Position Summary: As the Facilities Maintenance Specialist, you support the mission of the Urban Ecology Center by ensuring that branch buildings, nearby outdoor spaces, and vehicles are well-maintained and welcoming. You will work with the Facilities department to execute preventative maintenance, repairs and upgrades, ensuring work is properly documented and accurate records are kept in the most effective, efficient, and environmentally sensitive manner.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilities

• Performs routine and preventative maintenance including repairs pertaining to building, grounds, and equipment in a prompt and professional manner.
• Maintains accurate records of work utilizing existing systems and methods, including Google Workspace and Asset Essentials.
• Maintains cleaning supplies and expendable goods as needed at Branch locations.
• Considers the environmental impact of all decisions regarding care of the facilities and grounds.
• Works with building vendors and contractors, as well as City inspectors as assigned by Facilities Manager. Maintaining records of work and inspections.
• Ensures regular preventative maintenance schedule is adhered to and checks are conducted on facilities and vehicles.
• Supports other departments within the organization as directed by the Facilities Manager.

Grounds

• Monitors grounds daily for safety conditions; monitors and remediates any graffiti activity within 24 hours.
• Ensures snow removal is done promptly and completely, including monitoring all grounds for winter time safety concerns such as ice and snow. This includes altering the regular work schedule to cover needs as they arise.
• Works to maintain the Riverside Park playground, which may include daily trash and recycling clean up, grounds keeping, grass cutting, trimming, and graffiti removal as needed.
• Ensures other park infrastructure is maintained and kept in safe, functional condition.

Vehicles and Small Engines

• Repairs and maintains vehicles and small engines.
• Anticipates needs, coordinates repairs and maintenance with vendors.
• Ensures regular maintenance checks are conducted on all vehicles and repairs made in a timely manner as well as documented.

TEAM AND SUPERVISION

• As a member of the Facilities team, you will be managed by the Facilities Manager and support the work of the Facilities and Land Stewardship teams.
• Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with Branch leadership, Neighborhood Engagement, and Land Stewardship.
• All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, interns, and youth participants.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

• All team members of the Urban Ecology Center work a minimum of 1-2 weekend or evening events each year. Our events are a great way to engage with our communities and see our mission in action; examples include Urban Candlelight Hike, Autumn Celebration, and HKE MKE. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.

OUR EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. Many of our staff serve on cross-departmental committees for internal and external events, employee engagement, our equity, dignity, and justice (EDJ) focus, and safety initiatives, to name a few.
• We host a 2-day all-staff retreat each fall, with quarterly all-staff meetings, regular department meetings, and ongoing communication in-between. We make frequent use of Slack and utilize the Google platform for email and cloud computing.
• UEC staff work on-site a minimum of twice per week at one of our 3 branches, though many choose to work in person more frequently. Several of our roles do not have remote capabilities by the nature of their responsibilities.
• UEC staff are automatically members of the Urban Ecology Center with the ability to attend all events at a low or no cost. Children of staff members attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

• Part-time staff at the Urban Ecology Center a 3% 403(b) matching contribution, 24 days of PTO in year 1 (29 in year 2), 4 paid holidays, a UEC membership, and other great benefits. The starting compensation range for this position is $16 - $17.50 per hour.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Skills and Abilities

• Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding.
• Efficient: You have strong attention to detail, are self-motivated, and are able to multitask. You are able to prioritize your work based on importance and urgency.
• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers and can recall and follow guidance on organizational processes and expectations.
• Adaptability: Ability to both function independently and collaborate well with others; you are motivated through change and by new opportunities.
• You are familiar with local codes, ordinances, and OSHA standards.
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• A minimum of two years of experience in a maintenance position is required; additional experience in custodial support or maintenance is preferred.
• You have plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or fabrication skills and have experience with the use and care of hand and power tools and repairing and maintaining vehicles and small engines.
• High school diploma or equivalent is required; an associate’s degree in a technical field is preferred.
• First Aid/CPR certification is required; if not currently certified, UEC will support in obtaining it.
• You must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to meet the requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Center’s commercial vehicle insurance policy.

WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Condition & Location: You will work inside in an open office, shared workspace with an active team atmosphere at all 3 UEC branch locations.
• Physical Requirements: You have the ability to bend, crawl, kneel, stoop, stand, lift, and move materials of significant weight for 75% or more of your work hours, with or without accommodation.
• Emergency Responsibilities: It may be necessary to respond to emergency situations, including but not limited to fire monitoring and security system alarms. Other building emergencies such as mechanical problems, weather-related incidents, and vandalism may occur. It is expected that this position responds accordingly to such instances, including during non-work hours.
• Equipment Used: Pickup truck with plow, UTV, snowblower, lawnmower, power tools including chainsaw, trimmer, drill, and other related equipment.
• Schedule: There may be some flexibility in scheduling regular hours throughout the week and on Saturdays.

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.