The Strategic Operations Facilities Manager – North is responsible for the comprehensive management of all facility, operational, and physical infrastructure functions across five Gulf Distributing Holdings locations: Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, Alexandria, and Jackson MS. This role partners closely with the Building Services Manager, Director of Strategic Operations, General Managers, Operations Managers, and the broader Strategic Operations team to establish and sustain the highest standards of facility cleanliness, safety, code compliance, preventive maintenance, vendor management, and continuous improvement across all assigned beverage distribution sites. The Facilities Manager North is accountable for the condition and functionality of every square foot under GDH management, i.e. warehouse floors, office spaces, grounds, ingress/egress corridors, and all supporting systems.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and General Management
- Supports operational teams across all GDH locations through open and clear communication and a commitment to collaborative management.
- Partners with General Managers and department managers to develop consistent facility standards, accountability frameworks, and improvement plans across all five sites.
- Serves as the primary point of contact for all facility-related matters across GDH sites, escalating capital needs, compliance risks, and critical maintenance issues to the Building Systems Manager.
- Performs all work activities in accordance with safe work practices, GDH policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
Warehouse Facility Management
- Maintains proper beverage storage conditions including cleanliness, lighting, temperature ranges, humidity control, and ventilation standards throughout all warehouse areas.
- Ensure pallet racking systems are inspected regularly, load-rated appropriately, and compliant with OSHA racking standards, coordinates repairs or replacements promptly.
- Oversee material handling equipment maintenance and certification across all locations.
- Oversee cooler and cold storage equipment maintenance, calibration, and emergency repair protocols, including refrigerant handling in compliance with minimum industry standards.
- Oversees warehouse floor integrity including surface coatings, slip-resistance, painted aisle markings, safety striping, and signage.
- Oversee compressed air system maintenance, including compressors, lines, fittings, and pressure safety compliance.
- Oversees forklift charging stations, fueling areas, and DEF/fuel island equipment maintenance where applicable.
- Ensures trailer yard cleanliness, drainage, lighting, and surface conditions are always maintained.
- Maintains pest control contracts and conducts regular inspections to prevent infestations, particularly in proximity to food and beverage product storage.
Office and Common Area Facility Management
- Oversee HVAC system maintenance, filter changes, seasonal tune-ups, and emergency repair response for all office and common areas.
- Maintain plumbing maintenance including restrooms, break rooms, water heaters, and backflow prevention device inspections.
- Maintain electrical systems, lighting (including LED upgrade initiatives), panel inspections, and emergency lighting/exit sign compliance.
- Coordinates janitorial services contracts, establishes cleanliness standards, and conducts regular inspection audits across all locations.
- Oversees furniture, fixtures, and general office condition; manages repair or replacement requests.
- Ensures ADA compliance for all office, restroom, and public-facing areas across all five locations.
- Oversee key control and electronic access systems, ensuring proper credentialing, audit trails, and quarterly access reviews.
Grounds, Exterior, and Landscape Management
- Maintain landscaping service contracts covering lawn maintenance, weed control, mulching, seasonal plantings, and general curb appeal standards.
- Maintain irrigation system operation, seasonal adjustments, backflow preventer testing, and repair coordination.
- Maintain exterior lighting across all properties including building-mounted fixtures, pole lights, and perimeter security lighting.
- Maintain exterior building conditions including façade, paint, caulking, windows, and overhead door exteriors.
- Maintain parking lot condition, including asphalt/concrete surface integrity, crack sealing, re-stripping, speed bump maintenance, and wheel stops.
- Maintain stormwater drainage systems, catch basins, and retention areas to prevent flooding and maintain environmental compliance.
- Maintain fencing, perimeter gates, and exterior signage maintenance and replacement.
- Coordinates seasonal services as applicable (pressure washing, debris removal, post-storm cleanup, etc.).
- Maintain all gate systems (manual and automated), access control hardware, and intercom or remote entry devices.
- Ensures security camera systems are operational, properly aimed, and recorded footage is retained per GDH policy, coordinates maintenance and upgrades.
- Enforces pedestrian/vehicle separation zones, painted safety corridors, and signage for safe traffic flow throughout facility grounds.
- Maintain visitor check-in facilities where present, ensuring proper condition and functionality.
- Coordinates with local fire authorities and GMs to ensure emergency access routes are unobstructed and properly marked at all times.
Code Compliance, Permits, and Regulatory Standards
- Maintains certificates of occupancy, building permits, and ensures all modification or renovation work is properly permitted and inspected.
- Oversee fire suppression system (sprinkler) inspections, extinguisher certifications, fire alarm testing, and fire suppression hood servicing in compliance with NFPA standards and local authority.
- Ensures OSHA compliance for the physical facility, including machine guarding, electrical safety, hazardous material storage, emergency exit signage, and slip/fall prevention programs.
- Oversee environmental compliance including EPA regulations for refrigerant handling, fuel/oil storage, waste disposal, and stormwater permits where applicable.
- Coordinates with the strategic operations leadership, legal department, SVP, Operations Managers, and General Managers to ensure compliance with all supplier and regulatory requirements for warehouse functions.
- Maintains up-to-date facility compliance calendars for all five locations, tracking permit renewals, inspection due dates, and certification expirations.
- Maintains emergency generator testing, fuel levels, and transfer switch maintenance to ensure backup power readiness at all sites.
Vendor and Contractor Management
- Identifies, vets, and manages service contracts for all facility-related vendors including, pest control, janitorial, landscaping, waste removal, security systems, fire protection, and material handling equipment.
- Solicits competitive bids for facility services and capital projects; prepares scopes of work, evaluates proposals, and presents recommendations to the Building Systems Manager & Director of Strategic Operations.
- Monitors vendor performance against contractual obligations, quality standards, and SLAs; manages corrective action processes for underperforming vendors.
- Maintains accurate vendor contact lists, contract files, insurance certificates (COI), and service records for all GDH locations.
- Build relationships with local vendors and contractors in each market to ensure rapid response capability and competitive pricing.
Preventive Maintenance Programs
- Develops, implements, and manages a comprehensive preventive maintenance (PM) calendar across all GDH locations, covering all services.
- Tracks all PM activities, inspection results, corrective work orders, and facility history using appropriate facility management tools.
- Conducts regular building assessments including roofing inspections, gutter cleaning, caulking integrity, and waterproofing; coordinates repairs before deficiencies escalate.
- Ensures all facility certifications, third-party inspection reports, and service documentation are filed, current, and accessible for audit at all times.
Special Projects and Capital Planning
- Coordinates facility improvement projects as directed by the Director of Strategic Operations & Building Systems Manager, including layout reconfigurations, lighting upgrades (LED conversions), flooring replacements, expansions, and equipment installs.
- Oversees project timelines, contractor coordination, budget tracking, and post-completion inspections for all assigned facility projects.
- Leads cross-location standardization initiatives to ensure consistent facility appearance, safety standards, and operational practices across all GDH sites.
- Evaluates energy efficiency and sustainability opportunities including solar, LED, HVAC upgrades, and water conservation across GDH facilities.
Supervision
- Reports directly to the Building Services Manager, and indirectly to the Director of Strategic Operations, SVP, Executive Team, and family ownership.
- Provides clear expectations and regular coaching to all supervised vendors.
Learning Organization and Staff Training
- Actively participates in internal and external training opportunities related to facilities management, safety, code compliance, and operational best practices.
- Exhibits enthusiasm for learning, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
Community Partnership
Follows & represents GDH Mission and Values at work, and within the community at all times.
Technology
Effectively use Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and operations management software including Coast & VIP. Leverages facility and work order management tools to track PM schedules, vendor contracts, inspection records, and project status across all five locations.
- Preferred bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Facilities Management, Engineering, Logistics, or another industry-related field.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in facilities management, operations management, or a combination thereof; multi-site management experience in a distribution, logistics, or beverage industry environment strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing facility vendors and service contracts across multiple locations including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, pest control, janitorial, and landscaping.
- Working knowledge of building systems, life safety systems (fire suppression, alarm), OSHA physical facility standards, EPA environmental compliance, and local building code requirements.
- Experience with preventive maintenance program development and facility inspection protocols.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated experience with transportation management and operations software; prior use of VIP or similar package preferred.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing concurrent priorities across geographically dispersed facilities with minimal supervision.
- Valid driver’s license in state of residence, current auto insurance, and willingness to travel regularly across the North Region. Must be able to pass a background check, MVR, and drug screen.
- Work effectively with internal and external stakeholders including vendors, contractors, GMs, and executive leadership.
- Communicate professionally to various internal and external audiences in person, by phone, and through electronic media.
- Build and maintain strong vendor and contractor relationships across multiple markets.
- Manage budgets, bids, and capital expenditure requests.
- Effectively manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously across five locations.
WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Frequently (50%+ of time) required to walk, stand, and conduct physical facility inspections across warehouse, office, and outdoor areas.
- Occasionally required to sit; use hands to operate tools, controls, or equipment; and reach with hands and arms.
- Frequently (50%+ of time) lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, and depth perception for facility inspections.
- Occasionally (less than 25% of time) exposed to moving mechanical equipment, vehicle traffic, fumes, airborne particles, and varying outdoor weather conditions during grounds and exterior inspections.
- Frequent travel (more than 50% of time) across all five North Region GDH locations: Mobile, Milton, Panama City, Gulfport, and Dothan.
- Occasional (less than 25% of time) weekend and/or after-hours work required for facility emergencies, vendor access, or project milestones.
