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current openings

Facilities Lead

Job Title: Facilities Lead
Hours: 20 hours a week
Reports to: Operations Director
Location: In-person, primarily at Freetown Farm (8000 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia, MD)
Salary: $20-22/hour commensurate with experience
Application Deadline: March 15, 2026

About the Community Ecology Institute: Founded in 2016, the Community Ecology Institute (CEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to cultivate communities where people and nature thrive together. We achieve our mission by providing equitable, intergenerational experiential education that leads to intersecting health and environmental benefits. CEI’s work focuses on tangible, community-level changes at the intersections of environment, education, equity, and health. Our Freetown Farm and Green Farmacy Garden sites are vibrant community hubs that host youth programs, volunteers, educational events, and food-growing initiatives year-round. We are seeking a Facilities Lead to help care for these spaces so they remain safe, functional, and welcoming for all. CEI is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply and welcome individuals who share our commitment to equity, community care, and environmental stewardship.

Position Summary: The Facilities Lead plays a key role in maintaining CEI’s physical spaces and supporting daily operations across our Freetown Farm and Green Farmacy Garden locations. This position responds to maintenance needs, performs routine upkeep, and coordinates repairs to ensure buildings, grounds, and infrastructure are well cared for. This role includes both indoor and outdoor work across active community sites. The Facilities Lead will regularly engage with staff, volunteers, youth participants, and community members in welcoming and inclusive environments. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on problem solving, working outdoors, and contributing to a mission-driven organization grounded in community and environmental stewardship.

Key Responsibilities:
Facilities & Property Maintenance
  • Respond to maintenance requests and emergency facilities issues across both sites in a timely manner
  • Perform routine repairs and upkeep of buildings, tools, and infrastructure
  • Maintain safe, clean, and functional indoor and outdoor spaces
  • Conduct regular inspections to identify maintenance needs proactively
  • Support seasonal property care (weather preparation, minor landscaping, pathway upkeep, etc.)
Grounds & Infrastructure Support
  • Maintain fences, garden structures, sheds, irrigation systems, and gathering spaces
  • Assist with basic carpentry, painting, minor plumbing, and general repairs
  • Support waste management, recycling, and compost systems as needed
  • Help ensure accessibility and safety across program areas
Program & Operations Support
  • Help prepare spaces for events, programs, and volunteer days
  • Assist with setup/breakdown of infrastructure when needed
  • Collaborate with program staff to support shared use of spaces
  • Help coordinate with external contractors for specialized repairs when needed
  • Track maintenance tasks, supplies, and completed work

Qualifications:
Required:
  • Experience with facilities maintenance, property care, or related hands-on work
  • Basic skills in general repair (carpentry, painting, minor plumbing, or similar)
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks
  • Ability to communicate effectively with the team about maintenance activities
  • Comfort working outdoors in varied weather conditions
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and perform physical tasks
  • Reliable transportation to and between sites
Preferred:
  • Experience working at farms, gardens, schools, parks, or community spaces
  • Familiarity with sustainable land stewardship practices
  • Experience coordinating vendors or contractors
  • Alignment with CEI’s mission and community-centered values

Work Schedule & Compensation:
  • Approximately 20 hours per week (flexible scheduling; some seasonal variation)
  • Occasional evening or weekend availability may be requested for events or urgent needs
  • Compensation: $20-22 per hour, commensurate with experience
Benefits:
  • Time off: Part-time employees earn over 65 hours of flexible paid time off and floating holidays in their first year of employment. 

​Application & Interview Process: 
To apply, please complete our application form, including uploading a cover letter and current resume, by March 15, 2026.
If you need to make any changes to your application or share an updated version of your cover letter and resume, email our Director of Operations, Jonathan, at  [email protected].
Qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. Interviews are planned for the end of March, with the goal of having the successful candidate begin on April 6, 2026.