• Part Time / Full Time

BACKGROUND

The River Nile School (RNS) is a specialist, independent, inclusive, senior-secondary school, delivering Applied Learning curriculum to young refugee and asylum seeker women, who have had disrupted schooling or are struggling to cope with mainstream school. We are also a registered charitable organisation that delivers everything we do with our students for free.

RNS provides a high-challenge, high-support learning environment with a strengths-based approach. It offers small class sizes and teachers, and student support staff work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for each student with individualised learning and wellbeing programs for all students. RNS adopts a holistic model for supporting the unique educational and support needs of each student, so developing strong student-staff relationships is essential. As our students come from backgrounds where they may have experienced significant trauma and torture, we adopt a trauma-informed approach to our practice.

School website: www.rivernileschool.vic.edu.au

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Facilities Manager plays an important role focused on maintaining and enhancing the school’s operational efficiency and physical environment by providing a service to the staff and students at River Nile School. This role requires a proactive approach, excellent organisational skills, and a strong commitment to the school’s values and safety standards.

Key Selection Criteria

• Proven expertise in facilities and property management practices and principles, with a strong track record of applying them effectively.
• Highly developed organisational skills with a demonstrated ability to utilise effective time management strategies, establish priorities and maintain accurate records.
• Committed to supporting and improving school services, operations and infrastructure projects.
• Proactive in identifying and addressing facilities maintenance needs.
• Ensure project outcomes are achieved on time, on budget and to the highest quality as per brief and standards.
• Create a culture of aesthetic excellence.
• You respect and value the perspectives of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) young people and are interested in working with those with complex needs to help them achieve their potential.
• A strong understanding of risk management and workplace health and safety.

Position reports to:

Business Manager

Specific Responsibilities and Duties

In consultation with the Principal, Assistant Principal and Business Manager, determine and manage work priorities within the school office, and work collaboratively with the RNS team.

Specific responsibilities and duties include:

Logistics:

• Serve as the main point of contact (POC) for all stakeholders related to building operations.
• Proactively identify and address facilities maintenance needs.
• Offer support and assistance on infrastructure projects.
• Work between multiple school sites
• Implement and promote sustainability initiatives within the facilities.
• Oversee ongoing and annual tasks such as window washing of building, testing and tagging, carpet cleaning.
• Skilled in vendor management, including performance evaluation and fostering strong partnerships with service providers.
• Coordinate building works for both existing and new services, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
• Identify opportunities for operational and financial efficiencies.
• Coordinate office access and security systems.

Maintenance:

• Work through a schedule of maintenance and building safety audits.
• Promptly log and rectify any facilities security issues/repairs/hazards and address them, accordingly, maintaining accurate records.
• Carry out and oversee where necessary general repair and maintenance to equipment and minor building works.
• Deliver proactive risk and issue management, recommend options and solutions, maintain the risk and issue register and produce reports as required.

Leadership:

• Serve as the Fire Safety Advisor and OH&S Manager specifically as it relates to facilities and services.
• Manage school campus lease contracts, including negotiating new terms as needed.
• Guide and mentor the cleaning services team, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.
• Be available for after hour call outs to assist with facilities emergencies.
• Coordinate the setting up of school events, such as dances, plays, and sports events.
• Lead in creating a safe, well-maintained environment where students can learn and thrive.
• Coordinate annual review of emergency management plan, ensuring compliance with legislation.
• Maintain the OHS risk register and actively participate in regular audits to ensure a safe work environment.
• Develop and implement facility management strategies to ensure optimal use of space, efficiency, and alignment with organisational goals.
• Lead and manage facility-related projects, including renovations, maintenance, and improvements, ensuring timely completion and budget adherence.
• Communicate key facility updates and issues to staff, providing clear and timely information on maintenance schedules, safety protocols, and any disruptions affecting the workplace.
• Along with nominated agent, act as a conduit between the school and the tenants of any buildings owned by the school and participate in a wide range of operational initiatives.
• In addition to managing facilities, the facility manager is expected to perform other tasks as directed by the principal, ensuring smooth operations and efficient use of resources.
• Participate in facilities decision-making processes. Provide guidance to the leadership team regarding facility-related matters. Implement critical aspects of the strategic, business, and annual plans in alignment with facility considerations.

Your Mindset:

• You believe every young person deserves a thriving future.
• You respect and value the perspectives of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) young people and are interested in working with those with complex needs to help them achieve their potential.
• You are extremely comfortable working in a flexible, evolving, changing work environment, staying focused on outcomes and adapting your approach as needed.
• You are collaborative, valuing and respecting relationships within and across our entire team and with our external partners.
• You take the initiative, solve problems and have close attention to detail.
• You demonstrate ability to manage multiple priorities independently while working effectively as part of wider team.

Qualifications, Experience, Credentials and Checks

1. Working with Children Check.
2. Agree to undergo Police Check.
3. 100-point Proof of Identity.
4. Knowledge of Occupational Health & Safety policies and procedures and an ability to manage risk within the work environment.
5. Comfortable using Microsoft Office Suite.

Employment Conditions

• Competitive salary, access to tax-effective salary packaging, training and development opportunities and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to:

1. 1. Reference checks
   2. A satisfactory Pre-Employment Disclosure Declaration; and
   3. evidence that the applicant has completed training in aspects of Child Safety (a DET link to on-line training for Non-Government schools will be provided).

• A 6-month probationary period will apply, and induction and professional support will be provided.

Applications must include a resume, cover letter and a response to the key selection criteria.

Please email [email protected] using the subject line: Facilities Manager enquiry via EthicalJobs for further information.