Duties
Director of Facilities/Building & Grounds
ECHO Joint Agreement Special Education Cooperative
Reports to: Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
Supervises: Building Foremen, Custodial Supervisors, Maintenance Workers, Groundskeepers, and Custodians
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Oversight
- Provide strategic direction and daily management of facilities, grounds, custodial, and maintenance operations.
- Supervise, train, evaluate, and support facilities staff, fostering accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Develop and implement policies, procedures, and performance standards to maintain optimal learning environments.
- Attend leadership team, staff, and Board of Education meetings as needed; serve on school and district committees.
Facilities Operations & Maintenance
- Oversee cleaning, repair, and preventive maintenance across all buildings and grounds.
- Manage work order systems, ensuring timely response and completion of requests.
- Assign daily work schedules, coordinate vacation and replacement schedules, and validate staff attendance entries.
- Conduct scheduled inspections of facilities to evaluate the quality of building cleanliness, maintenance, and safety programs.
- Supervise installation of new plant equipment and maintenance of Building Management Automation Systems.
Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations (building codes, OSHA, ADA, fire/life safety, asbestos management, and environmental health standards).
- Maintain records of inspections, permits, asbestos documentation, and compliance reports.
- Oversee key and access control systems across all facilities.
- Lead emergency preparedness planning (fire drills, lockdowns, utility outages).
- Immediately advise administration of conditions that could threaten safety or adversely affect the educational process.
Capital Planning & Project Management
- Collaborate with leadership to develop and implement long-range facilities master plans.
- Coordinate new construction, renovations, and capital improvement projects, including budgeting, scheduling, and contractor/vendor management.
- Monitor project progress to ensure on-time, within-scope, and on-budget completion.
- Work with contractors to ensure quality and compliance in construction and renovation work.
Budget & Resource Management
- Develop, administer, and monitor the facilities budget, including custodial, maintenance, grounds, and capital expenditures.
- Partner with the Director of Finance/CSBO to secure competitive contracts, bids, and pricing for supplies, equipment, and services.
- Manage inventory systems and ensure safe, secure storage of all supplies and equipment.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and ensure efficient use of resources.
Collaboration & Communication
- Serve as a key advisor to the Superintendent and Board of Education regarding facility needs, conditions, and priorities.
- Collaborate with principals, staff, and community stakeholders to support program needs and facility use.
- Provide transparent updates on operations, projects, and safety measures.
- Maintain a positive, customer-service-oriented attitude while handling sensitive and confidential information.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Qualifications
Education & Experience
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- Bachelor’s degree in Business Management or Educational Leadership (preferred). Experience in Facilities Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3 years of progressive maintenance/facilities-related experience and supervisory experience (school or public agency experience preferred).
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience considered.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Expert knowledge of building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, fire alarms, carpentry, etc.), custodial practices, grounds care, and building security.
- Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings.
- Understanding of school safety standards, regulatory compliance, and environmental health requirements.
- Experience with Building Management Automation Systems.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and managerial skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills.
- Ability to analyze problems, develop action plans, and implement solutions.
- Commitment to education, equity, and district values.
Licenses/Certifications
- Valid Illinois driver’s license (or state equivalent) required.
- Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Educational Facilities Professional (EFP), or similar credential preferred.
- Certified Pool Operator (CPO) license preferred.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
- Year-round, full-time administrative position.
- Primarily on-site across Joint Agreement facilities; some evening, weekend, and on-call availability required.
- Physical demands include standing, walking, climbing ladders, and lifting/moving up to 50 pounds.
- Vision requirements include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- Work environment noise level can be moderate.
Additional Notes
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
- Year-round, full-time administrative position.
- Primarily on-site across Joint Agreement facilities; some evening, weekend, and on-call availability required.
- Physical demands include standing, walking, climbing ladders, and lifting/moving up to 50 pounds.
- Vision requirements include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- Work environment noise level can be moderate.