DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & MAINTENANCE

Job Title:       Director of Safety & Maintenance

Reports to:     Executive Director

FLSA Status:  Exempt

About Our School: East Wake Academy fulfills its mission of maintaining a safe, challenging and creative learning environment. This environment strives to develop character and self-esteem while equipping students with the skills needed for a rigorous curriculum and to thrive in a college preparatory atmosphere producing academic excellence. We are dedicated to instilling the values of academic citizenship by creating relationships with parents, businesses and civic partners. East Wake Academy is committed to building a strong foundation of learning while providing our students the competitive edge to win in tomorrow's world.

Position Overview:
The Director of Safety & Maintenance is responsible for overseeing the safety and operational integrity of the school’s facilities. This individual will ensure that the school environment is safe, secure, well-maintained, and conducive to learning. The role combines safety oversight with facility management, encompassing safety protocols, emergency response plans, risk management, maintenance services, and ongoing building improvements. The Director will manage safety and maintenance staff, coordinate safety drills and emergency plans, supervise facility maintenance and repairs, and ensure compliance with all relevant safety, health, and environmental regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety Responsibilities:

1. Safety Planning & Risk Management:

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive safety programs, policies, and procedures for the school.
• Assess risks and hazards related to physical and emotional safety within the school environment.
• Conduct regular safety audits, including fire drills, lockdown drills, and other emergency preparedness exercises.

1. Crisis Management & Emergency Response:

• Lead and coordinate the school’s response during emergencies such as medical incidents, accidents, fires, or natural disasters.
• Maintain and update emergency response plans, evacuation routes, and safety protocols.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for emergency services, law enforcement, and public safety agencies.

1. Training & Education:

• Provide safety training for faculty, staff, and students, including topics such as bullying prevention, conflict resolution, and emergency procedures.
• Ensure staff are trained and familiar with emergency procedures and protocols.
• Stay informed about the latest safety regulations and trends.

1. Collaboration & Communication:

• Work with school administration, local law enforcement, and emergency services to develop safety strategies and plans.
• Establish clear communication systems for notifying staff, students, and parents in the event of an emergency.

Maintenance Responsibilities:

1. Facility Maintenance & Operations:

• Oversee and coordinate maintenance of school buildings, classrooms, restrooms, HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing, and other infrastructure.
• Develop and implement regular maintenance schedules to ensure facilities are in optimal working condition.
• Manage routine inspections and address maintenance issues promptly to prevent disruptions to the school environment.

1. Team Leadership & Management:

• Supervise maintenance staff, including custodians, maintenance workers, and contractors, ensuring quality work and adherence to safety standards.
• Coordinate schedules, tasks, and assignments for maintenance personnel to ensure the smooth operation of facilities.
• Provide training and professional development opportunities for maintenance staff.

1. Budgeting & Resource Management:

• Develop and manage the maintenance budget, ensuring effective resource allocation for repairs, projects, and ongoing services.
• Monitor expenditures related to building maintenance, supplies, and external contractors.
• Procure materials, tools, and equipment for ongoing maintenance needs.

1. Project Management & Facility Improvements:

• Oversee facility improvement projects, including renovations, upgrades, and new construction, ensuring they meet timelines, budgets, and safety standards.
• Collaborate with architects, contractors, and other professionals for capital projects.
• Monitor progress and quality of work on construction and improvement projects.

1. Safety & Compliance:

• Ensure all facilities comply with relevant local, state, and federal safety regulations, including OSHA standards, fire codes, and environmental laws.
• Conduct regular safety inspections and audits of buildings and grounds.
• Ensure the proper maintenance of safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and first aid kits.

1. Emergency Maintenance & After-Hours Support:

• Respond to emergency maintenance requests and facility-related crises, such as HVAC failures, plumbing issues, or electrical outages.
• Be available for on-call duties during evenings and weekends for urgent maintenance or safety issues.

Communication & Reporting:

• Maintain clear communication with school leadership on safety and maintenance concerns, priorities, and progress on projects.
• Provide regular reports on safety drills, maintenance activities, and budget status to administrators.
• Develop a reporting system for safety and maintenance concerns raised by staff, students, or parents.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in facility maintenance, safety, or emergency management, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and safety protocols.
• Proven experience in crisis management and safety program development.
• Ability to manage budgets, staff, and resources effectively.
• Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in maintenance management software and safety systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in an educational setting, particularly K-12 schools.
• Familiarity with energy-efficient and sustainable building practices.
• Certification in CPR/First Aid or other safety-related areas is a plus.

Work Environment:

This position is based on the school campus, with frequent visits to various school facilities. The Director of Safety & Maintenance will oversee both indoor and outdoor spaces, including classrooms, administrative offices, sports areas, and mechanical rooms. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required for urgent safety issues, facility improvements, or school events.

This combined job description outlines the dual responsibility of ensuring the safety of the school environment while overseeing the maintenance and functionality of its facilities. The Director of Safety & Maintenance will play a vital role in maintaining a secure, safe, and operational school setting, managing a broad range of safety and maintenance-related tasks and projects.

Physical Requirements:

Physical Job - Heavy Work

X See Attached

The physical activity of this position.

• Climbing. Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
• Balancing. Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling. Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching. Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling. Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing. Particularly for sustained periods of time. Approximate Duration 8 Hours
• Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Pushing. Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling. Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Maximum Weight 50 Pounds  Average Weight 20 Pounds
• Fingering. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling. Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations sound.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers

Physical exertion of the position. (Please check only one):

• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Light work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
•  X Heavy work. Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of           force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Very heavy work. Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception, and field vision. (Please check only one)

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform an activity such as: operates machines, such as lathes, drill presses, power saws, and mills where the seeing job is at or within arm's reach; performs mechanical or skilled trades tasks of a non-repetitive nature, such as carpenter, technicians, service people, plumbers, painters, mechanics, etc.
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned (i.e., custodial, food services, general laborer, etc.) or to make general observations of facilities or structures (i.e., security guard, inspection, etc.)

The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position. (Please check all that apply)

• The worker is subject to environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions. No effective protection from the weather.
• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker is subject to extreme cold. Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity.
• The worker is subject to extreme heat. Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity.
• The worker is subject to noise. There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above ambient noise level.
• The worker is subject to vibration. Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
• The worker is subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions. One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.
• The worker is frequently in close quarters, crawl spaces, shafts, man holes, small enclosed rooms, small sewage and line pipes, and other areas that could cause claustrophobia.
• The worker is required to function in narrow aisles or passageways.