Department: Facilities
FLSA: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Facilities
Schedule: Full-time, calendar year. A daily minimum work schedule of Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.and the position is considered essential staff.
Designation: Staff Position
Travel: Rare
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Environmental Services Manager is a working manager within the Facilities Department and the primary point of contact for cleaning-related operations, housekeeping services, and event setup support across campus. This is a hands-on role: the Manager is expected to be visible in buildings daily, inspect work, respond to service needs, support setups and turnovers, and assist with operational tasks when staffing levels, events, emergencies, or campus priorities require it.
Reporting to the Director of Facilities, the Manager supervises custodial and housekeeping staff, coordinates daily assignments, manages schedules and work orders, supports green cleaning and sustainability practices, oversees selected vendors, and collaborates with campus partners to keep buildings, residences, and event spaces clean, safe, ready, and well-maintained year-round.
Because we support a vibrant, year-round campus community, this role includes the following operational needs:
- Event & After-Hours Support: Occasional weeknight, weekend, or holiday support is required to keep our programs running smoothly.
- On-Call & Essential Response: As essential staff, this position participates in an on-call rotation to respond to campus needs when necessary.
- Future Growth: As our campus programs evolve, core schedules may be adjusted (with advance notice) to ensure great coverage for the Mars Athletic Center and year-round operations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Daily Operations and Working Responsibilities
- Perform daily walkthroughs of assigned campus areas to confirm cleanliness, safety, readiness, and service quality; follow up directly with staff and campus partners as needed.
- Manage day-to-day custodial and housekeeping services for dormitories, academic buildings, offices, specialty spaces, athletics facilities, student-facing areas, faculty housing, and other Facilities-managed spaces.
- Assign and prioritize work orders, service requests, room turnovers, inspections, event setups, and urgent cleaning needs according to the school's priorities.
- Provide hands-on assistance with cleaning, setups, moves, inspections, supply delivery, equipment use, or other daily tasks when needed to maintain service levels.
- Coordinate routine, seasonal, and project-based cleaning; adjust staffing and schedules for school breaks, summer programs, peak events, and changing campus needs.
- Ensure spaces are cleaned, reset, and ready for occupancy or use after moves, events, programs, renovations, or seasonal transitions.
Staff Leadership and Management
- Supervise, schedule, train, support, and evaluate Environmental Services staff across day and evening shifts, including full-time, per-diem, and contracted support as assigned.
- Set clear expectations, inspect assigned work in accordance with established QA/QC procedures, provide feedback, address performance issues, and support a strong team approach across shifts.
- Hire, onboard, and train staff in coordination with Facilities leadership; approve weekly time sheets and schedule time off based on operational needs.
- Promote safe work practices and ensure compliance with Facilities safety protocols, OSHA standards, chemical-handling requirements, and proper use of PPE.
Sustainability, Supplies, and Equipment
- Implement and maintain green cleaning practices that support campus sustainability goals, occupant health, and responsible materials handling.
- Select, manage, and train staff on environmentally preferable cleaning products, proper dilution practices, equipment use, waste reduction, recycling, and safe chemical handling.
- Requisition departmental supplies; assist with budgeting, inventory management, custodial equipment planning, and identification of efficiency or service improvements.
Compliance, Residential, Event, and Program Support
- Oversee assigned service contracts such as pest management, waste management, CTDEEP Compliance, carpet cleaning, and other Facilities-related support; monitor schedules, safety requirements, service levels, and vendor performance.
- Coordinate faculty housing cleaning and turnover, including post-renovation cleaning, inspections of vacated residences, and communication with residents regarding cleaning-related work orders.
- Support Residential Life with protocols for bed bugs, lice, and related residential concerns as needed.
- Coordinate setups, moves, and space readiness for Opening Days, admissions and development events, Reunion Weekend, Graduation, athletics, auxiliary programs, summer programs, and other campus events.
- Maintain effective written and oral communication with students, faculty, staff, residents, contractors, vendors, and campus partners, while projecting a positive image of the Facilities Department.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- High School diploma preferred or GED; experience in custodial, facilities, environmental services, or campus operations preferred.
- Experience managing custodial, housekeeping, environmental services, or facilities operations.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience, including scheduling, training, performance feedback, and team communication.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to perform various cleaning techniques and to train others on those techniques.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to safely and effectively use cleaning equipment, including strippers, waxers, and related custodial equipment.
- Knowledge of cleaning agents, chemical-handling requirements, green cleaning products, proper dilution practices, and safety standards.
- Experience overseeing vendors, contractors, or service contracts preferred.
- Strong organizational, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to follow oral and written instructions in English and to work independently within established procedures and policies.
- Attention to detail and a strong service orientation.
- Ability to interact in a pleasant, professional manner with students, faculty, staff, residents, vendors, and contractors.
- Ability to work flexible hours as needed to support Facilities Operations on a 24/7 residential campus.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Work is conducted in a school environment and throughout campus buildings, residences, and Facilities-managed spaces.
- Operates machinery such as cleaning equipment, power tools, and hand tools.
- Requires extensive walking and frequent standing, stooping, and bending.
- Frequent lifting and carrying up to 20 lbs.
- Occasional ability to safely lift up to 50 lbs.
- Work with hazardous materials using the appropriate protective equipment in work areas.
- Must be able to ascend and descend stairs and ladders.
- May require after-hours response to Facilities-related issues, campus events, or emergencies.
- The Hotchkiss School property is a tobacco-free environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Essential functions and basic skills have been included. This description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.
The Hotchkiss School is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities.
The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all phases of the employment process, including recruitment, hiring, assignment, terms and conditions of employment, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination.
In accordance with applicable law, the School does not discriminate against any individual based on age, ancestry, color, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, past or present history of mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
