Lead Maintenance Technician

About the Role

The Lead Maintenance Technician performs preventive, corrective, routine, and emergency maintenance at Nebel Street Emergency Shelter, a large, 24-hour emergency shelter serving single men. This hands-on position responds to work orders, completes inspections and repairs, supports the upkeep of interior and exterior spaces, and reports conditions requiring additional attention from the County or a licensed contractor. The Lead Maintenance Technician works closely with shelter leadership and County representatives to maintain a safe, functional, clean, and respectful environment for clients, staff, and visitors.

Responsibilities

• Prioritize, assign, track, and follow up on maintenance work orders based on safety, urgency, operational impact, and available resources.
• Personally complete routine, preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance work.
• Maintain records of work orders, inspections, repairs, recurring concerns, preventive maintenance, vendor visits, and equipment service history.
• Develop, implement, and monitor a preventive maintenance schedule for building systems, shelter spaces, equipment, and grounds.
• Conduct regular facility inspections and promptly identify hazards, concerns, liabilities, and conditions requiring corrective action.
• Maintain an organized inventory of tools, equipment, replacement parts, keys, and supplies; recommend purchases.
• Meet regularly with shelter leadership and the County to report open work orders, completed repairs, safety concerns, vendor activity, supply needs, and planned projects.
• Recommend outside services when work requires a licensed contractor or specialized expertise; coordinate access and monitor contractor performance.
• Serve as the primary maintenance point of contact and be on call for evening, weekend, and holiday emergencies.
• Responsible for facility signage within the shelter.
• Support facility readiness for changes in shelter capacity, seasonal weather operations, special projects, inspections, and emergency response.
• Ensure maintenance work is completed with minimal disruption and with respect for client privacy, dignity, and the shelter's trauma-informed environment.

Maintenance Duties

• Maintain working knowledge of electrical shutoffs, water and gas shutoffs, clean-out traps, fire extinguishers, hydrants, emergency systems, and other critical building controls.
• Troubleshoot and complete approved repairs involving plumbing, electrical fixtures, lighting, doors, locks, walls, flooring, appliances, furniture, and basic heating and cooling concerns.
• Ensure sleeping areas, bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, kitchen, offices, common areas, storage spaces, and exterior areas remain safe and operational.
• Inspect and maintain exterior lighting, walkways, parking areas, and grounds.
• Complete painting, patching, minor carpentry, assembly, preventive upkeep, and repairs to normal structural wear and damage.
• Respond to emergency maintenance conditions, take immediate steps to protect people and property, and notify the appropriate leadership, County contact, or emergency service.
• Document completed work, materials used, outstanding needs, and unusual conditions; communicate issues that may affect safety, shelter capacity, or program operations.
• Follow all applicable federal, state, County, OSHA, fire safety, licensing, permit, and organizational requirements.

Cleaning Team Oversight

• Provide oversight of the contracted cleaning team to ensure work meets standards based on shelter operations and immediate needs.
• Develop and monitor cleaning schedules for sleeping areas, bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, kitchen, offices, hallways, common areas, entrances, exterior spaces, and other assigned areas.
• Conduct routine inspections to ensure cleanliness, sanitation, and quality standards are consistently maintained.
• Address missed assignments, recurring quality concerns, supply shortages, and urgent cleaning needs promptly with the contractor; communicate significant performance or coverage concerns to shelter leadership.
• Ensure appropriate inventory levels for cleaning supplies, chemicals, paper products, and equipment; ensure supplies are stored, labeled, secured, and used safely.
• Ensure cleaning staff demonstrate appropriate use of equipment, chemical handling, personal protective equipment, safety procedures, and expectations for professional and respectful interactions with clients.
• Coordinate deep cleaning, pest control preparation, biohazard response, emergency cleanup, and other specialized cleaning services with shelter leadership and approved vendors.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; trade school, technical certification, or relevant license preferred.
• At least three years of maintenance, facilities, building operations, or property management experience, including experience coordinating work or providing team leadership.
• Strong working knowledge of general repairs, preventive maintenance, building systems, tools, and safe work practices.
• Experience overseeing custodial or cleaning services, including quality inspections.
• Ability to assess urgency, organize competing priorities, and follow assignments through completion.
• Ability to maintain clear records, inventory, service schedules, and written updates; basic computer and work-order system skills required.
• Ability to recognize work that must be referred to the County or a licensed contractor and to coordinate vendors.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to maintain respectful, professional relationships with clients, coworkers, County representatives, contractors, and community partners.
• Ability to work calmly and use sound judgment in a busy shelter environment where urgent and unexpected needs may arise.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb stairs and ladders, reach, and work in confined or elevated areas as needed.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently and heavier items with assistance or appropriate equipment.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions.
• Ability to respond to maintenance needs throughout a continuously operating facility.
• Availability for occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency response.
• Commitment to serving people experiencing homelessness with dignity, patience, and respect.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record may be required based on organizational needs.

Pay

$70,000 - $80,000 per year