Director of Maintenance I

Palatka Housing Authority; Palatka (FL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Free food & snacks

Free uniforms

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Palatka Housing Authority in Palatka, FL, seeks a hands-on Maintenance Director to rebuild and lead our maintenance operation across 422 public housing units and other properties. You will set the standard, supervise staff, and deliver results residents can see: vacant homes turned fast and right, repairs done the first time, and communities that are safe and well kept.

Full-time, exempt. Reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in residential/multifamily maintenance
• 3+ years supervising staff
• Experience with plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliances, carpentry
• Proficiency with electronic work orders, email, and spreadsheets
• English literacy for leadership and reporting
• Budget preparation and management
• Florida driver's license; background check and drug screening
• Available for after-hours emergencies

Responsibilities

• Lead, schedule, and supervise maintenance staff and contractors; manage daily dispatch
• Turn vacant units to turnover standard and document for leasing
• Ensure emergency and safety repairs within 24 hours and inspections on time
• Prepare portfolio for HUD NSPIRE inspections and improve inspection scores
• Build and run preventive maintenance for systems
• Own the electronic work order system; log, close, report
• Coach staff and handle hiring actions with HR
• Manage contractors to scope, quality, schedule; meet HUD wage and Section 3
• Develop and manage maintenance budget; control overtime and materials costs
• Work with Procurement & Modernization on specs, bids, Capital Fund projects
• Enforce OSHA and safety standards; coordinate safety and inspections
• Maintain vehicle fleet, tools, inventory
• Report monthly on turn times, vacancies, WO aging, costs

Skills

Staff supervision

Budget management

English communication

Facilities management

Problem solving

Tools

Upkeep

PHA Web

Job description

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Free food & snacks
• Free uniforms
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

About the Role

Palatka Housing Authority is seeking a hands-on Maintenance Director to rebuild and lead our maintenance operation across approximately 422 public housing units and other PHA properties. You will set the standard, hold the team to it, and deliver results residents can see: vacant homes turned fast and right, repairs done the first time, and communities that are safe and well kept. Full-time, exempt. Reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

What You'll Do

• Lead, schedule, and supervise all maintenance staff and contractors; run daily dispatch so work is assigned, tracked, and finished without redirection
• Turn vacant units to PHA's turnover standard and meet agency turn-time targets, with every unit signed off and documented before it is released for leasing
• Ensure emergency and health-and-safety repairs are completed within 24 hours and inspection deficiencies within required timeframes
• Prepare the portfolio for HUD NSPIRE inspections and drive continuous improvement in physical inspection scores
• Build and run the preventive maintenance program for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, life-safety, and building systems
• Own the electronic work order system (currently Upkeep, transitioning to PHA Web): every work order logged, closed with notes and photos, and reported
• Set clear performance expectations, coach and train staff, document performance, and partner with HR on hiring and corrective action
• Manage contractors to scope, quality, and schedule; ensure HUD wage rate and Section 3 requirements are met
• Develop and manage the maintenance budget; control overtime, contractor, and materials costs; ensure costs are charged to the correct property and program
• Work with Procurement & Modernization on specifications, bids, and Capital Fund projects, and contribute to physical needs assessments
• Enforce OSHA, lead-safe, and PHA safety standards; coordinate annual safety and fire inspections
• Maintain the vehicle fleet, tools, shop, and inventory
• Report monthly on turn times, vacancies, work order aging, inspection results, and costs

What We Measure

Vacant unit turn time, occupancy, emergency response, work order completion and aging, inspection results, resident satisfaction, staff attendance, and budget performance.

Requirements

• 5+ years of residential or multifamily maintenance experience, including 3+ years supervising maintenance staff
• Working knowledge of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliance, and carpentry systems
• Proven results in unit turnover and work order management
• Proficiency with electronic work order and maintenance software, email, and spreadsheets
• Speak, read, and write English clearly and professionally to lead staff, communicate with residents, prepare written reports, and interpret codes, contracts, and manuals
• Experience preparing and managing a budget
• Valid Florida driver's license; pass a background check and drug screen
• Available for after-hours emergencies

Preferred

• Public housing or HUD-assisted housing experience; knowledge of NSPIRE standards
• NSPIRE, public housing maintenance management, or property maintenance certification
• EPA Section 608 and Lead RRP certifications
• Experience managing contractors under HUD or public procurement rules
• Bilingual English/Spanish

About Us

The Palatka Housing Authority provides safe, affordable, quality housing to the residents of Palatka, FL. We are raising our standards and building a team that works with care, integrity, and accountability.

PHA is an equal opportunity employer and drug‑free workplace. Reasonable accommodations are available. Public housing residents and low‑income individuals are encouraged to apply (Section 3).