School Facilities Specialist (Custodial/Maintenance): Newark

ZipRecruiter; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 45,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

KIPP New Jersey seeks a School Facilities Specialist to oversee the cleanliness and safety of its Newark facilities. This role will involve hands-on maintenance duties, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The ideal candidate should possess strong skills in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing work, along with experience in custodial management. A valid Black Seal license is required and bilingual proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits plan including health care

Retirement plan

School laptop provided

Transportation benefits for commuting from NYC

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in custodial or facilities management, preferably in a school setting.
• Availability to handle school emergencies 24/7.
• In-depth knowledge of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Responsibilities

• Daily cleaning of school buildings and grounds, adhering to best practices.
• Manage work orders for preventative maintenance and compliance tasks.
• Ensure timely scheduling of required inspections (fire alarms, HVAC systems, etc.).

Skills

Strong carpentry skills

Plumbing skills

Electrical skills

Bilingual proficiency in Spanish

Education

Black Seal Boiler License

OSHA 30 certification

Tools

Work order systems

Job description

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionCompany Description

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, visitwww.kippnj.org.

Job Description

We’re seeking a School Facilities Specialistto 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.

Qualifications

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).
• Cafeteriasetup, 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.
• Availability to handle school emergencies 24/7.
• Ability to lift, bend, and pull more than 50 pounds.
• Strong carpentry, plumbing, and electrical skills
• In-depth knowledge of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.
• Experience using work order systems.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish ()
• OSHA 30 certification ()
• Black Seal Boiler License ()

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $45,000–$73,000, based on relevant experience in school-based facilities management. Candidates must hold a Black Seal license and have equivalent school-based experience to be eligible for a salary above $60,000.

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP New Jersey offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area.

KIPP New Jersey | KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer