Building Trades Helper

City of Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Detroit is seeking a Building Maintenance Helper to perform routine upkeep under supervision and to assist journeymen in various trades. Work follows established procedures with emphasis on safety and quality.

Responsibilities include basic repairs, plumbing and electrical assistance, and material handling. The candidate should be able to read and write English, be physically capable, and eager to learn on the job.

Qualifications

• Ability to read and write English and follow directions.
• Preferably graduation from a vocational high school with general shop courses.
• Some experience in building construction/maintenance.
• Some knowledge of building repair work and tools; willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Makes minor repairs to windows, doors, locks and tiles; replaces doors and hardware.
• Replaces electrical fixtures such as switches and outlets; assists with plumbing repairs.
• Inspects and maintains mechanical equipment; patches plaster and drywall as needed.
• Carries tools/materials and assists journeyman; follows safety procedures.

Skills

Ability to read and write English

Follow oral and written directions

Mechanical aptitude

Willingness to learn

Physical ability

Education

Vocational high school with general shop courses

Job description

Under supervision, to perform the less skilled and more routine tasks involved in the construction and maintenance of buildings and their equipment; and/or to work as a helper to a journeyman in any of the building trades; and to perform related work as required.In accordance with established routine operational and safety procedures and standard building maintenance and construction practices, subject to oral and written instructions and inspection of work, but with some responsibility for quality of work and selection of work methods, performs a variety of building maintenance and construction tasks that require practice and familiarity with the way the work is done rather than the skills associated with an established building trade and are typified by, but not limited to, the following examples:
Makes minor repairs to windows, doors, locks, screens, wall or floor tiles etc.; replaces storm doors, door locks and door hardware; replaces light switches, sockets and other minor electrical fixtures; replaces washers in faucets, packs valves, cuts and threads pipe, assists with pipe caulking and does other simple plumbing repairs; changes air valves on radiators and replaces coverings on steam pipes and does other simple repairs to heating equipment; inspects, cleans, and lubricates mechanical equipment in and around buildings; patches holes and cracks in plaster and drywall; boards up building openings;
As required, in order to provide assistance as instructed and otherwise help out journeyman workers in any of the building trades, carries tools or materials; mixes materials; drills, cuts, lifts, or holds materials; cuts and threads pipe or conduit; prepares surfaces for painting; tests equipment, reads gauges, checks or makes changes to assist in operation of equipment as instructed; follows established safety procedures.Qualifications (required): Ability to read and write English, and to understand and follow oral and written directions, preferably graduation from a vocational high school with general shop courses; some experience in building construction and/or maintenance; some knowledge of building repair work and construction work, terms, materials and equipment; some familiarity with building trade tools and their uses, and, preferably some elemental skill with several; some ability to perform the less skilled tasks of one or more of the building trades; mechanical aptitude; willingness to learn and perform any assigned task; physically and mentally capable of performing all the duties of the assigned position.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be substituted to meet the education and experience requirements of this position.