Building Maintenance Worker

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago in Hyde Park is seeking a Facilities Services technician to support residence hall operations, provide room turnover, and assist with event setup. You will perform non-mechanical repairs, light carpentry, and maintenance, ensuring clean, safe spaces for students and staff.

The role requires strong customer service, organization, and ability to coordinate with engineers or trades. Valid driver's license and a basic tech aptitude are essential for daily duties on campus.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Extensive experience as skilled janitor/housekeeper or maintenance specialist for a residential property.
• Valid Driver’s License required; motor vehicle records check.
• Maintenance apprentice program or certificate preferred.
• Ability to read and understand basic documentation; use position-related software applications.

Responsibilities

• Regular attendance and punctuality to perform essential functions.
• Performs non-mechanical repair and services in common and student spaces.
• Light carpentry, small repairs, painting touch-ups, and minor maintenance tasks.
• Maintain orderly areas, support snow shoveling, litter control, and exterior cleanliness.
• Coordinate with engineers or skilled trades as needed; generate follow-up work orders.
• Support move-ins/move-outs with residents and staff; assist with room turnover.

Skills

Software applications

Reading comprehension

Organizational skills

Lead others

Clear communication

English proficiency

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Department

OPS Facilities RH&D BMW Shop 1

About the Department

Facilities Services supports the mission of the University of Chicago through efforts to maintain and enhance the University campus and environment and provide superior client service to our community including faculty, students, staff, neighbors and visitors.

Job Information

Job Summary:

Facilities Services (FS) is tasked with operating the University’s undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff housing on campus and in the Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood. Reporting to a Facilities Manager, this position provides standard and conference room service, room turnover, access, and event set-up for residence hall operations. This position can perform any and all duties of lower classifications in same occupational group.

Responsibilities:

• Regular attendance is required to perform all essential functions of this position.
• As directed, performs non-mechanical repair and other services in common and student room space.
• Work orders may include light bulb changing, light carpentry, touch-up painting, minor damage to furniture, window treatments, and storm window and screen removal, repair, cleaning & installation.
• Incumbent shall have a commitment to providing best-practice level of customer service to residents and the community.
• Generates follow up work orders for requests that require the services of engineers or skilled trades.
• Maintain and ensure the orderly appearance of adjoining areas and special equipment that support student life including site amenities such as loading docks, grills, patios, decks, exterior stairwells, green roofs and bicycle racks to maintain safe and presentable areas of travel accessible paths.
• Provide significant physical support for snow shoveling and removal, policing litter at entrances and exterior refuse collection.
• Position provides entrance and lobby monitoring for cleanliness and emergency response cleaning.
• Performs non-mechanical repair and other services necessary for room / apartment turnover between student or residence staff occupancy which may also include household moving.
• May include post-occupancy inspections, bulk content removal and disposal, furniture inventory and repair, window treatments, window screens and storms, light bulb replacement, minor plumbing, light carpentry, access coordination, follow-up and final quality inspection.
• Generates follow up work orders for requests that require the service of engineers or skilled trades.
• Completes daily tasks including but not limited to: Loading dock organization and cleaning, exterior trash monitoring and collection, entrance and lobby monitoring and cleaning.
• Performs emergency response cleaning, off season apartment and dorm room cleaning and summer conference room cleaning.
• Performs various cleaning, minor turnover maintenance and linen/towel/accessorycoordination and distribution and room make-up tasks as scheduled and described herein to provide short-term conference and guest room/apartment turnover.
• Performs all work required for setting up, moving, removing, cleaning and preparing for event setup in support of programs as directed.
• Performs and participates in office-wide programs, initiatives, and relationships and collaborating with colleagues.
• Serves as an ambassador for clients and residence staff. Examples include resident staff moves, recommending products, accepting deliveries, storage room management and oversight on open days, furniture and supply inventory management, installing common bath dispensers, and bicycle room clean-outs.
• Key member of the team supporting annual move-ins and move-outs with heavy student and family contact.
• Provides room or common space access and oversight for students, FS trades, outside contractors, and management and for scheduled inspections by management, professional consultants or contractors.
• May provide coordination of activities with janitorial contractor and assist in new staff training orientation.
• Responds promptly to emergency situations such as water leaks and fire alarms.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience, or Certifications:

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED from an accredited institutions required.

Experience:

• Extensive experience as skilled janitor/housekeeper or maintenance specialist for a residential property with demonstrated experience with service and minor repair typical of a furnished residential property required.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Driver’s License required. Must successfully complete the University’s Motor Vehicle Records process.
• Completion of a maintenance apprentice program or certificate program preferred.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to use or learn to use a range of position related software applications required. These may include standard software packages as well as networked systems, email, the Web and other types of information structures,required.
• Demonstrated ability to read and understand basic documentation such as help screens and departmental handouts required.
• Adhere to F/A Core Values, including, but not limited to collaboration, safety, service, efficiency and effectiveness, credibility, responsiveness, quality, accountability and respect.
• Demonstrated organization skills to manage and complete multiple requests simultaneously required.
• Demonstrated ability to work with supervision to identify and describe work task priorities required.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and lead the work of others required.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with clarity, tact and courtesy with patrons, staff, faculty, students and others required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing required.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and resolve or refer problems and conflicts required.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Must be capable of strenuous daily physical activity such as snow shoveling and removal, walking, crouching, kneeling, climbing, lift up to 50 pounds, carrying, driving, and cleaning.
• Ability to work efficiently, professionally and safely with tools of the maintenance trade, snow blowers, snow shovels and small hand tools.
• Ability to occasionally work from ladders or lifts up to ten feet.
• Requisition materials and supplies as needed for projects so as to ensure productive and efficient use of