Assistant, Operations, ESRC

Howard County Public School System; Guilford (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Howard County Public School System in Maryland is seeking an Operations Assistant for the Elementary Science Resource Center to pack and prepare science kits and consumables for PreK‑5 schools and fulfill teacher requests.

The role includes maintaining inventory, cleaning and refurbishing materials, and supporting daily ESRC operations in a warehouse environment. Start date is February 1, 2027, with a 12‑month term and state‑required background processes.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED; copy must be uploaded with the application.
• Education completed outside the United States must be evaluated by an MSDE approved organization.
• Experience: One year of experience with inventory control methods or organizational operations.

Responsibilities

• Pulls and packs kits and consumable materials for quarterly science units, PreK‑5.
• Cleans and refurbishes kit materials upon return from schools.
• Organizes inventory and storage within the ESRC shelving space.
• Prepares and packs materials for curricular in-services, workshops, programs, and events.

Skills

Inventory control

Packaging

Attention to detail

Time management

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

About Us

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

Working Title: Operations Assistant, Elementary Science Resource Center

Description

The Operations Assistant, Elementary Science Resource Center (ESRC), is responsible for packing and preparing science kits and consumable materials for distribution to all HCPSS elementary schools on a quarterly basis, as well as fulfilling individual orders and requests from teachers, teams, and schools as needed. Responsibilities include physically packing teacher and student kits and consumables, maintaining school orders, preparing materials for distribution, and cleaning and sanitizing materials returned from schools. The Operations Assistant is responsible for supporting the organization, inventory, logistics, and day-to-day operations and cleanliness of the ESRC warehouse. This position helps to maintain an organized and up-to-date inventory of science materials on ESRC shelving and ensures accurate material counts to support the instructional needs of PreK–5 teachers and students. This position plays a critical role in ensuring that classrooms have the appropriate science materials needed to implement COMAR-mandated science curriculum standards and instruction, while providing responsive logistical support to teachers, teams, and schools. The anticipated start date for this position is February 1, 2027.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent. A copy must be uploaded to the application.
• Education completed outside the United States must be evaluated by an MSDE approved organization.
• Experience: One year of experience with inventory control methods or organizational operations.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Three or more years of experience with inventory control methods or organizational operations.
• Experience working in a PreK-12 school setting.
• Experience working independently and efficiently to complete multiple tasks with varying deadlines.

Essential Position Responsibilities

• Pulls and packs kits and consumable materials for quarterly science units, PreK-5.
• Cleans and refurbishes kit materials upon return from schools.
• Organizes inventory and storage within the ESRC shelving and space/area.
• Prepares and packs materials for curricular in-services, workshops, programs, and/or special events.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge: Knowledge of safe cleaning, sanitizing, and refurbishing procedures for reusable educational materials, laboratory equipment, and multi-piece science kits. Familiarity with safe manual handling, lifting protocols, and general facility safety practices.

Skills: High proficiency in accurately selecting, counting, sorting, and packing small components, consumable supplies, and multi-item unit kits against pull sheets or checklists. Strong organizational skills to maximize storage efficiency, maintain orderly shelving systems, and process high-volume returns systematically. Sharp attention to detail in evaluating returned goods for wear, missing parts, or damage, and efficiently refurbishing them to standard. Prioritizes time-sensitive tasks to meet school delivery cycles, quarterly kit rotations, and scheduled workshop deadlines.

Abilities: Ability to lift, carry, push, and maneuver packages up to 50 lbs., stand for long stretches, and safely operate basic material handling tools (e.g., rolling carts, hand trucks). Ability to work independently with high accuracy while executing repetitive tasks in a fast-paced environment. Ability to follow event agendas or lesson supply manifests to accurately prep materials for teacher in-services and special events.

Additional Requirements

Working Environment The ESRC is a warehouse environment. Mice, snakes, and dust are common. When cleaning kits and some materials, including batteries, gloves and protective eyewear are recommended and available for the employee to use. There are no hazardous chemicals or materials as part of the materials being housed/packed. Physical Requirements Ability to lift, carry, push, and maneuver packages up to 50 lbs., stand for long stretches, and safely operate basic material handling tools (e.g., rolling carts, hand trucks). The person selected for this position must meet all requirements of the physical examination administered by a medical service selected by the Howard County Department of Education.

Working Hours

The duty day for this position is 8.5 hours including a thirty‑minute duty‑free lunch. The preferred hours are 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM with possible flexibility on start time up until 8 AM.

Compensation

This is a 12‑month per year position in the Howard County Education Association, Educational Support Professionals (HCEA‑ESP) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is Grade VII on the Secretaries and Assistants salary scale. Step placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA‑ESP Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is not exempt from overtime. Retirement Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors. All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing. Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.