Job Application for Building Services Manager at California Academy of Sciences

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

The Manager of Building Services is responsible for the daily oversight of custodial operations, mailroom services, employee office space support, and event set-up and tear-down.

This role provides direct operational leadership for custodial services, mailroom operations, and event setup functions, while coordinating landscape and grounds maintenance through external vendors.

This role coordinates all landscape and grounds maintenance activities—including the Academy’s 2.5-acre living roof—handled by an external landscape contractor.

The Manager ensures all public and staff areas are clean, safe, and well-maintained, and that key operational services such as event setups, internal space moves, and mail distribution are executed efficiently.

This role requires a hands-on operational leader who is comfortable working alongside frontline staff, maintaining service continuity, and supporting intermittent after-hours operational needs. The Manager works collaboratively across departments to ensure seamless service delivery aligned with institutional values and priorities.

Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California.

Key Responsibilities

Custodial Operations

Lead daily custodial operations through a hands-on management approach, providing direct oversight, coaching, and operational support to staff. Set daily priorities, monitor performance, address operational challenges, and maintain team engagement and accountability.
Serve as the primary operational leader for custodial services, including time in the field supporting staff, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring consistent service delivery across shifts, including intermittent after-hours and weekend support as needed.
Ensure cleanliness and sanitation standards are met across public, exhibit, and back-of-house areas.
Develop and implement cleaning schedules, supply inventory systems, and staffing plans.
Coordinate special cleaning projects and exhibit turnovers in collaboration with internal departments.
Support the Academy’s environmental goals by promoting green cleaning practices, reducing waste, and researching and suggesting new and updated operational practices.

Grounds and Living Roof Maintenance (Contractor Coordination)

Manages the Academy's landscaping operation, overseeing landscaping contractors
Serve as the primary Academy contact for the contracted landscape maintenance provider, which manages all day-to-day landscape and living roof maintenance.
Oversee the vendor’s work on all exterior landscaped areas, including the living roof, ensuring quality, schedule adherence, and alignment with institutional priorities.
Conduct site inspections and coordinate timely resolution of issues.

Mailroom and Loading Dock Oversight

Supervise mailroom staff members responsible for internal and external mail/package distribution.
Ensure efficient and secure handling of incoming and outgoing deliveries.
Coordinate access of the loading dock for vendor deliveries, waste removal, and institutional logistics.
Provide operational support for after-hours and weekend activities as needed.
Maintenance oversight of all Academy copy machines

Event Support

Coordinate and supervise event furniture and equipment setups and teardowns for internal meetings, public programs, and rental events.
Maintain inventory of event and move-related materials and ensure readiness for institutional use.
Work closely with multiple Academy departments to ensure alignment with program needs and timelines.

Additional Responsibilities

Hire, train, and supervise team members to foster a culture of service, safety, and accountability.
Develop and manage operating budgets for custodial, support services, and supplies.
Maintain records of work orders, service metrics, and vendor communications.
Ensure compliance with institutional safety procedures, including OSHA standards, hazardous materials handling, and ergonomic guidelines.
Participate in emergency response planning and inclement weather protocols.
Work with the Academy’s volunteer and community engagement teams to support public participation in grounds-related activities.
Monitor and assign work requests through the Academy’s CMMS (Limble), ensuring timely response, resolution, and accurate documentation of service delivery.
Maintain strong working relationships with all departments across the Academy to deliver superior operational support.

Qualifications: A successful candidate will have the following:

EXPERIENCE and/or EDUCATION:

Required

Experience leading hands-on service operations and frontline staff in a complex, public-facing environment.
Strong management experience with a minimum of 5 years of experience in facilities services, custodial, grounds, in a museum, university, public institution, or similarly complex environment.
Experience coordinating vendor contracts and holding external providers accountable for quality and performance.
Strong organizational, communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently, make decisions in a fast-paced environment, and respond to evening and weekend operational needs.

Preferred

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Experience working in a cultural, scientific, or educational institution.
Proficiency with CMMS and work order tracking systems.
Bilingual English/Spanish or Cantonese a plus

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, standing, sitting, kneeling, walking, crawling, reaching, talking, and hearing.
Work in high places from ladders, scaffolds, or lifts.
Must be able to perform repetitive motions 75% of the time.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 70 lbs.
The job is performed under some temperature and humidity extremes

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $105,000 - $115,000. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week. Occasional after-hours or weekend support for events and maintenance activities.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

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Can you briefly walk me through your past experience managing facilities/custodial teams or custodial services? What types of facilities and team sizes have you overseen?

In your previous roles, what were your responsibilities related to maintaining public-facing spaces such as lobbies, galleries, classrooms, or restrooms?

Tell me about your experience managing multiple service functions simultaneously—such as custodial, mailroom, events, or office moves. Which functions did you directly supervise?

What experience do you have coordinating or managing work performed by outside vendors—such as landscaping, roof maintenance, or other contracted services?

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Building Services Manager

Grounds and Living Roof Maintenance (Contractor Coordination)

Mailroom and Loading Dock Oversight

Event Support

Additional Responsibilities

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