Laboratory Schools: Operations Manager

Department
 

Lab School Operations

About the Department
 

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of color, LGBTQ+ identified candidates, candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, and candidates with a demonstrated commitment to a deepening diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary
 

Report to the Director of Operations at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Be an active member of the Operations Management Team. Responsible for the oversight and coordination of maintenance and repairs for Laboratory Schools’ buildings. Coordinate projects and repairs with Facilities Management personnel. Supervise facilities specialists and facilities support staff. Assists in project management of new Lab project construction and renovation.

Responsibilities

• Supervise assigned staff.

• Coordinate and prioritize all short-term and long-term maintenance work and space planning.  Have a strong focus on preventative maintenance. 

• Receive requests and provide or supervise delivery of appropriate services. 

• Maintain building keys, building supplies, and building asset information. 

• Manage the building dock.

• Assist with oversight of renovation and new construction as needed.

• Assist with coordination of efforts of Lab Schools’ personnel, Facilities Management, architects and contractors.

• Collaborate and coordinate building services with Lab Operations, UChicago Facilities Services, and vendors.  Be the key point of contact and forge solid relationships.

• Collaborate and coordinate physical security with Lab Operations, Lab Safety and Security, and University Police.

• Report problems with building systems and emergency management systems.

• Assist with the oversight and maintenance of Lab Schools vehicles.

• Assist in preparing budget for facilities and managing the budget for internal capital expenditures

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