Facilities Director - Seasonal

Facilities Director 

FULL SEASON: April 1, 2025 - November 1, 2025

COMPENSATION: Minimum $900/week, Exempt

This is a paid, contracted position without benefits. Depending on the circumstances of a qualified applicant this position can be either fully based on Hurricane Island or a hybrid location of living on Hurricane island and on the mainland or another nearby island (Vinalhaven, North Haven). Employees receive rustic housing on Hurricane Island for the entirety of their contracted employment and meals are provided when on Hurricane island. Wages are commensurate with experience.

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership (Hurricane Island) is seeking to fill the position of a seasonal Facilities Director for the 2025 island season. The position will operate under the supervision of the Executive Director and in close collaboration with the Island Operations Director. The primary responsibilities are the management, construction, and maintenance of Hurricane Island's essential sustainable energy and other infrastructure systems which are essential to the day-to-day operations of Hurricane Island’s physical plant while managing a team of Facilities Assistants. The Facilities Director is expected to be integrated into the day-to-day operations of the island and help Hurricane Island maintain our collaborative and intentional community.  A successful candidate must be well-organized, flexible, and able to function in a dynamic working environment. Additional responsibilities in addition to what is described here may be required.

Responsibilities & Expectations

• Collaborate with the Island Operations Director to determine work priorities.
• Manage the day-to-day infrastructure maintenance projects of Hurricane Island (cabin repairs, infrastructure systems, small-scale construction, etc.)
• Work in coordination with the Executive Director and the Island Operations Director to complete larger infrastructure projects, capital improvements, and maintenance of all equipment, tools, and boats.
• Work in collaboration with the Executive Director, the Island Operations Director, and the Safety and Infrastructure Committee to draft a long-range facilities plan for upgrading sustainable systems in the future.
• Direct island campus infrastructure upgrades including managing contractors, staff and volunteers to complete facilities improvement initiatives.
• Manage the seasonal Facilities Assistants’ work flows and job performance on both daily tasks and larger projects. 
• Complete administrative tasks for the Facilities department as required.
• Create initial orders and estimates of work supplies using established vendors and charge accounts (Hamilton Marine, EL Spear, etc.) and other contractors for all projects. Follow established procedures for the Island Operations Director to review and approve all orders prior to placing. 
• Arrange boat logistics for mainland errands and project order pickups by working with the island’s boat schedule software, captains, and Island Operations Director.
• Oversee the care and stewardship of all facilities including but not limited to: grounds keeping and mowing; ensuring all public spaces are clean and neat; maintaining participant and staff housing, with regular inspections of participant housing when groups depart; addressing small maintenance and repairs; attending to immediate island repairs that pose a safety hazard; attending to facilities-replated needs and questions from participants, island visitors, and staff.
• Occasionally assist Educators and Research staff with program delivery.
• Participate as a full member of Hurricane Island’s intentional community, including following and enforcing campus policies and community expectations, welcoming visitors to the island and communicating about Hurricane’s mission and work, participating in community tasks including daily and weekly chores, performing other duties relating to the organization’s goals and mission as required.

Essential Qualifications

• Experience directing or managing larger capital improvement projects including coordination of contractors, the contracting process, and budget management or interest to learn.
• Experience with light carpentry, shingling, roofing plus basic electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and composting practices.
• Experience working with power tools and comfort with larger equipment, such as tractor, chipper, splitter, rototiller etc.
• Experience with working collaboratively across a small community of departmental teams and managing direct staff.
• Demonstrated safe chainsaw use and maintenance during trail clearing and downed tree maintenance and/or willingness to obtain OSHA-compliant chainsaw safety course certification or similar certification at Hurricane’s expense.
• Able to multi-task and keep several projects moving along at once. Flexibility and positive attitude when weather, staffing, or other resource changes require an adjustment to the day’s work plan.
• Established experience in managing staff with varied experience levels, department schedules, providing clear direction and regular feedback at both a team and individual staff level.
• Positive and helpful attitude, understanding how to balance multiple priorities coming from different needs across the entire organization.
• CPR, First Aid, or Wilderness First Responder certification (WFR course is available on Hurricane Island in the spring)
• Capable of safely lifting 50lbs of weight and working on unstable surfaces.
• Ability to work in a noisy, energetic environment while remaining welcoming to community members.
• Ability and willingness to work and live in a remote island community with rustic and off-the-grid accommodations where all staff share living and work spaces.
• Interest and enthusiasm for working with youth.
• Work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Demonstrated initiative to identify and complete projects and work independently or as part of a team with minimal supervision.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Authorized to lawfully work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working experience with racial and ethnic minority groups, English language learners, urban youth, low-income communities, immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, people with special needs, and other groups that are underrepresented in the field of environmental education.
  
• Comfortable navigating small boats on the waters of Penobscot Bay.

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is a transformative learning community on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Our mission is to integrate science education, applied research, and leadership development through year-round educational programs and a seasonal, environmentally-sustainable island community. Through experiential education programs and research opportunities in STEM disciplines we aim to excite people about doing science and about being leaders in the next wave of scientific discovery and environmental conservation.

Required Application Materials: Applications are due on a rolling basis unless otherwise indicated in the specific job description. We will continue to review applications until the position has been filled. 

• Cover letter explaining your interest in this position and your relevant experience
• Resumé or CV, which includes contact information for two references. We want a complete picture of you so don’t be afraid to include details that may not pertain directly to this job.
• Copies of any relevant certifications or training experience.

Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Because we are licensed with the State of Maine as a Limited Purpose private school and we work with middle and high school students, we are required to obtain fingerprinted background checks through the Maine Department of Education for all employees.

Salary : $900