Building Assistant (CRC)

City of Kitchener; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Kitchener is seeking a Part Time Building Assistant (CRC) to support day-to-day operation, upkeep, and presentation of the Cowan Recreation Centre. You will greet residents, assist visitors, and help create a welcoming experience while maintaining safety and cleanliness across indoor and outdoor spaces.

This role requires reliable, hands-on team players with a good attitude and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced recreation environment. Valid driver's license is required.

Qualifications

• Customer service skills to greet visitors and support residents.
• Ability to work independently with multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of life safety systems and basic maintenance procedures.
• Experience maintaining sports facilities and related equipment.

Responsibilities

• Proactively assist visitors and deliver a welcoming customer experience.
• Open/close the facility, arming/disarming alarms.
• Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on spaces and equipment.
• Set up spaces for games, practices, events, and meetings.
• Maintain cleanliness of all facility areas and outdoor spaces.
• Respond to inquiries and ensure City customer service standards.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Independent work

Life safety

Facility maintenance

teamwork

Tools

Cleaning equipment

Job description

We’re building something extraordinary for our community and beyond - the Cowan Recreation Centre, a state-of-the-art destination for sport, fitness, and community connection.

Opening late in 2026, this all-season, multi-use recreation complex is designed to meet the diverse needs of the community with a premier lineup of amenities: a large aquatics centre with two stainless steel pools, a FIFA-sized indoor turf field (divisible into four), a versatile quad gymnasium, an indoor walking track, two dedicated cricket practice nets, and four multi-purpose rooms for community programs and events.

Designed as an accessible, sustainable, and welcoming gathering place, the Cowan Recreation Centre will support a wide range of users - from families discovering new activities to high performance athletes. With the capacity to welcome more than 500,000 visitors in its first year, the centre will offer diverse recreation options for all ages and abilities. Its tournament ready spaces will also position it as a leading sport tourism destination, attracting provincial and national events and bringing meaningful economic benefits to Kitchener. This is a place where residents and athletes alike can truly connect, compete, and belong.

We’re looking for reliable, hands-on, and service-oriented team players who enjoy working in a fast paced recreation environment and take pride in maintaining safe, clean, and welcoming spaces for the community.

As a Part Time Building Assistant (CRC), you will support the day-to-day operation, upkeep, and presentation of the Cowan Recreation Centre. You will also go beyond core duties to greet and assist residents when needed, helping to create a welcoming, friendly experience for all visitors to the facility. This role is ideal for individuals who are flexible, detail oriented, and enjoy contributing to a positive customer experience for all visitors.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic, team-based environment and want to be part of a facility where the community comes together to Connect, Compete, and Belong, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Proactively approach visitors to offer friendly assistance and anticipate their needs to deliver world-class customer experience.
• Open and close the facility, including arming and disarming alarms.
• Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs to facility spaces and equipment (e.g., bleachers, netting, turf equipment, scoreboards).
• Set up and convert fields, gyms, and rooms for games, practices, tournaments, and special events, including moving furniture, staging, nets, and equipment.
• Clean and maintain all facility areas (washrooms, change rooms, stands, foyers, courts, track, etc.), handle custodial emergencies, remove garbage/recycling, and perform interior/exterior cleanup after events.
• Remove snow, apply salt, pick up outdoor litter, empty exterior bins, and maintain safe, clean outdoor areas.
• Identify and report unsafe conditions, ensure adherence to safety and quality standards, and collaborate with facility management to minimize disruptions during maintenance.
• Monitor facility activity and ensure adherence to rental schedules and safety standards.
• Contact security or police when required and notify the Supervisor.
• Operates and troubleshoots basic facility technology, including electronic score clocks, audio/visual systems, and other gymnasium, multipurpose rooms and field house equipment
• Collect and dispose of garbage and recycling.
  Move furniture and tables as needed.
• Secure facility spaces by locking and unlocking doors and windows.
• Pick up litter and empty outdoor garbage and recycling bins.
• Identify unsafe conditions and correct or report them.
• Respond to inquiries from patrons, the public, and rentalgroups, ensuring City customer service standards are upheld.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Experience

• Minimum of 6 months of related and relevant experience.

Additional Requirements

• Valid Class G Drivers License
• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to provide empathetic, professional and respectful customer service to patrons and rental groups – able to engage in positive interactions and dialogue with all visitors to the facility.
• Knowledge of Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) for the safe use and clean-up of hazardous materials.
• Ability to handle and work with cleaning equipment, supplies, and materials in various outdoor weather conditions.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks across indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on skills in maintaining sports facilities, including artificial turf care, minor repairs, inspections, and preventative maintenance of equipment and building systems.
• Ability to monitor life safety systems, identify hazards, follow health and safety protocols, respond to incidents, administer first aid, and complete incident reporting.
• Familiar with artificial turf cleaning and maintenance is preferred.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work in varied indoor/outdoor conditions, manage rotating shifts, and adapt quickly to changing schedules, events, and operational needs.

Department: CSD-Community Services Department