Building Engineer

Position Type:
Maintenance/Custodial

Date Posted:
5/6/2026

Location:
William Beye Elementary School

Date Available:
SY27
Building Engineer

Revised: May 2026

Perm/contract:

SY27

Department:

Building & Grounds


FLSA Status :

Exempt

Reports to:

Senior Director of Communications and Engagement

Primary Reporting Location:

Beye Elementary School

Level:

TBD

Compensation:

As aligned in the SEIU agreement


Date Available:

SY27

Bargaining Unit & Classification:

SEIU #73 & Classified

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Benefits:

Insurance - medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance are available

Leaves - paid sick, personal, and vacation days provided

Retirement - IMRF Board Contribution available

D97 Ideal Team Member Profile

• The ideal team member in District 97 is a visionary and equity-centered leader who inspires excellence and fosters collective responsibility for student success. This individual:
  • Champions the district's vision and drives forward-thinking, innovative practices that anticipate future educational needs.
  • Stewards public trust and resources with fiscal responsibility and ethical transparency.
  • Demonstrates relentless commitment to student success, ensuring that every decision supports equitable opportunities and outcomes for all learners.
  • Organizes and empowers teams to work collaboratively toward shared goals, recognizing the interdependence of roles across departments and schools.
  • Fosters a culture of care, learning, and service, grounded in authentic engagement with students, families, staff, and community members.
  • Models integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality, serving as a role model for ethical and respectful conduct at all levels.
  • Thrives in a culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse environment, showing a deep passion for inclusive practices and building belonging for all team members.
  • Seeks and embraces feedback, especially when it challenges them to grow and improve in the service of students and colleagues.
  • Understands the powerful intersection of leadership, learning, and equity, and aligns their work to dismantle systemic barriers.
  • Courageously addresses unprofessional behavior, holding self and others accountable to high standards in service to the community and students.

About the Role:

The Building Engineer is an important member of the building staff and, as such, assumes responsibility for ensuring that the interior and exterior of his/her building are a clean, safe, functional space for staff and students, and an attractive asset to the community.


The Building Engineer position will ensure that equity is at the center of the district's building & grounds services to positively impact student learning and employee practices as expressed in Board Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity.


The Building Engineer for each school is directly responsible to the Building Principal and the Buildings and Grounds Manager. His/her primary objective is to ensure a safe, comfortable building that enhances the educational environment for students and staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Allocate appropriate time to the supervision of custodial staff, including the balanced assignment of custodial duties.
• Complete all assigned engineer and custodial duties to ensure a clean, safe, and functional space for students and staff.
• Perform duties as assigned for activities in or out of the building.
• Lunch Duties typically include: Periodically checking the cafeteria area, spot cleaning spills, ensuring floors remain safe and tidy during lunch, emptying trash & recycling bins as needed, and immediately after lunch. Inspecting restrooms near the cafeteria for cleanliness, communicating with cafeteria staff or administration about any issues.
• Move materials and equipment as directed.
• Security watch - Maintain a safe environment for students, staff and visitors. Secure the building by checking doors and locks with interior/ exterior building checks. Identify and report hazards or issues immediately.
• Plan a daily agenda and meet daily with members of the custodial staff assigned to the building.
• Prioritize the building's work and workflow, subject to the direction of the Buildings and Grounds Administration and/or the Building Principal.
• Monitor and prioritize preventative maintenance and process work orders in the work order system.
• Support and communicate with Buildings & Grounds Administration and Maintenance for review of all work completed by outside contractors.
• Check all equipment used for heating, ventilating, and/or cooling of the building for proper operation.
• Regularly check and communicate using email, phone, and other tools.
• Assumes responsibility for ensuring the building is opened and secured each day.
• Daily Inspection of grounds, including the playgrounds.
• Assists in keeping the grounds free of rubbish, glass, and/or litter.
• Keeps entrances and sidewalks free of snow and ice.
• Complete daily boiler log (includes boiler sight glass, boiler temperature, boiler pressure)
• Check Emergency Lights and Exit Signs monthly.
• Check roofs and keep scuppers clear.
• Periodically check exterior doors are latched, restrooms, entrances, elevator (as applicable), and window glass at the main entrance.
• Replace ceiling tiles as needed.
• Reports immediately to the building principal and district supervisor any damage to school property.
• Check all rooms each day school is in session for cleanliness and proper maintenance.
• Check the water systems that they are functioning properly
• Communicate clock and bell systems when/if they are not functioning properly.
• Keep all equipment used in the cleaning process operational.
• Promptly report any difficulty to the building principal and direct supervisor that cannot be resolved with the building staff.
• Reports major repairs promptly to the Building Principal and Direct Supervisor and completes support tickets (i.e. SchoolDude or similar system).
• Change light bulbs.
• Supports the responsibility for fire safety.
• Supports the supervision of custodial staff assigned to the building.
• Supports the training of custodial and substitute custodial staff assigned to the building.
• Conducts a monthly walk-through of the building to document its condition.
• Communicates daily with building principal and building custodians, regarding activities in building - problems, time off, vacation days, etc.
• Uses the custodial Procedures Manual as the standard for upkeep of the building.
• Keeps inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Prepares work orders needed for the replacement of supplies.
• Keeps on-going records, schedules, etc, regarding supplies, maintenance, and activities.
• Complies with local laws and procedures for the storage and disposal of trash, rubbish, recycling, waste, and compost.
• Remains on school grounds during his/her scheduled work day, unless they notify and receive approval from their direct supervisor.
• Wears uniform daily while school is in session, and/or for building use on weekends; t-shirts worn on non-student attendance days.
• Performs general cleaning responsibilities as needed, including dusting, dust mop, wet mop floors, cleaning glass, auto scrubber, etc.
• Performs all other assignments and responsibilities as directed.

Content Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Possess a basic proficiency in general maintenance, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work
• Ability to lead a team of staff during daily operations and breaks (spring, winter, summer)
• Previous experience and/or knowledge of the custodial routines/runs
• Preventive maintenance processes, schedules, and procedures
• Life safety, local fire codes, ADA compliance, and state-specific regulations

Candidate Qualifications:

• High School Diploma
• Ability to understand instructions and communicate effectively with others.
• Ability to meet and work with the public.
• Work history, which demonstrates the ability to develop management/administrative/leadership skills
• Possess a boiler management certificate. Or you must attend and receive a passing grade in a management-designated boiler school (approved by District 97) within the first 6 months of employment in the building engineer role. If not attained, the employee will be moved back to a custodial role.
• Preference will be given to qualified District 97 employees who have demonstrated initiative and work performance, indicating a willingness, understanding, and ability to accept the responsibilities of the position.
• Possess a basic proficiency in general maintenance, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work, demonstrated by on-the-job work during the probationary period (60 days). This will consist of on-the-job skill demonstration in the areas listed. If they do not meet proficiency, the employee will be moved back to a custodial role.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English. Fluent in English.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to at least 50 pounds.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, and climb ladders. In addition, walking up and down stairs several times a day.
• The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Apply through Frontline:

Applications are currently being accepted for this position via our district website. Please reach out to our human resources department at View email address on click.appcast.io, if you have questions about the application process.

We encourage interested applicants to apply, as we continue to uplift our equity policy. Our goal is to recruit, employ, support, and retain racially and linguistically diverse and culturally competent administrative, instructional, and support personnel. Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.