Organization Overview
Common Ground is a center for learning and leadership, inviting people across ages and identities to connect to their urban environment, build community, grow into their full potential, and contribute to a just and sustainable world. We work toward this mission through active, authentic learning rooted in justice and our environment: a farm, in a forest, in a city. Common Ground’s 20 acre campus at the base of West Rock Ridge abuts the 1500 acre West Rock State Park, sharing hiking trails, wildlife, and diverse natural habitats with the surrounding forests. Common Ground delivers three core programs on site and in the community: our Charter High School, Environmental Education Center and Urban Farm. Each year, more than 10,000 community members participate in festivals, field trips, after-school programs, and other educational opportunities on site. Common Ground’s farm and landscaped areas follow organic growing practices, avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers on site. For more information on Common Ground, see www.commongroundct.org.
Job Description
Common Ground’s Campus and Facilities Manager is responsible for supervising and overseeing the care, upkeep and maintenance of Common Ground’s site and facilities. The position includes hands-on, physical labor in addition to administrative and supervisory responsibilities.
The Campus and Facilities Manager is a key member of Common Grounds’ Site Management Committee, working closely with Common Ground’s Executive Director, Farm Director, and the Directors of the High School and Community Programs to ensure Common Ground’s site and facilities are stewarded and effectively meet all of Common Ground’s programmatic needs.
The Campus and Facilities Manager will interact regularly with the public, and will often be assisted by volunteers and high school students in the performance of his/her duties.
The Campus and Facilities Manager is a full-time, year-round, 40 hour per week position reporting to the Executive Director. The Campus and Facilities Manager also reports weekly to Common Ground’s Management Team. The facilities Manager supervises a full time Assistant Manager of Facilities and Grounds, a part time Maintenance Worker, and seasonal workers including Common Ground High School students. He/she also manages contracts with building cleaners and other building professionals.
Due to the nature of the work, the Campus and Facilities Manager will be required to work flexible hours. Some weekend work will be required.
Responsibilities
- Building Management
- Oversee regular cleaning, maintenance and repairs of all buildings including necessary painting, minor plumbing, etc.
- Manage and ensure both traditional and computerized HVAC systems are operating, maintained and repaired (Common Ground’s Springside Building is a LEED Gold certified building with a high-performing energy and HVAC systems)
- Manage and ensure all alarm systems are operating, maintained and repaired.
- Develop, implement and manage storage system
- Ensure building practices reflect Common Ground’s sustainability commitment – including energy use reduction, green cleaning, indoor air quality, etc.
Site Management
- Oversee the following site management duties:
- Maintenance of all landscaped areas including mowing, weeding, mulching, watering,
- Tree and bush pruning, trimming and removal
- Maintenance of cut wood pile
- Maintenance and upkeep of paths, outdoor assembly areas, sidewalks, parking lots, catch basis, fences, planters, benches, sheds, tents, camp platforms
- Spring clean-up, Fall leaf removal, Winter snow clearing
- Design, implement and manage waste management system – including waste reduction and recycling efforts.
- Ensure site practices restore and steward natural habitats, and reflect Common Ground’s commitment to organic and sustainable practices.
- Address storm water management and erosion control challenges on campus.
- Assist Farm Director with on-site composting operation
Equipment Maintenance and Repair
- Oversee and manage upkeep and repair of all tools and grounds-keeping equipment, including mowers, weed-whackers, etc.
- Oversee and manage upkeep and repair of tractor and utility vehicles
Program Support
- Oversee setting up and staffing festivals and events
- Develop and oversee site improvement projects to better meet program needs
- Supervise Common Ground High students on the Green Jobs Corps Site Crew in Spring, Summer and Fall
Operations and Administration
- Attend regularly scheduled meetings of the Site Management Committee
- Report weekly to Management Team (Directors)
- Develop and manage annual budget for all building and site related upkeep and maintenance work.
- Develop, implement and oversee site and building operations and maintenance system (e.g, maintaining spaces, landscaping, sustainability)
- Manage contractors (bids, contracts, scheduling, assessment) – building cleaning, snow plowing, tree removal, construction, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, etc.
Qualifications
- Experience and skill managing educational facilities and staff responsible for their care.
- Familiarity with general landscaping and plant care (knowledge of habitat restoration, organic practices, and natural landscaping and stewardship is particularly valued).
- Familiarity with or able to learn computerized HVAC and building energy systems
- Creative thinking and excellent problem solving skills.
- Independent and self-motivated.
- Enjoy working outdoors.
- Excellent time-management and organizational skills.
- Able to set priorities, and develop and execute plans to achieve desired results.
- Familiarity with the use and maintenance of grounds-keeping equipment including weed-whackers, mowers, tractor, etc.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Work well with others.
- Comfortable working as a member of a team.
- Commitment to and background in campus sustainability, environmental stewardship, and related fields.
- Comfortable engaging with the public.
- Eager to learn and willing to try new things.
- Able to think strategically and see the big picture
- Interest and experience in working with young people.
- Passion for working at an organization that is committed to building social justice, dismantling systems of oppression, and creating an equitable and inclusive culture.
- Computer proficient, including familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office applications
- Able to lift 50 pounds and engage in strenuous physical activity.
Benefits and Compensation
This is a full time position with the following benefits: health, dental and life insurance, short term and long term disability, paid holidays, vacation days and sick days.
Salary is commensurate with experience.
How to Apply
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Betsy Sneath, Director of Business and Administration
Common Ground
358 Springside Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515
bsneath@commongroundct.org
Common Ground is committed to the recruitment and retention of staff that is reflective of the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.
It has been the policy and will continue to be the strong commitment of the Common Ground and all contractors and subcontractors who do business with Common Ground to provide equal opportunities in employment to all qualified persons solely on the basis of job-related skills, ability and merit. Common Ground will continue to take Affirmative Action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, mental disorder (present or past history thereof) age, physical disability (but not limited to blindness), marital status, intellectual disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and criminal record. Such action includes, but is not limited to, employment, promotion, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, professional development, attendance at conferences or other opportunities for advancement. Common Ground, its contractors and subcontractors will continue to make good faith efforts to comply with all federal and state laws and policies which speak to equal employment opportunity.
The principles of Affirmative Action are addressed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the United States Constitution, Civil Rights Act of 1866, 1870, 1871, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and VII of the 1964 United States Civil Rights Act, Presidential Executive Order 11246, amended by 11375, (Non-discrimination under federal contracts)< Act 1, Section 1 and 20 of the Connecticut Constitution, Governor Grasso’s Executive Order Number 11, Governor O’Neill’s Executive Order 9, the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Law (Sec. 46a-60-69) of the Connecticut General Statutes, Connecticut Code of Fair Practices (46a-70-81), Deprivation of Civil Rights (46a-58(a)(d)), Public Accommodations Law (46a-63-64), Discrimination against Criminal Offenders (46a-80), definition of Blind (46a-51(1)), definition of Physically Disabled (46a-51(15)), definition of Intellectual Disability (46a-51(13)), cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (46a-77), Sexual Harassment (46a-60(a)-8), Connecticut Credit Discrimination Law (360436 through 439), Title I of the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.
This Affirmative Action Policy Statement re-affirms Common Ground’s commitment to equity in the workplace and the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity.
Contact at Common Ground: Betsy Sneath, Director of Business and Administration, 358 Springside Ave., New Haven, CT 06515 (203) 389-4333.
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