Facilities & Maintenance Manager

Facilities And Maintenance Manager

Compensation: $75,000-$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience Benefits: PTO and Sick Time;
Full Medical, Dental, Vision, and Retirement

Schedule:

Primarily weekdays; evenings/weekends for urgent needs or seasonal work as required

Reports to:

Operations and Special Projects Lead; day-to-day partnership with Farm + Land Steward, Program Team Budget Size: $2M+ (and growing substantially year over year)

About Food What?!

Food What is a youth empowerment and food justice organization. At FW, youth build relationships with land, food, and each other in ways that cultivate their empowerment, liberation, and well-being.

FW exists to serve youth struggling with the legacy of injustice, poverty, and racism. We are a safe space where youth cultivate their power and well-being through organic farming, nourishing meals, and loving community. We are unique as a year-long, depth-focused, farm-based learning model that invites youth to grow as stewards of their food system and community. Youth are strengthened by healthy food access, paid job training, environmental connectedness, and socioemotional support.

Who We Serve

We work in Santa Cruz County with high-school-aged, system-impacted and other struggling youth and program alumni. This includes youth who are: low-income, from farm worker families, experiencing mental health challenges, in the child welfare (foster care) system, housing insecure, food insecure, engaged in the criminal justice system, identify as LGBTQIA+, and young parents—all of whom experience challenges and are building resilience.

Role Summary

Food What recently purchased a 5.25 acre property to build what we're calling "Homebase" – a space that will hold the Food What Farm, provide beautiful open space, and include facilities for youth and community access. This role is centered on Homebase.

We've created a new staff position, seeking a Facilities and Maintenance Manager to play a significant role stewarding this land and all related facilities. This person will be a hands-on, highly-engaged, and multi-talented generalist who keeps our land, buildings, systems, and tools safe, functional, accessible and welcoming—so youth, staff and community can thrive here. This person brings broad, practical skills (construction, light electrical, plumbing, irrigation, fencing, basic HVAC, vehicle/tractor upkeep), offers insight early in planning (not just "taking work orders"), and collaborates across the ecosystem—especially with our Farm + Land Steward, program team, and Operations and Special Projects Lead.

At times, the person in this role will invite or supervise youth to join an appropriate facilities project to meet youth development goals (with staff support and safe scopes). This person notices what needs attention, creates their own priority lists, and escalates when needed. They know when to DIY and when to bring in subs/contractors—ideally tapping a local network in Watsonville/Santa Cruz/Monterey County.

This role is not just about fixing/maintaining things. It's about caring for and contributing to the space that holds youth and community. It is hands-on, relational, and rooted in community love. If you are someone who sees a broken board in the youth workshop area and thinks "this deserves to be better for the youth who will use this space," we want to meet you.

Hands-On Land, Facilities & Equipment (60%)

• Inspect, maintain, and repair Homebase infrastructure: barn, home, sheds, greenhouse, cooler, roads, access paths, gates, fencing, doors, and locks
• Perform general maintenance and small repairs: carpentry, light plumbing, light electrical, basic HVAC, door hardware, shelving, benches, tool boards, and safety signage
• Keep shared spaces clean, safe, organized, and ready for youth programs
• Coordinate refuse/recycling, cleaning services, bulk material deliveries, and safe storage of materials and consumables
• Address pest issues with the Land Steward
• Prepare the property for seasonal shifts and maintain emergency supplies
• Respond to urgent facilities issues — including after-hours — such as water failures, storm damage, or break-ins

Irrigation,…