Facilities Manager

Overview

Work type: Full time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Ed Support Level 1-Range 3

Occupation: Facilities Management

Location: Northern Metropolitan

Reference: 1480544

Location Profile

Niddrie Autistic School is a government school located in the South West Victoria Region. The school has established a strong reputation for delivering exemplary education for students with autism, catering specifically to students from Prep to Year 3.

The school is committed to excellence, with high expectations for students and staff alike. There is a strong belief that every child can learn and achieve, and this philosophy underpins the school's educational approach. Niddrie Autistic School is particularly skilled in developing and implementing Individual Educational Plans (IEPs), ensuring that student progress is closely monitored and aligned with personalised learning goals.

Niddrie Autistic School is situated 16 kilometers north of Melbourne¿s Central Business District (CBD) in the suburb of Niddrie. The school exclusively enrolls students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In 2024, the school had an enrolment of 128 students, with 82% being boys. Additionally, 18% of students come from a Language Other Than English (LOTE) background. Many students travel from a wide geographical area and use a contract bus service to attend school.

The school¿s philosophy centers on providing an intensive program to support students in developing social communication skills and a sense of self and others. This foundational work aims to facilitate their successful inclusion and participation in mainstream or specialised educational settings in later years.

A key focus of Niddrie Autistic School is ensuring students experience a smooth transition to their designated neighborhood mainstream or special school setting beyond Year 3. The school provides targeted transition support, both during students¿ time at Niddrie and in the years following their departure, to maximise their continued success in further educational contexts.

In 2021, the school completed a Department of Education and Training (DET) funded capital works project, resulting in a state-of-the-art building featuring 12 new classrooms and collaborative learning areas. This project was the first stage of a broader Master Plan aimed at redeveloping the entire school site to enhance educational facilities and student support services.

Selection Criteria

SC1: Demonstrated experience in managing school including maintenance planning, contractor supervision, and compliance with safety regulations (including ESM)..

SC2: Strong understanding of Victorian Department of Education policies, occupational health and safety standards, and relevant building codes as they apply to school environments.

SC3: Proven ability to manage budgets effectively, allocate resources efficiently, and oversee procurement processes for maintenance and development projects.

SC4: Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve facility-related issues promptly, adapting to the needs of an autism-specific learning environment.

SC5: Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills to liaise with staff, contractors, and external agencies, ensuring effective communication and collaboration in maintaining school facilities

Role

There is an attendance requirement for this position. Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employees' position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of a Facilities Manager:

• Planning and undertaking building and grounds maintenance and upgrades.
• Procurement and contract management for buildings and facilities in partnership with the Principal Class team and Finance Committee, including major and minor project management, supervision, and meeting of timelines.
• Leading OHS induction and coordination of the work of contractors.
• Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that buildings and facilities comply with OH&S requirements.
• Coordinating essential property services, for example, security, annual maintenance programs, cleaning contractors and services, pest management, and grounds.
• Maintaining a register of approved tradespeople and regular service providers.
• Setting up furniture and equipment for school events and facilities.
• Establishing a routine maintenance schedule that supports the good order of the school and its facilities, including maintenance services and OHS compliance.
• Ensuring DE policies and procedures are adhered to
• Liaising with the OHS Management representative and administration staff regarding OHS and procurement matters.
• Other relevant duties as required by the Principal.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

EEO AND OHS Commitment

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Other Information

A written response to each of the Selection Criteria is mandatory.

Up to three referees who are able to comment on your application in relation to the Selection Criteria.

Referees other than those nominated may be contacted by the Panel.

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx