Maintenance Laborer

Cambridge Housing Authority ("CHA") is a leader in developing and maintaining affordable housing communities, focusing on policy innovation and family economic opportunities. CHA is committed to developing and managing safe, high-quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families, providing long-term rental housing and rental assistance to more than 5,500+ individuals and families through its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs.

About the role

The Maintenance Laborer performs unskilled and semi-skilled maintenance and repair tasks on buildings, apartments, grounds, and equipment. This includes cleaning apartments and common areas, landscaping, snow removal, and assisting skilled trades personnel. The role supports CHA’s strategic goals and the Operations department’s objectives.

Responsibilities

• Apartment and Common Areas:
  • Clean apartments, offices, and common areas using powered floor machines, brooms, shovels, cleaning agents, vacuum cleaners, polishers, mops, scrapers, squeegees, etc.
  • Perform minor hardware repairs/replacements (e.g., drawers, door pulls, hinges, door knobs, shades, screens, window components).
  • Reset circuit breakers; replace light bulbs and lenses on interior/exterior lighting fixtures.
  • Clean stoves and perform minor refrigerator/stove repairs (e.g., replace knobs, drip pans, oven racks, shelving brackets).
  • Remove recycling/trash; clean windows; prepare and paint up to 144 sq. ft. of surface daily.
  • Repair/install screens, window sash balances, windows, and minor hardware (locks, hinges, towel racks).
  • Clear drain blockages in sinks, toilets, and drains using hand tools and electric drill snakes.
  • Use power drills for minor hardware repairs on cabinets, doors, and windows.
  • Assist mechanical and skilled trades personnel with various tasks.
  • Clean up floods using shop vacuums, squeegees, buckets, and pumps.
  • Exterminate insects/rodents in apartments, common areas, and grounds (licensed personnel only for federally regulated pesticides).
  • Clean common area restrooms, management offices, hallways, stairways, and basements.
  • Service fan coil units (vacuum enclosures/coils, replace filters, add disinfecting tablets).
  • Remove, clean, and replace electrical switch/receptacle plates, lighting lenses, and equipment face plates.
  • Maintain development offices, community spaces, laundry rooms, and public spaces (interior/exterior) by cleaning, shoveling, sweeping, raking, and removing litter.
  • Gather/dispose of trash/rubbish; perform recycling; clean trash chute/compactor rooms; sanitize barrels/containers using power washers.
  • Monitor rodent/insect management in trash areas; maintain trash compacting equipment.
• Landscaping:
  • Perform landscape work using hand/power tools (rakes, shovels, pruners, pole saws, edgers, snow blowers, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, tractors, bobcats, etc.).
  • Cut grass; edge flower/shrub beds; mulch beds; trim/prune shrubs/trees; weed beds.
  • Prepare beds for planting; plant flowers/shrubs; repair/modify irrigation systems (test controllers, replace/adjust sprinkler heads, investigate leaks).
  • Clean landscape equipment; manage gasoline/flammables storage.
  • Rehabilitate landscaping (seed/sod lawns, water/fertilize plants, dethatch/aerate lawns).
  • Rake/remove leaves using hand/gas-powered equipment.
• Grounds:
  • Maintain sidewalks, curbing, asphalt parking/sidewalk areas (align parking stops, repaint lines/markers, repair/install signs, replace exterior light bulbs).
  • Mix concrete/mortar; repair concrete curbs/sidewalks.
  • Repair asphalt using jackhammers, chisels, tampers, hot asphalt, and cold patch.
  • Repair fencing; rake/point concrete masonry units and brick.
  • Use caulking materials/guns for various applications.
  • Assist in emergency snow/ice removal (shovels, ice choppers, spreaders, snow blowers, tractors, bobcats, plow-equipped trucks).
  • Dig holes/trenches; perform preventative maintenance (read gauges, clean area drains, service motors/pumps/fans).
  • Inspect building systems; record findings and report deficiencies.
  • Assist in general liability safety inspections.
  • Perform minor plumbing repairs (plunging, snaking drains, using pneumatic tools).
  • Remove graffiti using cleaning agents/power washers; paint interior/exterior surfaces (walls, ceilings, fencing, railings, curbs, benches, bollards).
• Perform other related duties as assigned by Housing Managers, Area Maintenance Supervisors, or the Director of Maintenance.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or vocational technical certification beyond high school.
• Experience in a related area; working knowledge of the Massachusetts Building Code preferred.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license; insurable under CHA policies.
• General knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, heating, painting, and masonry.
• Ability to operate hand/power tools (lawnmowers, snow blowers, drills, augers, etc.) and learn new devices as required.

Skills

• Behavioral Competencies:
  • Commitment: Sets high standards; pursues aggressive goals; strives for results; conveys urgency; persists despite obstacles.
  • Customer Service: Meets/exceeds expectations of internal/external customers; identifies and monitors customer needs.
  • Effective Communication: Conveys information clearly; listens effectively; ensures important information is shared.
  • Responsiveness/Accountability: Demonstrates conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for work.
  • Teamwork: Balances team/individual responsibilities; supports team success; builds morale and group commitment.
• Job Competencies:
  • Knowledge of CHA policies, procedures, goals, and operational requirements.
  • Thorough knowledge of occupational hazards and OSHA safety precautions.

Benefits

• Health and dental insurance.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Life and disability insurance options.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits.
• Retirement pension and deferred compensation 457b plans.