Plumber

About Us

The Cambridge Housing Authority ("CHA"), a leader in developing and maintaining affordable housing communities, is committed to developing and managing safe, high-quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. CHA provides 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. CHA has been awarded accreditation by the Affordable Housing Accreditation Board (AHAB) and was the seventh affordable housing provider in the nation to receive this prestigious accreditation.

CHA offers a hybrid work environment consisting of a combination of on-site and work-from-home days.

About the Role

The primary purpose of this position is to install, repair, and maintain pipes, fixtures, and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and wastewater disposal in all facilities at the Cambridge Housing Authority ("Authority" or "CHA"). All activities must support the Authority’s strategic goals and objectives and produce results that accomplish the goals of the Operations department.

Responsibilities

• Reviews building plans and specifications to determine the layout for plumbing and related materials
• Identifies and selects the necessary tools, pipes, and fittings for each task
• Draws diagrammatic plumbing plans for installations, training, and layout of plumbing work
• Installs supports and hangers for pipes, fixtures, and equipment
• Installs, repairs, and maintains sinks, tubs, toilets, water heaters, boilers, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and trim
• Tests pipe systems and fixtures for leaks
• Repacks assorted-sized valves and faucet assemblies
• Performs scheduled maintenance service on plumbing systems and fixtures
• Applies all federal, state, and local codes to installations, repairs, and maintenance
• Ensures all installations, repairs, and maintenance are properly sized, aligned, supported, and graded
• Ensures all installations, repairs, and maintenance meet the requirements of the appropriate codes
• Performs administrative duties pertaining to the plumbing unit, including budget preparation, ordering of supplies, preparation of daily reports, and scheduling
• Supervises the acquisition of proper permits from local and/or state authorities as required for certain plumbing jobs
• Maintains tools, materials, and workspace in a neat and orderly manner, observing all Authority and OSHA safety regulations
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or possession of a vocational technical certification beyond high school
• At least five to seven years of experience in the plumbing trade with at least one year of experience in a supervisory capacity
• Valid Massachusetts Master Plumber’s License
• Working knowledge of the Massachusetts Building Code (a plus)
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license and insurable under CHA policies
• Strong background in math, measurements, and safety
• Strong knowledge of plumbing installation, repair, and maintenance
• General knowledge of basic computer programs (MS Office products) is desirable
• Must be available for emergency overtime duty as required

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

• Extensive knowledge of all applicable state, federal, and municipal plumbing, building, construction, and property maintenance laws, regulations, and codes
• Thorough knowledge of occupational hazards and corresponding OSHA safety precautions
• Experience working with assorted circulation pumps
• Ability to repack and install couplings as required
• Knowledge of domestic water distribution systems
• Knowledge of HVAC systems including boiler controls and building management systems (DDC)
• Knowledge of sanitary, waste, and vent piping
• Knowledge of various plumbing systems associated with old and new construction in multi-family and elderly developments
• Knowledge of gas stove operation as related to installation and connection and federal, state, and local codes for gas appliances
• Ability to read and understand moderately complex repair and service manuals, diagrams, and instructions/warnings

Behavioral Competencies

• Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.
• Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; recognizes working colleagues as customers.
• Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.
• Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one’s own work; does fair share of work.
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Benefits

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

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently required to stand, walk, use hands for gripping, handling, or feeling, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, or crouch
• Must be able to talk and hear
• Specific vision abilities include close and distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• Regularly lift and/or move objects up to 60 pounds

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here 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.

• Primarily works in the field, making frequent in-house visits to units/buildings requiring plumbing installation, repair, and/or maintenance
• Occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals
• Noise level in the work environment is generally moderate