Operations and Facilities Manager

The mission of Ecole Bilingue is to develop globally literate students through a rigorous bilingual French-American curriculum, set in a nurturing and multicultural community. We guide our students to excel academically, foster their curiosity, and prepare them to become creative and innovative contributors to the world. 

ECOLE BILINGUE DE LA NOUVELLE-ORLÉANS, founded in 1998, welcome over 400 students from 18 months to 8th grade. The school is accredited by the Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Etranger (AEFE) and belongs to the Mission Laïque Française (MLF), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) networks of schools, and is in the process of becoming a member of the Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS). 

Overview: The Operations and Facilities Manager is responsible for managing the maintenance of the School’s facilities across its campus, and is responsible for ensuring that the buildings, the surrounding environment, and their services meet the functionality and the safety and security needs of faculty/staff and the community. The position reports to the Head of School. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Operations and Facilities Manager (OFM) is responsible for managing, planning, and directing the day-to-day operations of school facilities. The OFM will work under the direct supervision of the Head of School, while coordinating with IT and the Administrative Assistants on technical issues. She or he will manage buildings and grounds, oversee daily operations, and coordinate repairs and safety policies with the Head of School. The OFM will develop work practices for improved efficiency, work to reduce operating costs, all while contributing to the increased security, safety and beautification of school buildings. 

The OFM will ensure the safety of all school buildings from fire, flood and other hazards, and oversee equipment and facilities upkeep. She or he will continually assess electrical conditions, plumbing, air conditioning, and other essential utilities and equipment. The OFM will be responsible for scheduling regular facility inspections, and aiding in the establishment of the annual budget, in order to guarantee adequate funds for maintenance and repairs.

Key relationships: 

● Be an active member of the School Administration office 

● Collaborate with the Finance and IT Departments 

● Liaise with the School Leadership Team and Administrative Assistants 

● Communicate and collaborate with key volunteers 

● Communicate and collaborate with event organizers 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Facilities Maintenance 

● Oversee the buildings and grounds maintenance 

● Assess electrical conditions, plumbing, air conditioning, and other essential utilities and equipment. The Operations and Facilities Manager will be responsible for scheduling regular facility inspections, and aiding in the establishment of the annual budget, in order to guarantee adequate funds for maintenance and repairs. 

● Take care of any small electrical, plumbing and HVAC, etc. repairs as needed. This includes performing work in-house or supervising work done by contractors and/or technicians for all repairs, maintenance or constructions projects. 

● Be available during school breaks for general campus improvement and larger summer projects. ● Supervise landscaping maintenance and projects 

Health and Safety & Security 

● Act as the security officer of the school. Review and update emergency response plans and participate in Staff and Faculty training. 

● Ensure a clean and safe environment for faculty/staff members and students. 

● Perform or arrange annual facility checks for safety, compliance, and maintenance of all machinery, equipment, and services. 

● Ensure campus security and safety and compliance with legal inspection requirements. ● Coordinate the setup of fire and security alarms, CCTV, and gate operations systems and respond to fire and security alarm systems when they go off. 

● Coordinate the contracts and check performance of cleaning companies or internal cleaning staff. 

Relationship Management 

Interface with vendors, contractors, volunteers, parents, and faculty and staff as needed (in person, by phone, through email) in a timely manner. 

Accounting & Budget 

Manage the budget and credit card processing for the facilities department and sign off on all related purchase orders. 

Work with the CFO to schedule and manage the budgets for equipment maintenance and campus improvement projects.

Event Preparation 

Assist at events and with special projects (occasionally at night and on weekends); provide support to event organizers by appropriately preparing facilities as needed. 

Prefered education and experience: 

● Minimum of three (3) years of experience managing a large facility 

● High school diploma; Bachelor’s degree preferred 

● Native proficiency in English 

● Unimpeachable ethical standards and personal integrity 

● Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with email communications and ability to speak with vendors via phone and in person in order to request quotes, arrange scheduling, manage work, etc. 

● Ability to prioritize and work under multiple deadlines 

● Good interpersonal skills 

● Attention to detail 

● General knowledge of building services, security, and systems 

● General construction and landscaping experience 

Desirable qualifications: 

● Previous experience in independent schools or nonprofits is helpful 

● General construction experience 

● Technical knowledge of building services and systems 

Work Environment: 

This job operates in a professional office environment and often outdoors. May be exposed to heat, cold and weather elements when outside. 

Physical Demands: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk with both Teaching and Administrative staff members, as well as parents and children, oversee the facilities and watch the children and be cognizant of the fact that children (some as young as 2 years old) will oftentimes be in close proximity to the employee’s work areas. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items over 20 pounds. 

Salary and Benefits: 

● Salary to commensurate with experience  

● Benefits include health insurance, 401k, tuition remission, paid school holidays, two week paid vacation 

Required Information for Candidates: 

● Resume (1 to 2 pages maximum) 

● Letter of interest (1 to 2 pages maximum) 

● Recommendation letters (6 maximum) 

Applications must be send to cv@ebnola.com, (please indicate “Director of Marketing and Communications in the subject line) 

Letters of recommendation may be written in French or English. 

Ecole Bilingue is an equal opportunity employer, and does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age or national origin in any of its activities or operations.