SMS Assist Summary

At SMS Assist, we’re not just in the business of fixing properties—we’re fixing an entire industry. Typically, facilities maintenance is tough work—both in the nature of the job (plumbing, HVAC, snow removal) and the lack of clarity throughout the experience. We decided a better way wasn’t only possible, but essential. Through our award-winning technology platform, built and powered by SMSers, we connect local contractors to our customers and help manage an experience that surpasses expectations. 

Recognized on Forbes’ Cloud 100 list, Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, Chicago Crain’s Top Tech Employers, and more, SMS Assist manages more than 186,000 properties where people live and work. Our customers’ livelihoods are in our hands—think a restaurant manager whose only fryer goes down on a busy Friday night or a family in Florida without power after a hurricane. We work across the industries that make up your community, including retail, food service, banking, residential, and more, and we help them find the right provider in our network (we call them Affiliates) in more than 45 trades. 

We’re innovators, disruptors, and out-of-the-box thinkers. We set each other up for success in the office and for the perfect spike on the volleyball court during an intramural game. We’re community volunteers, karaoke partners, and lifelong friends. We’re passionate about the people we serve, and we give our all because we care. We want to make every property better, and we want your help to make it happen.

Job Summary

The Director of Disaster Relief and Environmental Safety is responsible for developing, planning and coordinating disaster relief and environmental safety responses for clients using internal SMS teams and our Affiliate base. They are responsible for designing and maintaining all related policies and processes and liaising with client senior leadership to implement.

Responsibilities

• Execute the departmental vision and strategy to support the achievement of business operating goals. Ensure the vision is clearly communicated to all members of the team and reinforce this on an ongoing basis to drive success
• Build effective Disaster Relief and Environmental Health and Safety capabilities to support client needs
• Take an active part in building and developing strong, results driven operational processes and functions to support clients Disaster Relief and EH&S needs
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and be open and flexible to change
• Collaborate with Affiliate management and clients to identify the best partners with which to work through Disaster Relief and EH&S situations
• Participate in communication updates with key clients; including presenting at client meetings, sharing appropriate reports, listening and understanding key client concerns etc
• Be the primary point of contact for client requests, communications and updates in a Disaster Relief or EH&S situation
• Maintain knowledge of EH&S legislation and best practice and maintain processes and practices accordingly
• Build trust with clients by interacting with teams to inspire confidence
• Build a team culture of accountability and success.
• Foster a positive team environment
• Ensure confidentiality of internal and external data
• Perform ad-hoc projects and other duties as assigned
• Travel upwards of 20%

Professional Skills

• Customer Service - Advanced
• Verbal Communication - Advanced
• Written Communication - Advanced
• Teamwork - Advanced
• Relationships - Advanced
• Negotiation - Advanced
• Organizational Awareness - Advanced
• Learning Agility - Advanced
• Analysis - Expert
• Problem Solving - Advanced
• Process Orientation - Advanced
• Prioritization - Advanced

Role Specific Skills

• Strategic thinker who can contribute to an operations strategy while also being tactical and hands on in the roll out of operational initiatives
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to quickly gain respect and trust of executives and other internal / external stakeholders
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Ability to make effective and persuasive presentations on complex topics to employees, clients and senior management and negotiate and motivate to take desired actions
• Strong project management skills
• Proactive, forward thinking
• Ability to address challenges in a constructive manner
• Influential collaborator

People Management Skills

• Advanced proficiency in all people management processes, including recruitment, performance management and reward
• Advanced proficiency in building, growing and developing a team; including department structure design and resourcing
• Advanced proficiency in coaching and developing individual team members to reach their potential
• Proficient in engaging multiple teams through communication, processes, personal impact and influence

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 5-7 years of related operational experience as an operations leader

Other Relevant Qualifications

• Experience in developing strategic solutions
• Experience leading a team in a high growth, complex environment

Please note, this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities, and schedule may change at any time with or without notice.

SMS Assist is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify and/or expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reasons prohibited by law.