Residential Manager

School of Visual Arts•New York, NY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Residential Manager oversees the daily operations and maintenance of the School of Visual Arts’ multi-tenant student dormitories, grounds, and surrounding areas. Reporting to the Director of Facilities & Operations, the role ensures that facilities, equipment, and building systems are proactively maintained, preventive maintenance programs are carried out, and facilities services are delivered promptly and to a high standard. The Manager also supervises residential maintenance personnel and coordinates vendors and contractors. The position is based at 340 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010, with travel among campus residential locations. The standard schedule is 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; schedules may vary to meet departmental needs. Overtime, holiday, evening, weekend, and emergency coverage may be required, including 24/7 emergency response as needed. The role requires the ability to work indoors and outdoors in varied weather and conditions, with exposure to temperature extremes, noise, mechanical hazards, and fumes or odors. Physical activities include frequent sitting, standing, walking, squatting, bending, upper-body twisting, and climbing, as well as occasional kneeling and crawling. The employee must be able to bend, lift, walk, carry, or exert force equivalent to lifting up to 50 pounds unassisted.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Five years of experience in building operations and maintenance.
NYCFD Fire & Life Safety Director (FLSD) Certificate of Fitness, or one or more of the following FDNY certifications: S-12, S-13, S-95, or P-98.
Knowledge of property management best practices in a higher education setting.
Knowledge of local building codes, safety regulations, and vendor management procedures.
Strong verbal, written, digital, and interpersonal communication skills for working with students, faculty, staff, and external vendors.
Ability to make sound decisions under pressure, adapt to changing priorities, and proactively resolve property-related issues.
Ability to lead collaboratively, train staff, and manage schedules and project timelines efficiently.
Ability to adapt to schedule or location changes and be available for campus events, peak operational needs, and emergencies.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and perform the stated physical activities and work in the described conditions.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of fire and building systems, including boiler operations, HVAC, carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, and general mechanics.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
Proficiency with Building Management Systems (BMS) and Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) platforms.
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Manage daily operations of residential buildings, grounds, and surrounding areas.
Ensure proper operation of building infrastructure and mechanical, fire safety, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Execute required cleaning and preventive maintenance programs.
Conduct daily inspections of grounds for appearance, regulatory compliance, and condition.
Maintain and assign work orders using SVA’s maintenance work order system, following departmental procedures, including during weekends, after hours, closings, and holidays.
Identify potential maintenance concerns, tenant issues, and safety risks; resolve problems and implement corrective actions.
Plan and coordinate residential room turnovers with external vendors and contractors.
Schedule mechanical, plumbing, and electrical repairs as needed.
Create and maintain an up-to-date inventory of mechanical equipment, supplies, and tools.
Track severe weather conditions to prepare for emergencies and building coverage.
Respond to building and college emergencies as needed, including weather closings, storm cleanup, and after-hours or weekend calls.
Travel to inspect residential locations across campus.
Participate in department meetings and college-related events, and perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Facilities & Operations.
Lead, oversee, and evaluate maintenance team performance, ensuring workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
Assign technicians’ work orders during weekends, after hours, closings, and holidays.
Assist with selection, recruitment, and onboarding of Maintenance Technicians I and II.
Provide ongoing training and performance feedback, and make recommendations for formal evaluation or dismissal when necessary.