Assistant Manager, Building Maintenance

Howard County Public School System•Thomasville, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Manager, Building Maintenance, the Assistant Manager, Building Maintenance supports the daily operations, maintenance, repair, and preventive maintenance activities for Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) facilities. This position provides operational leadership and oversight for multiple building maintenance trades including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, doors and hardware, and fire and safety services. This role coordinates maintenance operations across assigned schools and facilities to ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and code-compliant building systems that support the instructional mission of HCPSS. Responsibilities include personnel supervision, emergency response coordination, work order management, contractor oversight, budget support, operational planning, customer service coordination, asset management, system administration, procurement support, and development of departmental procedures and standards. This role ensures school facilities remain safe, operational, sustainable, and conducive to student learning through effective maintenance, leadership, operational accountability, and continuous improvement initiatives. This position is considered essential personnel and the incumbent must be available 24/7 for emergencies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and ten (10) years of progressive experience in facilities maintenance, operations, building systems management, or a closely related field.
Associate degree and eight (8) years of progressive experience in facilities maintenance, operations, building systems management, or a closely related field.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and six (6) years of progressive experience in facilities maintenance, operations, building systems management, or a closely related field.
Experience supervising maintenance personnel and coordinating multi-trade operations.
Experience managing building maintenance operations in commercial, institutional, municipal, or educational facilities.
Experience coordinating contractors, vendors, procurement activities, and/or operational projects.
Experience responding to facility emergencies and managing competing operational priorities.
Knowledge of building maintenance operations, facility systems, and preventive maintenance practices.
Knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, BAS controls, and general building systems.
Knowledge of applicable safety regulations, code requirements, and maintenance standards.
Ability to supervise and coordinate multiple maintenance trades and operational priorities simultaneously.
Ability to analyze operational issues and implement effective solutions.
Ability to communicate effectively with staff, school administrators, contractors, vendors, and the public.
Ability to develop procedures, operational documentation, and training materials.
Ability to utilize CMMS systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and related software platforms.
Ability to respond effectively during emergency situations and operational disruptions.
Strong organizational, leadership, customer service, and decision-making skills.
Possession of a Maryland Class C driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
Experience in K-12 educational facilities maintenance operations.
Experience managing preventive maintenance programs.
Experience monitoring, navigating, and responding to alerts within a Building Automation System (BAS).
Experience with budget development and operational planning.
Experience with public sector procurement and contractor management.
Experience implementing operational procedures, training programs, or maintenance system improvements.
Experience utilizing computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
Experience reading and interpreting construction blueprint drawings and specifications

Responsibilities

Supervises and coordinates daily building maintenance operations, including oversight of Senior Leads, technicians, mechanics, apprentices, contracted service providers, work order management, preventive maintenance programs, workflow prioritization, asset management systems, operational documentation, and reporting processes across multiple maintenance trades.
Coordinates emergency maintenance response activities, including HVAC failures, plumbing emergencies, utility outages, environmental concerns, weather events, and other facility-related incidents requiring immediate operational response.
Conducts field inspections, quality assurance reviews, operational audits, and facility condition assessments to ensure maintenance work meets HCPSS standards, code requirements, and operational expectations.
Coordinates maintenance activities with school administrators, custodial services, contractors, engineers, vendors, procurement staff, and other HCPSS departments to minimize disruption to school operations while supporting the efficient delivery of maintenance services.
Assists with budget development, procurement planning, contractor management, material purchasing, and monitoring maintenance expenditures to ensure effective use of departmental resources.
Supports personnel management activities, including recruitment, employee training, scheduling, timekeeping review, performance management, disciplinary coordination, and staff development.
Assists with the development and implementation of departmental procedures, operational standards, safety initiatives, training programs, and continuous improvement efforts to enhance maintenance operations.
The employee is responsible for the use of safety devices and protective equipment in order to minimize the frequency and severity of work-related accidents. The employee is responsible for using safe practices and methods in the operation and supplies related to their job.
The employee is further responsible for correcting any conditions within the building or grounds that may be hazardous to employees, students, or staff assigned to the building and reporting same to the appropriate administrator.