Catherine Cook School

• Type: Full-Time, 12-month
• Supervisor: Director of Facilities
• Location: Chicago, IL, on-site
• Starting Date: ASAP

Why consider Catherine Cook School?

Cook is a vibrant and inclusive learning community where curiosity, connection, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to developing creative, collaborative problem solvers who tackle global challenges from multiple perspectives. Our dedicated faculty and staff help students from preschool through 8th grade become empowered learners and leaders.

All Cook employees are trained and supported in incorporating wellness and belonging into their work with students and adults. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) are the cornerstones upon which we build a curriculum and community.  At Cook, we commit to all community members being active learners, from our preschool students to us as adults. 

We invite you to consider how Cook will benefit from having you, along with your experiences in educating and learning, as a part of our community.  

How will this role contribute to the growth of the Cook community?

Catherine Cook School seeks a vibrant and innovative Facilities Associate. This position is a hands-on, community-centered role that helps ensure the smooth daily operation of the school through facilities maintenance, event support, and campus logistics. The ideal candidate is proactive, service-oriented, and adaptable, with a strong attention to detail and a willingness to support students, faculty, families, and visitors in creating a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environment. 

How will I contribute and grow personally and professionally in this role?

• Connecting with and caring for students and colleagues through weekly duties and administrative tasks 

• Growing as a life-long learner through active participation in meetings and professional development opportunities

• Applying skills as supported by training and protocols for proactive and responsive community building

• Proactively and reflectively communicating through various platforms the vision, goals, and progress of your work with both internal and external collaborators

• Growing our culture of belonging and wellness through active participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) efforts 

• Serving as an Ambassador for our Enrollment Management and Development efforts

• Employing Google and Outlook Applications for individual and team collaboration and communication 

Facilities Support

• Collaborate with facilities staff to complete work tickets

• Daily student arrival and dismissal support includes monitoring doors, helping students safely cross the street and load/unload, directing traffic, and using a radio to communicate with school staff

• Monitor two-way radio and respond to all transmissions including emergencies, clean- ups, deliveries, etc.

• Proactively ensure all facilities are maintained in a manner which provides a clean and safe environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• General carpentry and replacing/repairing building finishes such as ceiling tile, drywall/paint, locks and door hardware, carpet tiles, etc.

• Plumbing - minor leaks, clogged toilets/drains, touchless sensors, faucet aerators, etc.

• Furniture repair, assembly, and installation

• Electrical - resetting breakers, replacing outlets, switches, bulbs, ballasts, fuses, etc.

• HVAC – troubleshooting, thermostat scheduling/adjustment, opening/closing dampers, changing filters, building automation system management, etc.

•  Cleaning, janitorial, and snow removal

• Receive deliveries, distribute packages, and provide access for vendors and service personnel

• Maintain professionalism and customer service orientation in all interactions with faculty/staff, students, parents, vendors, neighbors, etc.

• Willingness-to-help attitude and an eye for detail and organization

Event Support

• Proactively plan and execute logistics for events/meetings/games by organizing space selection and reservation with event organizer. This includes, but is not limited to, managing internal events calendar, furniture setup/teardown, janitorial/maintenance, and security needs

• Keep security informed of on-campus events for arrival and flow purposes

• Adjust hours to be on campus for events

• Make sure event organizer is able to contact you during event via radio and/or phone

What will the ideal candidate for this role embody?

The ideal candidate for this role will embody a strong service mindset, excellent problem-solving skills, and a collaborative approach to supporting the school community. They will be resourceful, dependable, and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a safe, efficient, and welcoming campus environment. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge in building trades and facility systems including fire and life safety, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, building automation systems, etc.

• Ability to safely operate hand/power tools and equipment including ladders, snow blowers, box cutters, hand trucks, saws, drills, grinders, sanders, etc.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Must be able to effectively operate a two-way radio

• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Applications including Docs, Spreadsheets, etc.

• Ability to work safely, efficiently, and manage multiple tasks at the same time

• Skilled problem solver, highly resourceful, creative, and proactive

• Works well on a team and independently with supervision

• Attendance that is regular, predictable, and reliable is expected of all employees

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to stand, bend at the waist, sit, crouch, kneel, crawl, reach and lay horizontally for sustained periods of time, and/or as job may require.

• Ability to safely ascend/descend ladders

• Ability to lift/push/pull a minimum of 50lbs without assistance (e.g. carrying salt, moving furniture/packages, shoveling snow/operating a snow blower, etc.)

• Exposure to extreme temperature and weather conditions

• Exposure to high noise levels from machinery/power tools, construction, students, etc.

• Exposure to atmospheric conditions such as fumes/airborne particles from cleaning solutions, paints/solvents, vehicle exhaust, construction dust, etc.

• Exposure to biological substances such as blood, human waste, vomit, etc.

• Exposure to mechanical and electrical hazards

What is the salary range for this position?

In compliance with IL’s Equal Pay Act, this position's salary range is $24-$27/hour. When extending an offer, Catherine Cook considers factors such as (but not limited to) the position's scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations.

Catherine Cook School is an equal-opportunity employer. We recognize that skills and insights are developed through a variety of professional and lived experiences. We seek to be more representative of the communities in which we live and who we teach.  We are intentionally seeking candidates who can demonstrate the core qualifications of this role through a combination of both non-traditional and traditional personal and professional experiences.

What else is there to know about employment at Cook?

Catherine Cook offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and financial security of our employees. Our benefits for full-time eligible employees include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 403(b) plan

• 100% of the premium covered for Basic Life insurance, STD, LTD, AD&D

• HSA, FSA, Dependent Care available

• Professional Development opportunities

• Generous paid time off

• Pet Insurance

• Identity Theft Protection