Facilities Manager

Fayerweather Street School; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, Massachusetts seeks an experienced Facilities Manager to lead the stewardship, safety, and operational excellence of the campus. You will supervise maintenance, manage budgets, and coordinate with vendors to keep buildings and grounds in top condition.

This on-site, full-time role requires strong problem-solving, the ability to respond to emergencies, and a commitment to sustainability and inclusive school community, with occasional evenings or weekends

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing operational needs and respond effectively to emergencies.
• 3–6+ years of progressive facilities management experience, ideally in an educational or institutional setting.
• Strong working knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and general maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing contractors or service vendors.
• Experience managing facilities budgets, preventive maintenance programs, and capital projects.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace or comparable workplace technologies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with students and adults.
• Exposure and understanding of working with middle school students.
• Commitment to supporting an inclusive school community and the mission of Fayerweather Street School.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operation and maintenance of school buildings and grounds, ensuring a safe, clean, and well‑maintained campus.
• Implement and manage preventive maintenance programs for building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and lighting.
• Manage facilities work orders and coordinate support for school events, programs, and community use of campus spaces.
• Maintain inventory of maintenance equipment, supplies, and replacement parts.
• Supervise and mentor facilities staff while fostering a professional, service‑oriented team culture.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and contractors, including custodial, landscaping, and specialized service providers.
• Establish efficient systems and workflows that support the operational needs of students, faculty, and staff.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations, including OSHA standards.
• Oversee construction, renovation, and capital improvement projects, coordinating contractors to minimize disruption to school operations.
• Maintain and update campus emergency response plans and safety procedures.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for security and fire alarm systems. Ensure upkeep and maintenance of these systems.
• Promote safe traffic flow and pedestrian safety on campus.
• Serve as liaison with the City of Cambridge and local agencies regarding facilities matters.
• Evaluate service agreements and recommend improvements aligned with long‑term campus planning and fiscal responsibility.
• Advance environmentally responsible practices, including energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable campus operations.
• Partner with the Director of Finance and Operations and Head of School to develop and manage the facilities budget.

Skills

Facilities leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Emergency readiness

Vendor management

Budget management

Preventive maintenance

Capital projects

Google Workspace

Interpersonal skills

Middle school experience

Inclusive community

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Equivalent professional experience considered

Tools

HVAC systems knowledge

Electrical systems

Plumbing systems

Job description

Salary Details

Medical, Dental, Retirement and addtional available.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Type: Full Time

Salary: $70,000 - $90,000

Categories: Facilities or Plant Operations

Fayerweather Street School seeks an experienced, collaborative Facilities Manager to lead the stewardship, safety, and operational excellence of the school’s campus. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations and partnering closely with the Head of School, the Facilities Manager oversees the maintenance, operation, and long‑term planning of the school’s buildings and grounds.

This role requires a facilities leader who combines strategic thinking with practical problem‑solving and a willingness to engage directly in day‑to‑day campus operations. The Facilities Manager ensures that the physical environment supports exceptional teaching and learning while maintaining high standards of safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

Main Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operation and maintenance of school buildings and grounds, ensuring a safe, clean, and well‑maintained campus.
• Implement and manage preventive maintenance programs for building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and lighting.
• Manage facilities work orders and coordinate support for school events, programs, and community use of campus spaces.
• Maintain inventory of maintenance equipment, supplies, and replacement parts.
• Supervise and mentor facilities staff while fostering a professional, service‑oriented team culture.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and contractors, including custodial, landscaping, and specialized service providers.
• Establish efficient systems and workflows that support the operational needs of students, faculty, and staff.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations, including OSHA standards.
• Oversee construction, renovation, and capital improvement projects, coordinating contractors to minimize disruption to school operations.
• Maintain and update campus emergency response plans and safety procedures.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for security and fire alarm systems. Ensure upkeep and maintenance of these systems.
• Promote safe traffic flow and pedestrian safety on campus.
• Serve as liaison with the City of Cambridge and local agencies regarding facilities matters.
• Evaluate service agreements and recommend improvements aligned with long‑term campus planning and fiscal responsibility.
• Advance environmentally responsible practices, including energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable campus operations.
• Partner with the Director of Finance and Operations and Head of School to develop and manage the facilities budget.

Skills And Responsibilities

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing operational needs and respond effectively to emergencies.
• 3–6+ years of progressive facilities management experience, ideally in an educational or institutional setting.
• Strong working knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and general maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing contractors or service vendors.
• Experience managing facilities budgets, preventive maintenance programs, and capital projects.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace or comparable workplace technologies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with students and adults.
• Exposure and understanding of working with middle school students.
• Commitment to supporting an inclusive school community and the mission of Fayerweather Street School.

Working Conditions:

This is a full‑time, on‑site position requiring a responsive, hands‑on approach. The Facilities Manager must be available for occasional evenings or weekends to support school events or respond to emergencies, including weather‑related campus operations such as snow removal.

Work occurs across office, classroom, and outdoor environments and may involve varying temperatures, moderate noise levels, and exposure to mechanical equipment or cleaning materials. The role requires the ability to lift or move materials up to 50 pounds, climb ladders, stand or walk for extended periods, and operate maintenance or snow‑removal equipment as needed.

Fayerweather Street School welcomes candidates who will add to the diversity of our community and who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in their teaching and learning.

Fayerweather Street School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or family composition, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its employment, education, admission, financial aid, and other policies and programs.

About Fayerweather Street School

Fayerweather Street School has a rich and progressive history of successfully educating students for over 50 years. Fayerweather Street School (FSS) is a co‑educational independent day school enrolling approximately 200 students in Pre‑Kindergarten through 8th grade. Located in the Fresh Pond neighborhood in Cambridge, Fayerweather offers a progressive, hands‑on experiential learning environment where the pace of childhood is respected, and where children develop a love of learning, know how they learn best and have voice and agency in their school community. We help young people develop the knowledge, skills, and awareness to flourish in a complex, diverse, and increasingly interdependent world. We believe that truly knowing each child is the heart of a great education, and we are committed to building a diverse, welcoming, and equitable community in which compassion, humor, and respect are woven throughout the curriculum and spirit of the day.