Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds

Statement of Duties

The Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds is responsible for the management and operation of all City and School facility maintenance and cleaning, including all buildings, schools and schoolyards, parks, playgrounds, community paths and athletic fields and courts.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Oversees Department of Public Works (DPW) employees across two divisions: Buildings and Grounds.
• Plans, organizes and directs the delivery of maintenance services for:
  
  • 23 public buildings and 13 schools including all repairs, scheduled maintenance, custodial services and furniture moves.
  • All public open spaces including caring for all planting beds, irrigation systems, surfaces and play structures.
• Implements and monitors a variety of service contracts related to building maintenance including but not limited to:  heating plant maintenance and control,  integrated pest management, moving, as well as service contracts related to repairs to electrical systems, plumbing , elevators, maintenance alarm systems, glass,  roofing, and flooring. etc.
• Implements and monitors a variety of service contracts related to grounds maintenance including heating landscaping, irrigation maintenance and repairs, play structure maintenance and repairs, etc.
• Researches new products, laws, regulations, etc. for the purpose of recommending purchases, contracts, and maintaining city-wide services.
• Makes preliminary estimates of the cost of repairs and maintenance to City and School facilities.
• Oversees and administers the purchasing of supplies and equipment according to Federal, State and City purchasing policies and procedures.
• Selects vendors and contractors who provide building and grounds maintenance services.
• Assesses and documents vendor performance and efficiency.
• Coordinates departmental cooperation with stakeholders in other City departments, including City Administration, the School Department, Parks and Recreation, Constituent Services, Planning Department, Capital Projects, Inspectional Services and others.
• Supports the City’s Integrated Pest Management plan in Schools, City buildings and parks and playgrounds.
• Prepares a wide variety of written materials (e.g. Council agenda items and briefings, contracts for professional services, budgets, property contracts, legislative updates, contract changes, requests for proposals, a variety of narrative and statistical reports related to constructions, maintenance, and modernization of facilities) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, seeking input, and/or conveying information.
• Reviews, comments on, and closes out all Buildings and Grounds service orders, and ensures that work is completed appropriately and efficiently.
• Schedules and coordinates all required inspections of elevators, generators and fire escapes
• Oversees seasonal changeovers and decoration.
• Attends various meetings as requested by the DPW Commissioner.
• Availability to be on site, at any hour, for all severe weather events including snow and flooding.

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, General Construction, Architecture, Landscape Architecture or a related field, with five to seven (5-7) years of work experience managing the maintenance and operations of a portfolio of buildings, parks and playgrounds, or other assets; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.    

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of building maintenance and operation activities in a multiple facility portfolio.
• Knowledge of heating plant and air conditioning operations and safety precautions.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of coordinating maintenance and custodial staff and material.
• Comprehensive knowledge of building and construction trades.
• Knowledge of Parks and plantings.
• Knowledge of irrigation systems.
• Working knowledge of the application of technology in support of building maintenance functions. 
• Working knowledge of state procurement laws.
• Knowledge and experience with Computer Maintenance Management Systems (Maximo, Facility Dude, SAP or similar) and ability to prioritize, schedule frequencies and assign work orders. Ability to write and schedule of Preventive Maintenance Job Plans
• Knowledge of operations, services and activities of a comprehensive park management program
• Knowledge of principles of park management and facilities maintenance
• Knowledge of principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration
• Knowledge of principles and practices of playground safety, inspections and record keeping
• Knowledge of principles of irrigation installation, maintenance and operations of large scale systems
• Principles and practices related to the installation and maintenance of large scale landscape environments.
• Knowledge of
• Knowledge of Grants a plus.

Abilities:

• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a detailed and accurate manner
• Ability to deal with disgruntled members of the public in a tactful manner
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, diagrams and blue prints
• Ability to master new skills, identify gaps in employee skillsets, and coach employees to better work performance
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees and contractors doing business with the City.

Skill:

• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent supervisory and management skills.
• Computer and technological fluency required; proficiency in standard office software (Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and equipment.

Work Environment              

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Work may require some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about work sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking for some of the work period.  Superintendent may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical 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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes and routinely reviewing maps and blueprints with a need for color vision.

DEADLINE EXTENDED

Send your resume and cover letter by September 30, 2020 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.