Facilities Manager

The Facilities Manager of The Wetlands Institute is responsible for maintaining and overseeing the grounds, buildings, and equipment of The Wetlands Institute's two campuses to ensure that operations are safe and functional.

This is a full-time exempt position based in Stone Harbor, New Jersey.

Operations Management

• Plan, coordinate, implement, and oversee day to day maintenance operations of facilities
• Plan, schedule, coordinate, and oversee maintenance and repair activities.
• Manage a maintenance technician, including assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and providing guidance and training.
• Coordinate building and grounds renovations and upgrades.
• Ensure maintenance compliance of fire alarm systems and other fixed equipment. Coordinates with outside contractors as needed.
• Prioritize and schedule maintenance activities to ensure minimal disruption to schedules.
• Create reports on maintenance, repairs, safety and other occurrences for the Director of Administration.
• Prepare facilities for changing weather conditions or risk management during storms.
• Be on-call in case of emergency.

Equipment Maintenance and Repair

• Conduct regular inspections and maintenance checks on boats, trucks, and other equipment to identify issues in need of repair.
• Collaborate with contractors, vendors and suppliers to procure necessary parts, equipment, and services to support maintenance operations.

Safety and Compliance

• Conduct or oversee facilities inspections to meet safety regulations. Perform maintenance audits to ensure compliance as needed.
• Ensures security, safety, and emergency preparedness procedures are effective and compliant for Institute operations.
• Ensure safety and compliance standards are properly implemented, including training programs for staff.
• Conduct regular safety audits and inspections, addressing any identified issues promptly.

Budgeting and Cost Control

• Develop annual maintenance budget and contribute to development of capital expenditures budgeting process.
• Review maintenance-related expenses, such as equipment repairs and spare parts inventory, to identify areas for cost reduction and efficiency improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience as facilities manager or relevant position.
• Experience negotiating vendor contracts and working with licensed contractors.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfort and familiarity with online data tracking and management systems and communication tools.
• Professionalism and ability to work on a team.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent physical activities including lifting, pushing and pulling items up to 50 pounds; reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, crouching and prolonged periods of sitting.
• Ability to work various shifts including evenings and weekends.

This information is not designed to be a complete inventory of the job duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Rather, it’s designed to give the general nature and level of work to be performed by an employee assigned to this job title.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience. We provide a competitive employment package, which includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, matching contributions to a 403b retirement plan, and a generous paid vacation and paid-time-off policy. For questions related to anticipated salary and other benefits, please contact hr@wetlandsinstitute.org.

The Wetlands Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

Application Information

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to hr@wetlandsinstitute.org and include Facilities Manager in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning October, 16 2023 and position will remain open until filled.

About The Wetlands Institute

The position will be located at the Wetlands Institute, located on a 15,000-acre tidal marsh in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. The Wetlands Institute is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to promote appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of wetlands and coastal ecosystems through our programs in research, education, and conservation. Our goals are to a) teach people of all ages the value of wetlands and coastal ecosystems for the survival of life on earth; b) conduct research and conservation focused on wetlands and coastal ecosystems and their inhabitants; and c) encourage stewardship of these ecosystems worldwide. The Wetlands Institute has more than 17,000 annual visitors, 1,300 members, and hosts more than 12,000 schoolchildren annually.

Founded in 1969 by Herbert Mills (Executive Director, World Wildlife Fund US, 1965-1969), The Wetlands Institute is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering knowledge and appreciation of coastal environments. We believe that people will value wetlands and coastal ecosystems if they understand how they work and why the health of those systems is so tightly intertwined with our own wellbeing. That belief is the moving force behind all our services. Through our programs in conservation, research, education, and outreach, we employ an interdisciplinary approach to inspire people of all ages to care about the environment and to become environmentally literate and involved citizens.

The Wetlands Institute is also a field laboratory and research site for visiting scientists and students ranging from undergraduate through post-doctoral levels. The Wetlands Institute is a founding partner of the Seven Mile Island Innovation Laboratory along with the US Army Corp of Engineers and the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The laboratory is an innovation leader and proving ground for the development of novel tools and techniques for ecological restoration of coastal ecosystems.

The Wetlands Institute works with area high schools, service organizations, and the public on volunteer conservation initiatives designed to protect and preserve coastal and wetland ecosystems and their inhabitants, which includes providing authentic, experiential engagement opportunities for participants.