Forest Hills, New York
Chicago, IL
Cohasset or Kettle River or Mountain Iron, Minnesota
On the road, West Virginia
Amherst, Massachusetts
Seminole, Oklahoma
Posted: 26-May-23
Location: Forest Hills, New York
Type: Full Time
Salary: $90,000 - $110,000 per annum
Salary Details:
The Kew-Forest School, a PS-12 co-educational day school founded in 1918 in Forest Hills, NY, seeks an experienced and dynamic individual to serve as Director of Facilities. Kew-Forest is proud to enroll an astonishingly diverse student body representative of Queens and New York City, including approximately nine percent of whom are international students. The Kew-Forest School promotes diversity in its hiring process and is committed to supporting its inclusive community by hiring culturally diverse faculty and staff to work with our equally diverse students, families, and employees. The Director of Facilities reports to the Head of School and is an integral member of the School’s eleven-member senior leadership team. The Director of Facilities manages all facilities and operations related activities and is a collaborative and strategic partner with the Head of School and Board of Trustees’ Buildings & Grounds Committee.
The Director of Facilities (DFac) oversees the maintenance, repair, and operations of The Kew-Forest School and manages the buildings and grounds crew. The DFac also advises and collaborates with the Director of Finance and Director of Safety and Security in matters relating to school operations and related budgeting.
The Kew-Forest School is embarking on an exciting new chapter as it enters its 106th year of operation. In June 2022, The Kew-Forest School began the process of creating a new Campus Master Plan to reimagine and restructure the campus. Short-term upgrades to the school will be completed in the next few months, and long-term changes will then be contemplated. The school is also at the half-way point of a five-year strategic plan, which includes goals to enhance The Kew-Forest School's student-centered program; foster school identity and community; support the people who inspire students; discover The Kew-Forest School world; and build a durable and sustainable financial future. These goals are aimed at ensuring that The Kew- Forest School will continue to inspire students through its next 100 years, and the individual who becomes our next Director of Facilities must be energetic, creative, imaginative, and thoughtful in their approach to maximizing the School’s physical resources, as they will play a pivotal role in its future success.
Responsibilities Include:
- Ensuring campus buildings and grounds are well maintained;
- Overseeing day-to-day campus operations and events, in collaboration with Director of Finance and other members of the Admin team;
- Managing building and grounds staff, including scheduling, training, and evaluation;
- Ensuring that electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other essential systems and equipment are monitored, cleaned, inspected, and maintained on a regular schedule;
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive facilities maintenance and repair program that meets the needs of the school and complies with relevant regulations and standards;
- Ensuring that safety standards and procedures are implemented, communicated, and followed;
- Ensuring compliance with Federal, State and Local government regulations, including ISO, OSHA, EPA, FDNY, DOB, DOH, NFPA, and Permit Office;
- Tracking and maintaining accident reports and making recommendations for accident prevention;
- Maintaining accurate records of maintenance and repair activities, including work orders, inspections, and inventories;
- Developing and maintaining strong, positive relationships with outside vendors and officials in Forest Hills and the borough of Queens;
- Identifying, purchasing, and retaining supplies and equipment for the operation and maintenance of buildings and grounds, and maintaining an inventory control system for equipment and supplies;
- Managing contracted services to ensure compliance with contractual agreements and budgetary restrictions;
- Planning for future maintenance needs of buildings, grounds, and equipment to minimize disruptions to the successful operation of the school;
- Working closely with Head of School and Director of Finance to identify and prioritize needs and develop comprehensive plans to address them;
- Assisting with plans for renovation of current structures or addition of new structures;
- Maintaining complete records, diagrams, surveys, and maps of school buildings, grounds, and utility systems;
- Acting as a member of the emergency planning and incident management team and ensuring that necessary policies and procedures are in place, communicated, and executed;
- Overseeing the management of facilities and event requests from school departments and the fulfillment of such requests in a timely manner;
- Represent the School at OATH (DOB) hearings as may be needed;
- Interacting and articulately communicating with members of the school community, and providing facilities-related support as needed.
Desired Experience and Quailfications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree preferred;
- 5-7 years of related work experience is required, preferably in a school/non-profit setting;
- Knowledge of Dept. of Buildings, Dept. of Health, Fire Safety, Energy code regulations and laws is preferred;
- Demonstrated working knowledge of plumbing, HVAC and boiler systems, carpentry, electrical, custodial, and painting disciplines.
- FDNY Certificate of Fitness (S-95) certification or ability to take and pass certification exam.
- DOH Food Handler’s Certification preferred but not required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Disposition
- Experience on senior administrative team in a school/non-profit setting is a strong plus;
- Problem-solver and strategic thinker who can take initiative and innovate;
- Commitment to leadership as a collaborative, team-based endeavor;
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, both oral and written;
- Outstanding attention to detail and accuracy;
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to establish and manage multiple priorities;
- Ability to work with diverse constituencies equitably, respectfully, consistently, and with integrity;
- Commitment to the school’s needs and readiness to respond as reasonable and necessary;
- Ability to understand and embrace the mission of The Kew-Forest School.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to the Director of Facilities Hiring Committee at adminopening@kewforest.org.
We are The Kew-Forest School.
Our community nurtures lifelong learners from around the world.
Our educators inspire young people to think boldly and find their voices.
Our students support each other and explore thoughtfully as they shape the future.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Kew-Forest School believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. The School prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, culture, background, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected classes or classifications. No employee or job applicant will be discriminated against in recruitment, compensation, promotion, or termination practices.
