Maintenance Technician

JCHA was established in 1946 and provides safe, decent, and sanitary housing to low-income families, elderly families, disabled families, and low-income individuals in six towns throughout Jackson County.

About the role

This full-time position works out of several locations throughout Jackson County, with hours between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Maintenance Technician provides high-quality residential maintenance and unit turnaround services for public housing units to ensure tenants have safe, quality, and decent living conditions. This role involves semi-skilled and skilled work in repairs and maintenance of buildings and grounds, often requiring journeyman-level skills. Work may be performed in hazardous or adverse conditions such as sleet, snow, heat, cold, dust, and dirt.

Responsibilities

• Perform a wide range of maintenance functions independently or as part of a team, including but not limited to: painting, caulking, HVAC repairs, lock repairs, window/door repairs, electrical repairs, appliance repairs, plumbing repairs, preventative maintenance, and changing light bulbs, filters, and batteries.
• Clean vacant units and ensure vacancy preparation is thoroughly completed while meeting required deadlines.
• Provide friendly and professional customer service to tenants, addressing inquiries and concerns by completing work orders and providing explanations and applicable fees.
• Maintain company-owned or leased vehicles, including annual inspections, regular service, oil changes, and cleaning.
• Maintain accurate inventory counts and records for assigned vehicles, tools, and warehouses; report any issues to the Maintenance and Capital Improvements Coordinator.
• Assist with the organization and cleanliness of the maintenance shop, including removing garbage daily.
• Provide the Work Order Technician with a list of supplies needed for unit renovations and work orders.
• Maintain, clean, and organize garbage enclosures, dumpsters, and/or garbage compactor rooms, including deodorizing and power washing as needed.
• Complete required paperwork, including purchase orders and work orders.
• Work an on-call, rotating schedule as assigned.
• Proactively address repairs and report contract work needs to the Maintenance and Capital Improvements Coordinator and/or Foreman.
• Repair, replace, and clean appliances as required; install or replace baseboard heating.
• Troubleshoot and repair HVAC systems and recommend replacements when necessary; perform preventative maintenance on HVAC systems.
• Load dumpsters and trucks with furniture, material, and debris.
• Respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours, such as floods, fires, and power loss.
• Maintain grounds, parking lots, and walking pathways by removing hazards like rocks, glass, snow, ice, large debris, and tree limbs.
• Maintain lawns and grounds as required.
• Respond promptly to maintenance requests, assignments, and inquiries from residents and supervisors.
• Actively participate in staff meetings, training sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Support co-workers as a team to accomplish department and agency goals.
• Participate in Housing Authority activities and committees as needed or desired.
• Perform any other duties assigned by supervisors to contribute to the overall success of the maintenance department.

Requirements

• At least two (2) years of paid experience in construction or maintenance-related fields.
• High school graduation or equivalency.
• Experience in subordinate classifications or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License with an insurable driving record or ability to obtain one within thirty days of hire.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug/alcohol testing as outlined in JCHA’s policies (JCHA is a Drug-Free Workplace).
• Must live within a thirty (30) mile radius of the Housing Authority’s main office within ninety (90) days of hire if assigned on-call work.

Skills

• Ability to contribute to a positive work environment and display professionalism toward applicants, participants, and tenants.
• Knowledge and compliance with Fair Housing, Illinois State Landlord/Tenant Laws, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations.
• Proficient computer skills and ability to learn JCHA software systems.
• Ability to work independently, multi-task, and maintain reliable and predictable attendance.
• Use tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Apply logical thinking to solve problems and communicate complex policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality of applicants, tenants, and participants’ personal information.
• Establish and maintain ethical and cooperative relationships with all work contacts.
• Learn and be trained on complicated policies and procedures.
• Maintain professional appearance, grooming, and communication with clients and staff.
• Respect and care for facilities and avoid wastefulness of supplies.
• Effectively communicate and solve problems related to property upkeep, work completion, tenants, and management.
• Safety-oriented with knowledge of occupational hazards and necessary safety precautions for maintenance, repair work, and use of automotive equipment.
• Ability to use and service hand and power equipment related to job responsibilities.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Perform skilled tasks in carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and preventive maintenance work.
• Ability to be trained on and use equipment such as bobcats, snowplows, woodchippers, lawn mowers, dump trucks, trailers, and chainsaws.

Working Conditions

• Overtime is required; may include scheduled on-call 24-hour coverage.
• Must possess a degree of health and physical well-being to perform duties, including lifting up to 80 pounds.
• Deadlines may cause stress.
• Constantly operates tools and equipment used in apartment renovation and painting.
• Frequent communication to exchange accurate information.
• May require climbing stairs, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, or crawling to complete inspections.
• Must visually inspect housing rentals to determine if they pass inspection.

Pay

Compensation begins at $19.32 to $19.90 per hour and may increase after a 90-day probationary period.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid insurance for employees (medical, dental, vision).
• Retirement contribution to a pension fund.
• 16 paid holidays.
• Paid Time Off.
• $75,000 employer-paid life insurance policy.
• Employer-paid Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits.
• Voluntary contributions to a 457(b) retirement plan.
• Voluntary benefits with AFLAC, Colonial Life, Globe Life, and Liberty National.
• Paid training and career development opportunities.