Director, General Administration (Joliet, IL)

Job Summary

The Manager, General Administration provides operational leadership for general administrative services that enable safe, compliant, and efficient business operations. The role ensures consistent delivery of business support services, oversees service providers such as security, janitorial, and building management, supports property and facilities-adjacent administration, and provides personnel supervision for assigned staff and/or coordination of vendor personnel where applicable. The position partners with cross-functional stakeholders to maintain service levels, manage vendor performance, resolve operational issues, and implement standards that support organizational continuity and employee experience.

Essential Functions

• Deliver reliable business support services that keep facilities and day-to-day administrative operations running effectively
• Oversee and coordinate service providers (including security, janitorial, and building management) to ensure contracted services meet defined expectations and service levels
• Support property and facilities-adjacent administration (e.g., space coordination, workplace services coordination, access/badging coordination where applicable) and ensure issues are triaged and escalated appropriately
• Implement and maintain procedures for general administration services, ensuring alignment with internal policies and site requirements
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Operations, HR, EHS, Finance, IT, Site Leadership) to prioritize needs, communicate service impacts, and coordinate solutions
• Track service performance (quality, timeliness, responsiveness), address recurring issues, and drive practical improvements to administrative workflows
• Ensure appropriate documentation, invoice routing/approvals (as assigned), and recordkeeping for administrative services and vendor interactions
• Promote a service-oriented culture focused on responsiveness, professionalism, safety, and problem resolution
• Own and direct operational plans for a general administration department that may include multiple teams led by managers/supervisors; ensure scalable business support services
• Execute functional strategy established by senior leadership; establish short- to mid-term (1-3 year) operational plans for administrative services and property support
• Lead complex, cross-department service transformations (vendor consolidations, service model redesign, major facility support changes) requiring extensive investigation and analysis
• Communicate with executive leadership on matters of significant importance; influence decisions regarding service standards, resourcing, and risk mitigation
• Build workforce/staffing plans; ensure leadership coverage, succession planning, and capability development across teams; oversee strategic vendor portfolio governance
• Other duties as assigned

Essential Functions (Continued)

Minimum education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree desirable, or equivalent experience
• 12+ years of relevant experience, including leadership of multiple teams and/or managers; demonstrated ownership of operational plans/strategies with short- to mid-term impact (1-3 years)
• Ability to lead complex, undefined issues requiring extensive analysis
• Capability to influence executive leadership and oversee department-wide vendor governance

Preferred Education and Experience Requirements

• Experience developing department-wide operating plans and service strategies (1-3 year horizon), including staffing models and governance cadences
• Track record influencing senior leaders to adopt new service standards, funding approaches, or risk mitigations
• Experience overseeing multiple vendor portfolios supporting property and workplace services

Language requirement

Travel Requirements