Methow Campus Facilities Manager

The Bush School is dedicated to valuing different perspectives and backgrounds, inspiring curiosity, motivating employees to take risks, and encouraging compassion and kindness. Our employees enjoy an environment that inspires creativity while being part of a collaborative community.

Methow Campus Facilities Manager

Full-Time (40 hours per week), Salary/Exempt

Year-Long Work Schedule

* This position is eligible for health and retirement benefits (details during hiring process).  

* This position requires applicants to be, at the time of application, legally authorized to   

   work in the United States. The Bush School does not offer visa sponsorship for this position and will not consider applicants who require visa sponsorship. 

The Bush School, a K-12 progressive, independent school located in Seattle, WA, is in search of an individual to join our Methow Campus team in Mazama as an Methow Campus Facilities Manager. We are seeking a candidate who is able to support the school’s mission of diversity and inclusion and who has a background that demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of intercultural fluency. We are building a team in which diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and talents are valued in order to work with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and families. We encourage those of diverse backgrounds to apply. 

The Bush School is seeking a candidate with Facilities Management experience who has a passion for working with students, is eager to contribute to an educational environment, and is committed to being a good neighbor and community member in the Methow Valley.

The ideal candidate will be capable and confident working independently, dealing with vendor identification and management, and managing day-to-day operations while ensuring the campus facilities are well-maintained and functioning smoothly. We’re looking for someone who is proactive, reliable, and committed to supporting the learning community by creating and maintaining a safe, functional, and welcoming environment for students, staff, and visitors alike. We are seeking a candidate with a robust skill set who is a creative problem solver and invested in both The Bush School and the Methow Valley communities.

The Methow Campus Facilities Manager reports to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer and works closely with The Bush school’s Facilities Director and Director of Programs for the Methow Campus and Semester School.

About The Bush School and the Methow Campus

In the historic Washington Park neighborhood in east central Seattle sits the city’s only independent K-12 school. Founded in 1924 and inspired by John Dewey’s philosophy of progressive education, The Bush School began with modest roots in the home of Helen Taylor Bush to serve six young girls. Over the years the school grew substantially, added a boarding program which it eventually phased out in the late 60s, broadened its reach with a co-educational program.

In 2016, The Bush School purchased a spectacular satellite campus in Mazama, WA in the Methow Valley on the eastern slopes of the North Cascades, to integrate wilderness, cultural, and academic experiential learning. 

Although much has changed since 1924, Bush’s fundamental approach to teaching students remains as relevant now as ever. Bush students engage with challenging and robust academic programs and solve complex problems in the classroom and beyond through a variety of experiential opportunities throughout the campus, Seattle, and the world. As a result of these experiences, students learn how to make an impact on their community that is meaningful and enduring. 

Vision for the Methow Campus

The purchase of the Methow Campus in 2016 was the realization of a vision to increase accessibility and capacity for experiential education at The Bush School. E-weeks, Cascades, Clubs, Teams, and other programs, offered through Bush and other community partners, are served by the beauty, wonder, and physical environment for intercultural, interdisciplinary, and multi-dimensional learning and community building.

The vision also included the development of a semester-long program with a mission to provide an immersive, residential, place-based program that invites students from around the region to explore complex issues of sustainability and become leaders to make collaborative change in their communities.

Background of the Semester School

The Methow Semester is a transformative experience where students seek answers to complex questions. Sustainability is this generation’s immediate challenge, with climate change impacting our most basic needs. Through understanding and respecting multiple perspectives, students will explore the role of civic engagement and collaborative solutions. 

The Bush School, the only K-12 experiential school in the state, is a recognized leader in equipping students to make change. Since 1924, our mission has focused on bringing together students from diverse backgrounds and talents, inspiring them through experiential curriculum to make meaningful contributions to their communities.  

The Methow Semester is a flagship program of experiential education and place-based learning, uniting present need with The Bush School’s long-standing experience. The semester school will be a full-time, residential program at the Methow Campus for students in 10th and 11th grade. This program will offer students an opportunity to immerse themselves in understanding complex issues of sustainability, creating a positive community, and developing skills to lead collaboratively and confidently.  

We are educating our future leaders to find common ground in the face of division and take action through thoughtful problem-solving to enact a just, sustainable future.

While other duties may be assigned, a qualified candidate will be able to manage the key responsibilities and tasks listed below:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a clean facility in good working order ensuring classroom, communal areas, and living quarters are well-maintained
• Maintain campus grounds including landscaping and seasonal work such as irrigation and snow removal
• Conduct maintenance, general repairs, and custodial duties across all campus buildings and infrastructure
• Maintain Methow Campus vehicle fleet and equipment including regular servicing, repairs, and documentation of vehicle logs
• Identify, plan, and execute facility related projects from start to finish including cost estimation, timeline development, and coordination with stakeholders
• Identify, hire, and manage external contractors for specialized work, negotiate service contracts, build and support vendor relationships, ensure competitive bidding for services,    oversee procurement of supplies and services related to campus operations
• Coordinate and ensure compliance with annual inspections of fire alarms, hood suppression equipment, mechanical systems, and other critical systems
• Uphold compliance with local, state, and federal codes/regulations and maintain a safe  work environment, ensuring OSHA standards and emergency protocols are followed; conduct regular safety audits, risk assessments, and implement safety programs to prevent accidents and ensure a safe environment for students and staff
• Welcome all visitors to the Methow Campus and champion the experiential education programs that take place during the vast majority of the year
• Support all programs at the Methow Campus which includes but is not limited to facility set-up, shopping/preparation, driving, and emergency response
• Manage Methow Campus Facilities budget ensuring cost-effective use of resources, tracking expenditures, and reporting on budget status; long-term capital planning for facilities improvements, equipment lifecycle management, and infrastructure upgrades; experience with larger capital improvement projects, renovations, and construction management, including coordination with architects, engineers, and construction teams
• Optimize energy efficiency by monitoring utility usage for cost and environmental impact and improving building energy performance
• Proactively address preventative maintenance needs and develop a comprehensive schedule to minimize downtime and ensure facilities remain operational year-round
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans and crisis response protocol; coordinate with local authorities on campus safety drills and procedures
• Regular communication with The Bush School’s administration, faculty, and students and our Methow Valley community partners to understand their needs and ensure facilities meet the evolving demands of the educational environment

Experience and Professional Competencies:

• Willingness to be on-site at the Methow Campus with flexibility to respond to after-hours emergencies 
• Ability to solve problems creatively in a remote environment using available resources and networks to address unexpected issues
• Robust skill set (e.g. mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC systems, carpentry,  groundskeeping, general construction, etc.) and an aptitude to figure things out
• Interest in establishing strong relationships in and knowledge of the Methow Valley community is required - shared commitment to maintaining good relations with neighbors and the local community and being an advocate for The Bush School
• Ability to successfully work independently, as a leader, and collaboratively, as part of a  team is required
• Interest and ability to monitor wildfire activity and smoke/air quality and develop evacuation or contingency plans in coordination with local authorities
• Interest and ability to develop evacuation or contingency plans in coordination with local authorities and other Bush employees
• Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) for tracking, scheduling, and managing preventative maintenance. Proven ability to utilize CMMS to anticipate maintenance needs, optimize equipment performance, and ensure timely execution of maintenance tasks to reduce downtime and extend the lifespan of campus facilities and equipment
•  Hold or have a willingness to acquire relevant certifications such as Project Management Certification (PMP) or Facilities Certifications (CFM, FMP) 
• Willingness to assume additional responsibilities as required

Successful Candidate will have:

• Have a philosophy that aligns with the school’s mission and values and embrace the opportunity to work with students, faculty/staff, and community partners who are participating in a wide array of programs at the Methow Campus
• Maintain a strong work ethic, with high standards of professionalism, organization, and  accountability
• Be familiar working in a remote environment and demonstrate resourcefulness when faced with limited access to supplies and contractors
• Be familiar with living and working in an environment with a significant winter season (freezing temperatures, lots of snow) and be capable with snow management and cold  weather operations
• Demonstrate resourcefulness and sound judgment in decision-making
• Be willing to work some weekends and evenings as required for events, emergencies, or special projects
• Have a passion for stewardship and a commitment to sustainability practices

Additional Requirements:

• Have a current Wilderness First Responder or higher certification (or a willingness to receive one soon after hire date)
• Complete Bush driver and trailer training soon after hire date and be willing to train others on driving Bush vehicles
• Meet the school’s standards when completing two separate background screenings

Compensation/Benefit Information for this position:

•  Compensation Range: $65,000 - $70,000 per year
• The school offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package to benefits-eligible employees, which includes:
  • Employer-paid medical insurance for eligible employees (includes an employee paid buy-up plan option)
  • Employer-paid dental and vision insurance for eligible employees
  • Health Savings Account with employer contribution for eligible employees 
  • Medical, dental and vision insurance for dependents of eligible employees (employeepaid)
  •  Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care) available to eligible employees (employee paid)
  • Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance for eligible employees
  • Employer-paid Life Insurance for eligible employees
  • Optional Voluntary Life Insurance available to eligible employees (employee paid)
  • Optional Voluntary Accident Insurance available to eligible employees (employee paid)
  • Optional Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance available to eligible employee (employee paid)
  • Retirement Plan available to eligible employees - the Retirement Plan includes generous employer contributions that align with specific years of service
  • Employee Assistance Program for eligible employees and their dependents
  • Paid Time Off (sick leave, vacation leave and personal days)
  • Professional Development opportunities

HOW TO APPLY 

Applicants interested in applying for this opportunity should visit our website at www.bush.edu and navigate to the employment section of the website (found under the “About Bush” tab) for additional information/instructions.

If you are interested in working at The Bush School, but this position does not fit your talents, please visit the employment section of our website noted above.

While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

The Bush School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admission or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or genetic information.  In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment based on the basis of age or marital status.

Salary : $65,000 - $70,000