Director of Facilities and Preservation


Department: Facilities
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Onsite in Marfa, Texas

Overview
The Director of Facilities & Preservation serves as the primary steward and operational leader of Chinati’s physical environment, where historic buildings, land, and art are inextricably linked and cared for as integral components of the collection. Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the COO, this position balances daily, hands-on facilities management with forward-looking site strategy and capital project execution.

This position oversees the full range of day-to-day functionality, safety, and physical integrity of the grounds and historic structures, actively dealing with maintenance, climate controls, and mechanical repairs, while also directing external architects, engineers, and contractors on major preservation and construction initiatives. The Director manages a small facilities and grounds team and is considered an essential employee, maintaining on-call availability for site emergencies and extreme weather events. In 2027–2029 a capital restoration project will be taking place and the Director will play a major role in the oversight of this project.

General Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-Day Facilities & Operations

  • Oversee and actively participate in the daily operation, maintenance, and repair of all buildings, utilities, physical infrastructure, and grounds alongside the facilities crew.
  • Perform and oversee hands-on physical work, trade troubleshooting, and emergency repairs across carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and structural systems.
  • Monitor and maintain building climate systems (HVAC, humidity, and temperature controls) to meet standards for both structural preservation and collections care within historic spaces where possible.
  • Supervise, direct, and mentor the facilities and grounds team; establish daily priorities, schedule routine maintenance, and foster a safe, collaborative workplace; hold regular departmental meetings, provide constructive feedback, and remain accountable for the department’s work, including activities delegated to staff or consultants.
  • Serve as an emergency response point person, maintaining 24/7 on-call availability for urgent site, security, or weather-related events.
  • Assist with the development, testing, and execution of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan.
  • Ensure site compliance with safety standards, building codes, and ADA accessibility guidelines, adapting modern requirements sensitively to historic structures.
  • Model collaborative leadership by stepping into operational or administrative duties when circumstances require.
  • Perform other duties as necessary to ensure effective functioning of the organization.

Preservation & Capital Project Execution

  • Serve as the internal lead for all building and site preservation initiatives, ensuring repairs and alterations adhere to institutional and professional museum standards for historic structures.
  • Maintain physical maintenance logs, building condition reports, and records of structural alterations to preserve the archival history of the site.
  • Direct capital projects, building restorations, and site improvements from initial scope development through RFP issuance, bid negotiation, budgeting, and construction management.
  • Act as the primary institutional liaison with external professionals, including preservation architects, engineers, tradespeople, general contractors, municipal partners, and conservators.
  • Review architectural plans, construction documents, and cost estimates to ensure high quality, historical sensitivity, cost control, and timely delivery.

Strategy, Budgeting & Administration

  • Develop, monitor, and manage annual operating and capital budgets for facilities, maintenance, and capital projects in coordination with leadership and financial staff.
  • Monitor adjacent site conditions, environmental factors, and viewsheds to protect the historic setting and surrounding landscape.
  • Advise leadership on long-term physical site risks, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable maintenance practices.
  • Prepare reports and presentations for executive leadership and serve as the staff liaison to Board committees regarding facilities, physical assets, and site stewardship when necessary.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline; or equivalent professional experience (minimum 5–7 years) in facilities management, structural preservation, capital project leadership, or another related field; advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., IFMA CFM/FMP, PMP, OSHA 30-Hour, LEED AP, or state trade license) strongly preferred.
  • 7+ years of progressively responsible facilities management experience, including at least three years leading capital projects and supervising staff.
  • Solid understanding of historic preservation ethics, historic building materials, traditional construction methods, and basic hazardous material awareness (e.g., lead paint, asbestos mitigation in historic structures).
  • Practical, hands-on mechanical aptitude and general trade skills (carpentry, basic electrical, plumbing, HVAC diagnostics, etc) with a strong commitment to working directly in the field.
  • Proven ability to manage capital builds, draft RFPs, negotiate contracts, manage project budgets (hard and soft costs), and oversee third-party contractors within deadline.
  • Strong computer skills, including familiarity with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
  • Ability to read and interpret architectural and construction drawings (AutoCAD drafting skills is a plus).
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to lead a small crew, collaborate across departments, and interact effectively with artists, board members, donors, and consultants.
  • Valid driver’s license required. 
  • Physical capacity to navigate varied terrain, climb ladders, inspect roofs/crawlspaces, lift materials, and work outdoors in all weather conditions. 
  • Conversational fluency in Spanish is preferred.

Terms
This is a regular, full-time, exempt, onsite position in Marfa, Texas with some travel required. Regular work hours are 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Other weekend, holiday, and evening and emergency response hours are required as needed.

The compensation for this role is $95,000 to $105,000 per year. Chinati provides a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, paid time off and an employer sponsored 403(b) retirement plan. Chinati is a qualified employer for the public service loan forgiveness program.

To Apply 
Email a cover letter and resume to jobs@chinati.org. 

EOE Statement
The Chinati Foundation is a proud equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for all positions without regard to age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, genetic information, familial or veteran status, unemployment status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, Chinati will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. Applicants must be authorized to work for an employer in the U.S. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas at this time.

About The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati
In 1986, the artist Donald Judd (1928–1994) established The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati in Marfa, Texas, as a site for the permanent installation of large-scale works of art. It was Judd’s goal to bring art, architecture, and land together to form a coherent whole, and for a select group of artists to present work according to their own intentions. As an artist-created and artist-centered foundation, Chinati’s mission is to care for its collection and present it to a broad public; to build community and support artists through public programs, artist residencies, educational activities, and exhibitions; and to steward the architecture and the land that Judd conceived as integral to Chinati.