School Facilities Manager (Custodial/Maintenance): Newark

About KIPP New Jersey:

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate 7,035 students in grades K-12 across 15 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. 

By 2025, KIPP New Jersey will have fifteen schools in Newark and five in Camden providing a world-class education to over 10,300 students. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

We’re seeking a School Facilities Manager to ensure our Newark schools are clean, safe, and well-maintained. If you're a hands-on professional with expertise in facility maintenance, we want you on our team. This role involves daily custodial duties, maintenance management, and oversight of facility-related vendors. Your proactive approach and technical skills will make a lasting impact on the safety and comfort of our school community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Daily cleaning of school buildings and grounds, adhering to best practices.
• Respond promptly to urgent maintenance needs, including spills and student accidents.
• Inspect school buildings and address maintenance issues in a timely manner.
• Manage work orders for preventative maintenance and compliance tasks (using tools like School Dude or ZenDesk).
• Cafeteria setup, event preparation, and general facilities upkeep.
• Manage special projects related to building maintenance, such as small capital improvements.
• Ensure timely scheduling of required inspections (fire alarms, HVAC systems, etc.).
• Serve as the first point of contact for building alarms and security camera issues.
• Manage vendor relationships, including daily oversight of external cleaning crews and coordinating school deliveries.
• Ensure invoices and payments related to facility vendors are processed in a timely manner.
• Support region-wide vendor relationships and manage vendor contracts as needed.

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in custodial or facilities management, preferably in a school setting.
• Black Seal Boiler License required
• In-depth knowledge of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.
• Experience using work order systems.
• Strong carpentry, plumbing, and electrical skills ().
• Must have OSHA 30 certification and a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to lift, bend, and pull more than 50 pounds.
• Availability to handle school emergencies 24/7.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $60,000-$73,000, depending on school-based facilities management experience.

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ  offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:  

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision 
• Participation in the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, provided appropriate teacher certification
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• A school-issued laptop
• Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
• Generous Time-Off policies
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.