Facilities Technician

United Way of Greater Knoxville; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoo Knoxville is seeking a Facilities Technician to maintain, repair, and improve facilities, exhibits, enclosures, and infrastructure. The role covers carpentry, plumbing, electrical, concrete work, painting, welding, HVAC, and mechanical repairs, with emphasis on safety and quality.

You will inspect facilities, perform preventative maintenance, and assist in the construction and upkeep of exhibits. Strong physical ability and independent work ethic are required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of general trades: carpentry, plumbing, electrical, concrete, painting, welding, HVAC, and mechanical repair.
• Ability to read sketches, blueprints, schematics, and manuals.
• Strong fabrication skills: cement, epoxy, fiberglass, wood, metal, composites.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and emergency maintenance and repair of buildings, exhibits, enclosures, and utility systems.
• Assist with cage work installation, modifications, and maintenance; fabricate exhibit components.
• Dig, spread, and level dirt, move materials, and assist with concrete/asphalt work; maintain job sites.
• Operate hand tools, power tools, and maintain safety guidelines for equipment use.
• Follow safety procedures and PPE requirements; maintain inventory and order supplies as needed.

Skills

Carpentry

Plumbing

Electrical

Concrete

Painting

Welding

HVAC

Mechanical repair

Safety procedures

Reading blueprints

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Vocational training

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Hand tools

Power tools

Heavy equipment operation

Job description

The Facilities Technician is responsible for performing skilled and semi-skilled work in the maintenance, repair, and improvement of Zoo Knoxville facilities, exhibits, enclosures, and infrastructure. This role requires experience in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, concrete work, and mechanical repair, along with strong physical ability and adherence to safety protocols. The Facilities Technician supports Zoo operations to ensure a safe, functional, and engaging environment for animals, staff, and visitors.

Description

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Facilities Maintenance & Repairs
-Perform routine and emergency maintenance and repair of buildings, exhibits, enclosures, and utility systems.
-Conduct inspections and preventative maintenance on facilities, equipment, and tools.
-Follow established procedures and safety guidelines when performing maintenance, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, welding, concrete work, sheet metal, painting, and mechanical repairs.
-Operate and maintain hand tools, power tools, and light to medium/heavy equipment safely and effectively.
-Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
-Follow procedures and guidelines relating to facilities, equipment, and assigned daily tasks, including cage work installation, concrete, carpentry, plumbing, electric tool operation, hand tool operation, painting, digging, equipment care, and maintenance.
-Maintain inventory of building materials, tools/equipment, and exhibit consumables, and order supplies as needed.
-Request supplies for the repair and completion of assigned tasks.
-Perform other general laborer duties as assigned.
-Other unlisted duties will be assigned.

2. Animal Enclosure & Exhibit Support
-Assist with cage work installation, modifications, and maintenance.
-Support construction, repair, and enhancement of artificial elements in exhibits (trees, rocks, vines) using concrete, fiberglass, epoxy, polyester, urethanes, plastic, wood, and metal.
-Fabricate exhibit components such as cage work, containment barriers, enrichment items, and interactive/electrical elements.
-Apply various forms of cement or epoxy, carve the applied material, and apply finish textures and paint with coordination of the Exhibit Design Manager.
-Assist with installation, set-up, tear-down, and removal of temporary or traveling exhibits, special events, or other event-related operations.
Utilize mechanical drawings, schematics, and product manuals toward repair and maintenance activities.
-Perform construction maintenance, repair, or alteration work related to exhibit maintenance and construction.
-Participate in finish and detail work on exhibit environments.

3. Grounds, Earthwork & Material Handling
-Dig, spread, and level dirt, sand, and gravel using hand tools.
-Lift, carry, and manually transport construction materials, tools, and supplies.
-Move throughout a construction or zoo worksite including minor obstacles such as climbing ladders and inclines, operating heavy equipment, and lifting up to 50 pounds regularly and 100 pounds occasionally.
-Perform job site housekeeping duties.
-Assist with demolishing structures, sawing lumber, and dismantling forms.
-Assist with concrete and asphalt work, including aligning forms, shoveling materials, chipping concrete, raking, sweeping, and moving materials and tools.
-Assist with leveling various materials to fine grade specifications.

5. Equipment Operation & Safety
-Operate hand tools, power tools, and small equipment safely and effectively.
-Some proficiency in the safe operation of maintenance equipment, including trucks, carts, skid-steer loaders, backhoes, ladders, shovels, brooms, picks, drills, saws, grinders, band saws, cut-off saws, tape measures, levels, squares, pliers, wrenches, and other maintenance tools/equipment.
-Follow established operating procedures and safety guidelines for all equipment and tasks.
-Work within established procedures regarding safety standards and proper PPE use.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of general trades: carpentry, plumbing, electrical, concrete, painting, welding, HVAC, and mechanical repair.
• Knowledge of tools, equipment, and safety practices required for facility maintenance.
• Ability to read and interpret sketches, blueprints, schematics, and manuals.
• Strong artistic and fabrication skills (cement, epoxy, sculpting, painting, molds, fiberglass, wood, metal, composites).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to react quickly, effectively, and logically in high-stress or emergency situations.
• Familiarity with plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and AV technologies.
• Commitment to professional quality work and Zoo Knoxville’s core values.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED required; vocational training or higher education preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in general trades, facilities maintenance, or a similar role.
• Prior experience at an accredited AZA Zoological Facility preferred.