Director of Safety & Facilities — Housing

SCI, the Leader in Real Estate Executive Search®, has been retained by one of the Chicago area's largest non-profit, community-focused owners and operators of high-quality affordable seniors housing to recruit a Director of Safety & Facilities.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this role owns security operations and life-safety compliance across our client's 22 housing locations — keeping tenants, staff, and visitors safe while preserving the welcoming environment residents count on. Our client is committed to giving residents best-in-class communities to call home, so the ideal candidate pairs deep security and risk-management expertise with genuine care, recognizing that safety is the foundation everything else is built on.

What you'll do

• Supervise and coordinate third-party security providers across all 22 housing locations
• Manage building access systems, security equipment maintenance, and vendor relationships
• Oversee resident security compliance per lease agreements, and resolve security complaints and access issues
• Own life-safety systems — lighting, signage, accessibility, fire prevention, and emergency equipment
• Develop and communicate emergency plans and evacuation procedures, and run life-safety training and drills
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations through regular safety audits and corrective action
• Respond to emergency calls and incidents while upholding confidentiality and company policies
• Monitor and control security budgets, review and approve invoices, and flag discrepancies to finance
• Assess how program or resident changes affect safety, and implement strategies that continually optimize building security

What you bring

• 8–10 years of experience in security operations or life-safety compliance
• Bachelor's degree in Security Management, Safety Management, Facilities Management, or equivalent experience
• Strong knowledge of emergency planning, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• A strategic thinker with a track record of operational excellence in safety and risk management