Founded in 1952, Norwood School is a coeducational, independent day school with approximately 450 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The School sits on 38 beautiful and expansive acres in Bethesda, Maryland, less than six miles from Washington, D.C. As one of the finest PK-8 schools in the country, Norwood sets the bar high and is committed to educating the whole child in a diverse, student-centered, challenging, and nurturing environment, which continually promotes equity, inclusion and cultural competence.
Norwood’s child-centered education and its very intentional emphasis on being a happy place of learning create an environment where each individual child is loved, nurtured, challenged, and truly known. As a result, children flourish at Norwood. They love learning; they are creative and critical thinkers. They are confident in who they are, and they feel safe taking risks. They are kind and caring people, who, fueled by our motto, How you lead your life matters, make helping others a priority in their lives. At the end of their eighth grade year, our graduates leave Norwood exceptionally well prepared for high school and empowered to make positive contributions to our world.
The Director of Facilities is responsible for all aspects of properly maintaining, running, and improving the buildings and grounds of Norwood School on both a short-term and long-term basis, overseeing all major capital improvement projects, oversight of both logistics and event execution, and for contributing to overall strategic vision for campus. The Director of Facilities will serve as main point of contact for facilities-related concerns both during and outside of regular business hours. The Director of Facilities will oversee approximately 3 maintenance staff members, work closely with the janitorial staff, and collaborate closely with the Director of Finance & Operations, the Head of School, and the Site and Facilities Committee of the Board to manage, maintain, and improve the campus of Norwood.
Job Responsibilities:
General
- Manage regular maintenance and upkeep of all school facilities (both buildings and grounds) and school-owned properties, including housing
- Supervise all buildings, grounds, and janitorial personnel and contractors
- Negotiate and oversee all buildings and grounds contracts and manage contracted labor, including those related to capital improvement
- Oversee all budgets related to physical plant including those for facilities/grounds maintenance, utilities, and capital improvements
- Lead compliance efforts regarding local, state and Federal regulations
- Manage logistics for school related campus events
- Create and maintain facilities and grounds-related policies and procedures, and ensure appropriate compliance by both Norwood staff and contractors
- Perform other duties assigned by Director of Finance & Operations or Head of School
Facilities Management
- Develop and implement short- and long-term strategies for the operation and maintenance needs of the School
- Assist in developing and implement the operating budget for the Operation & Maintenance Department
- Seek quotes and bids for purchases authorized in the Operations & Maintenance budget
- Oversee scheduling and implementation of Operations & Maintenance budget request
- Track the monthly, quarterly and yearly Operations & Maintenance financial report
- Make authorized purchases as necessary to complete budget requests
- Review and approve invoices for work completed or purchases made using Business Office Procedures
Personnel Management
- Supervise the school maintenance and the janitorial staffs
Utilities
- Coordinate school utility services
- Oversee service, installations, repairs and upgrades for gas service, electric service, water and sewer service
- Review and approve invoices for purchases made or work completed using business office procedures
Regulatory Programs
- Responsible for the school’s Regulatory Compliance Program
- Keep records and files on applicable Federal, State, County Regulations
- Keep records and files on applicable OSHA and MOSHA Regulations
- Keep records and files on applicable EPA regulations
- Keep records and files on applicable Fire and Rescue Regulations
- Assure that we are in ADA Compliance where applicable
- Process any necessary applications and permits required in the operations and maintenance area
- Schedule any necessary repair or maintenance work needed to comply with the regulatory areas or reports listed above.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as engineering or management preferred; or an equivalent combination of progressively responsible experience and training
- Minimum of five to ten years progressively responsible experience managing facilities in a school or similar campus environment
- Demonstrable record of successfully working with internal and external service providers to achieve timely, efficient, high-quality maintenance, repair, renovation, and construction work
- Experience and success working with architects, zoning and other regulatory officials, engineers, construction firms, and project managers
- Strong administrative/leadership experience, ideally in managing contractors and buildings and grounds personnel
- Tactful, skillful oral and written communicator; professional demeanor across a variety of settings and audiences
- Understanding of facilities systems, such as mechanical, electrical, HVAC; and knowledge of standard practices, materials, tools, and terminology of facilities trades, such as carpentry, masonry, grounds/landscaping, and housekeeping
- Skillful at managing people and complex projects; but also willing/able to lead by example and to perform routine maintenance tasks and use basic equipment, machinery, tools, and materials as needed
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies and a diverse, multi-lingual workforce, with ability to communicate in Spanish preferred
- Computer proficiency to include use of e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, and computerized facilities management systems; Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word and Excel) preferred.
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including work developing, managing, and projecting capital and operating budgets
- Needed personal and professional traits to include:
- Professional demeanor and presentation appropriate to the work at hand
- Ability to visualize big picture, attend to detail, and achieve results
- Solutions-oriented and industrious problem solver
- Proactive, optimistic, and positive attitude
- Good sense of humor, ability to smile; balanced perspective; patience
- High degree of integrity and trustworthiness
- Able and willing to work a flexible full-time schedule, possibly including evenings and weekends
- Ability and willingness to meet physical demands of the position
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Matthew Gould, Head of School, at mgould@norwoodschool.org. No phone calls, please.
Norwood School does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.