Facilities Director

Short summary

The College of Europe is seeking applications for the position of Facilities Director (100 % FTE), managing the Facilities Office at its Bruges campus starting as soon as possible.

About the College: Welcome to the laboratory of European integration

The College of Europe, established on the initiative of the Hague Congress, dates back to 1949 and is the oldest postgraduate institute of European Studies. The founding idea was to establish an institution where university graduates from many different European countries could study and live together in preparation for careers related to European cooperation and integration.

For more information about the College, please visit our website.

The Role

Based in Bruges, the Facilities Director will be reporting directly to the Rector, managing the Facilities team in Bruges and providing guidance and support to the Facilities team in Tirana (branch of the Bruges Campus). In the performance of their role, the Facilities Director aims at creating an optimal study and work environment, by overseeing the organisation of a wide range of general, technical, catering, and housekeeping services, in close cooperation with other College services.

The main tasks and responsibilities of the Facilities Director will include:

  • Oversee and coordinate all aspects of the Facilities Office’s operations, including staffing, budgeting, and day-to-day activities.
  • Manage a team of around 50 employees (blue- and white-collar), grouped in 4 units: general services, catering, housekeeping, and technical services.
  • Develop a long-term infrastructure strategy and ensure sustainability alignment.
  • Execute, coordinate, follow-up, and implement running projects within the office, including ongoing renovation projects.
  • Maintain and manage all the College buildings (including administrative buildings and student residences) from an infrastructural, safety, security, and sustainability point of view.
  • Ensure compliance with Belgian building codes, health & safety requirements, and environmental regulations, in collaboration with the Prevention Advisor.
  • Build and manage relationships with suppliers, service providers, and local authorities.
  • Prepare and support public procurement procedures in line with applicable public procurement rules, in collaboration with the Legal Advisor.
  • Provide advice and guidance to the Coordinators in the Facilities team in their day-to-day activities, empowering them to maintain the highest level of service to the College community.
  • Ensure harmonised standards and processes across the Bruges Campus and Tirana branch.
  • Provide structured support to the Tirana branch Facilities team, including regular on‑site visits and remote strategic guidance.

Your Profile

For the position of Facilities Director, the College is looking for candidates with:

  • A postgraduate degree, ideally in a technical/engineering field;
  • Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in an international and/or educational environment, including: 
    • People management, from recruitment and professional development to ensuring safe and healthy work conditions and team well-being and; and
    • Facilities management, from daily maintenance and compliance to leading renovation/construction projects. 
  • Experience with public procurement procedures is considered an asset.
  • Excellent command of English and Dutch, with a good knowledge of French;
  • Full digital literacy, including familiarity with maintenance software and basic data skills;
  • Service-oriented, proactive and cooperative approach, towards all members of the College community;
  • Outstanding analytical and organisational skills, with an eye for detail; 
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, with respect for deadlines;
  • Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a diverse team;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Our offer

  • A pleasant and stimulating international working environment;
  • An employment contract under Belgian law of indefinite duration;
  • A competitive remuneration;
  • A comprehensive benefits package including the legal holiday pay and an end-of-year bonus, meal vouchers, a transportation allowance, hospitalisation insurance, and a group insurance;
  • Legal holidays plus two extra public holidays (9th of May and 11th of July) and eight closing days during the winter break;
  • A telework policy (up to two days per week) and allowance;
  • An invaluable opportunity to contribute to a renowned project of European integration.

How to apply

Applications in English, comprising a detailed CV (max. 2 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 1 page) should be submitted by 30 April 2026 to the HR Office at recruitment.be@coleurope.eu, mentioning “Facilities Director” in the subject line.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

Envisaged start date: as soon as possible.

For further information on the position, please contact Steven De Ruysscher, current Facilities Director at steven.de_ruysscher@coleurope.eu. For HR related questions, please contact Julie Favril, HR Co-Director at recruitment.be@coleurope.eu.

 

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By submitting your application, you consent to have your personal data processed for the purpose of recruitment and the specific position you are applying for. You acknowledge that your data, as well as data we receive from academic institutions we can contact for verification purposes, will be processed by the College of Europe, the members of the selection committee appointed by the College of Europe related to this recruitment process. All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and in line with the current data processing regulations. For more information on how we use the information you have provided and how to exercise your rights, please see our privacy notice for recruitment (https://www.coleurope.eu/privacy).

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The College of Europe is committed to equal treatment and opportunity. It aims to reflect the diversity of our society and to offer an inclusive work and study environment for all members of its community. Consistent with these goals, the Bruges campus has a zero-tolerance policy for any acts against the dignity and integrity of individuals, whether in the form of discrimination, bullying, harassment, stalking, violence, or sexual misconduct. Candidates are therefore recruited and selected on the basis of skills and experience, regardless of sex, age, ability, ethnicity, class and background, political belief, race, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, culture, or any other grounds.