+ departments, the County of Santa Clara delivers critical safety-net services in health, public safety, social services, housing, and more. Our organization is made up of public servants who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our community, and especially for those most in need.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the cornerstone of public healthcare in Santa Clara County, delivering compassionate, high quality, and accessible care to all residents regardless of ability to pay. As the largest public healthcare system in Northern California, SCVH provides world class services through Valley Medical Center, Regional Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and an extensive network of outpatient clinics. Every day, our teams advance health equity, safeguard community wellbeing, and serve as a critical safety net provider for the region.

We are seeking a dynamic, future focused leader to serve as the Deputy Director, Facilities Operations, overseeing the facility operations and infrastructure planning of Valley Medical Center and Regional Medical Center, two of the system’s most complex and essential hospitals. This is a rare opportunity to modernize a highly technical, mission critical environment and ensure that our facilities remain safe, resilient, and fully operational to support exceptional patient care.

Your Mission

Lead operational excellence, innovation, and long-range planning for facilities operations across the County’s diverse and mission-critical environments. In this leadership role, you will ensure facilities are safe, resilient, sustainable, and fully aligned with the County’s strategic priorities and community commitments.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Scale, Diversity, and Complexity: The County’s facilities portfolio spans hospitals, outpatient clinics, laboratories, administrative buildings, and multiple 24-hour operational environments. In this role, you will oversee an exceptionally broad and complex network of facilities and guide multidisciplinary teams across engineering, building systems, maintenance, environmental services, biomed engineering, telecom, low-voltage infrastructure, and more.
• Healthcare-Centered Scope: As part of one of California’s largest public healthcare systems, this role oversees operations in highly regulated, high-acuity environments where safety and reliability directly support patient care. You will work at the intersection of healthcare delivery and infrastructure stewardship, ensuring that critical hospital and clinical settings operate seamlessly around the clock.
• Strategic Executive Partnership: The position plays a pivotal role in shaping the County’s long-range facilities strategy. You will develop executive-level recommendations and help inform infrastructure investments that impact the daily lives of millions of residents. Your insights will influence decisions that define the County’s operational capabilities for years to come.
• Commitment to Equity and Community: Every facility under your responsibility will serve a community that depends on reliable, safe, and accessible public services. The role directly supports the County’s broader mission to advance equity, enhance access to care, and uphold the wellbeing of residents who rely on County hospitals, clinics, and essential services.

What You’ll Do

Operational and Strategic Leadership

• Plan, direct, and evaluate all activities of the division, ensuring seamless operations across multiple 24/7 facilities.
• Develop and implement policies, workflows, and management practices that elevate service quality and operational reliability.
• Lead long-range planning that anticipates the County’s infrastructure needs and informs capital and operational strategies.

Healthcare, Safety, and Engineering Excellence

• Oversee regulatory compliance in high-acuity healthcare environments.
• Guide engineering teams, EVS supervisors, low-voltage groups, biomed engineering staff, and telecom technicians.
• Ensure adherence to OSHA and healthcare facility standards.

People and Culture Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse, multidisciplinary team, including union-represented trades and technical staff.
• Foster a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, and customer service.
• Manage hiring, performance, discipline, and workforce planning within a public-sector environment.

Data, Technology, and Innovation

• Utilize enterprise maintenance management systems to drive data-informed decisions.
• Oversee lifecycle analyses, asset management, and cost-efficiency initiatives.
• Improve efficiency through modernization, process redesign, and technological adoption.

More About Our Competitive Executive Benefits

Strategic Financial and Retirement Benefits

• CalPERS pension with reciprocity across most California public agencies (2.5% @ 55 for Classic Members, 2% @ 62 for Non-Classic Members)
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan with both pre-tax and Roth options, up to IRS limits
• $325,000 in term life insurance plus $300,000 in accidental death and disability coverage
• Eligible employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

Executive-Level Health, Wellness, and Family Support

• Premium health insurance options (Kaiser, HealthNet, Valley Health Plan) with up to 96% County-paid coverage
• Fully covered dental (Delta or Liberty) and vision (VSP) plans for individuals and families
• Employee Assistance Program, Dependent Care Assistance, and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Access to wellness and leadership development programs designed to support executive performance and resilience

Leadership Mobility, Time Off, and Professional Growth

• 39 days of annual leave with a cash-out option, plus 13 paid holidays
• Relocation assistance to support seamless transitions
• Tuition reimbursement and internal executive development programs
• To learn more about benefits, check out our dedicated page

Ready to join the leadership team? Apply now.

Learn more about the County and the impact you can have as a leader.

Application Process and Key Dates

This recruitment will be open on a continuous basis until the position is filled. This recruitment may close or be extended as early as 10 days after posting. Early application is strongly encouraged. Please check the website regularly for updates.

Apply at:

What to include in your application:

1. Résumé
2. Cover Letter ( 3 pages)
   Describe why you are the ideal candidate, highlighting relevant leadership experience and accomplishments.

Next steps in the process:

Following mutual interest, a comprehensive background investigation and reference check will be conducted. Finalists will be asked to provide at least five professional references, with prior authorization obtained by Executive Services.

Questions regarding this Executive recruitment may be directed to Kendra Conrad, Executive Services at .

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Qualifications

What You Bring:

• Extensive facilities management experience in a large, complex public, or healthcare organization.
• Demonstrated leadership overseeing engineering, trades, and technical support teams.
• Strong background in healthcare facilities, including regulatory compliance, safety, and technical systems.
• Proven success working in unionized environments.
• Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, asset management, and capital planning.
• Ability to build trust with leadership, staff, clinicians, and stakeholders.

To view the full job specification, including the employment standards, click the link below:

What Success Looks Like:

In the first 6-12 months, you will:

• Strengthen engineering and facilities operations across healthcare and non-healthcare sites.
• Improve communication, trust, and service quality with internal stakeholders.
• Advance use of data, metrics, and reporting to inform decisions and prioritize needs.

In the long term, you will:

• Enhance reliability, safety, and performance of County facilities.
• Strengthen talent pipelines and develop future engineering and facilities leaders.
• Drive innovation, improve customer experience, and support major capital planning efforts.
• Build a facilities organization that is adaptable, resilient, and nationally recognized for excellence.

Why Join Us?:

• Play a pivotal role in sustaining the infrastructure that supports health, safety, justice, and community wellbeing.
• Influence the future of one of California's most impactful government organizations.
• Work alongside mission-driven leaders who believe in innovation, equity, and service.
• Be part of a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive workplace that values people and purpose.

Virtual Executive Insight Session: Deputy Director, Facilities Operations:

Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for County of Santa Clara is Philip Downs.