Director of Facilities and Maintenance

About the role

Lakeside School, an independent co‑educational day school serving grades 5‑12 in north Seattle, seeks an experienced, collaborative, and service‑oriented Director of Facilities and Maintenance to provide strategic and operational leadership for the school’s physical environment. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director is responsible for the stewardship, maintenance, renewal, and day‑to‑day readiness of Lakeside’s buildings, grounds, on‑ and off‑campus athletic facilities, school‑owned residences, and related infrastructure across multiple sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and day‑to‑day leadership for maintenance, repair, operation, and long‑term care of school buildings, grounds, mature trees, landscape, athletic facilities, and residential properties.
• Oversee custodial services and ensure high standards of cleanliness across classrooms, restrooms, offices, common areas, and indoor/outdoor program spaces.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance program for building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, life‑safety, controls, etc.).
• Assess facility conditions, prioritize deferred maintenance, renewals, and replacements; maintain accurate records, plans, schedules, and asset information.
• Plan and oversee thoughtful care of landscape and trees, coordinating with arborists and specialized contractors.
• Contribute to campus master planning, capital renewal planning, and facilities‑related strategic initiatives; serve as a key representative on renovation and construction projects.
• Utilize work‑order, asset‑management, and energy‑management systems to improve service, accountability, planning, and decision‑making.
• Lead, supervise, schedule, evaluate, and develop facilities staff (custodial, maintenance, grounds, and other department employees).
• Partner with Human Resources and school leadership on staffing, performance management, professional development, and employee relations.
• Serve as management representative in collective bargaining negotiations and maintain productive labor‑management relationships.
• Develop and manage the facilities operating budget and multi‑year capital renewal budget; monitor expenditures, forecast needs, and identify cost‑effective stewardship opportunities.
• Prepare scopes of work, solicit and evaluate bids, recommend contractors, negotiate and administer contracts, and monitor quality, safety, schedule, and budget performance.
• Plan and lead facilities projects from concept through completion, coordinating with school leaders to minimize disruption.
• Report to senior leadership and Board committees on facility condition, capital priorities, budgets, project status, risks, and emerging needs.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (occupational safety, fire and life‑safety, accessibility, environmental health, asbestos/AHERA, etc.).
• Coordinate inspections and testing for building systems; ensure timely correction and documentation of deficiencies.
• Serve in designated safety and accessibility roles, including OSHA and ADA coordination.
• Maintain relationships with inspectors, utilities, fire officials, public agencies, contractors, and other external partners.
• Advance energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, responsible purchasing, and other sustainability goals, including Washington clean‑building requirements.
• Participate in emergency planning and incident response; provide leadership during weather events, utility failures, building emergencies, and other disruptions.
• Maintain reasonable after‑hours availability for urgent facilities matters and ensure an effective on‑call response structure.
• Coordinate facilities support for assemblies, performances, athletics, graduations, community gatherings, summer programs, and other events.
• Act as day‑to‑day landlord for faculty and staff tenants in school‑owned residences; manage property maintenance, move‑ins/move‑outs, and lease/financial matters.
• Oversee condition, maintenance, and safe operation of school vehicles, buses, and equipment, including acquisition, licensing, and compliance.
• Collaborate with Community Safety, Technology, Athletics, division offices, academic departments, events staff, and other campus partners on operational needs and projects.
• Communicate proactively with faculty, staff, students, families, and school leaders about facility issues, project impacts, service timelines, and operational changes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in facilities management, construction management, engineering, business/operations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education, technical training, and experience.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in facilities, physical plant, construction, property, or campus operations, including significant supervisory and budget responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading skilled trades or facilities teams and managing contractors, vendors, and complex projects.
• Experience with capital planning, preventive maintenance, building systems, and project delivery in an active, occupied environment.
• Experience in an educational, nonprofit, campus, or similarly service‑oriented setting is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a union environment and with collective bargaining agreements is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing fleet vehicles and transportation logistics is desired.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet school requirements for operating school vehicles as applicable.
• Required to reside in a designated school‑owned residence near campus as a condition of employment.

Qualifications

• Broad working knowledge of commercial and school building systems and trades, with technical judgment to diagnose issues and make repair‑versus‑replace decisions.
• Excellent people leadership skills, including coaching, accountability, conflict resolution, and ability to build trust across a diverse workforce and community.
• Strong project‑management, organizational, and prioritization skills; ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and respond to changing operational needs.
• Financial acumen and experience developing budgets, evaluating bids, managing contracts, and communicating financial implications of facilities decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate technical information for non‑technical audiences and present to senior leaders and Board members.
• High level of judgment, discretion, composure, responsiveness, and follow‑through, especially in urgent or emergency situations.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and ability to work respectfully with people of diverse identities, experiences, roles, and perspectives.
• Proficiency with common business technology and facilities‑management systems; ability to use data and technology to improve maintenance planning and service delivery.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout multiple campuses and facilities, including frequent walking, stairs, ladders, mechanical spaces, roofs, and outdoor areas.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and to respond to facility conditions in active school environments.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis (heavier loads with assistance or equipment).
• Ability to respond to urgent facilities needs outside normal working hours when necessary.

Pay

Salary range: $140,000 – $180,000 based on experience and qualifications, plus rent‑free school‑provided housing for the family in a designated residence near campus.

Benefits

• Employer‑paid medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount program
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement plan
• Free lunch and parking
• Bus and bike benefits
• Housing assistance program
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Use of school library and gymnasium
• Professional development opportunities