Idlewild and SoakZone: Facilities Maintenance Assistant

DNU - Festival Fun Parks, LLC (OLD); Ligonier (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Free park admission for you and family

Cross-training across departments

Exclusive employee events

Job summary

Idlewild and SoakZone is seeking a Facilities Maintenance Assistant to support daily inspections and maintenance of park rides, buildings, and equipment. You will assist with carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and general upkeep across the park, including water attractions and landscaping.

Under supervision, you’ll read plans, fabricate basic structures, and operate heavy equipment such as forklifts and scissor lifts.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required or preferred
• Trade school or technical certification is a plus
• Equivalent work experience will be considered
• 1+ years in maintenance/carpentry or related role desired but not required
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluent English; Spanish or other bilingual skills are a plus

Responsibilities

• Assist with maintenance services anywhere in the park
• Perform repairs and maintenance on buildings and park property
• Read blueprints/elevations and identify materials
• Fabricate/install signs, stairs, furniture, walls, fixtures
• Assist with electrical, plumbing, and carpentry tasks
• Understand electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems for ride operation
• Operate heavy equipment safely (forklifts, scissor lifts)
• Perform landscaping duties as needed
• Maintain clean, organized storage and mechanical areas
• Support full-time staff with ride operation, maintenance, and cleanup
• Adhere to safety policies and park rules

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Carpentry basics

Electrical knowledge

Reading blueprints

Safety-conscious

Tool proficiency

Pumps and hydraulics

English fluency

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Trade school training

Technical certification

Equivalent work experience considered

Tools

Hand tools

Power tools

Forklift operation

Scissor lift operation

Job description

Our story began 75 years ago when the Herschend family discovered wonder deep in an Ozark Mountain cave—and chose to share it with the world. Today, Herschend is the largest family-held themed attractions company, with 49 leading attractions and immersive experiences that reach audiences worldwide. While each brand offers something unique, all are united by a shared purpose: Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating®.

Our passionate hosts make this purpose possible through everyday acts of love and service—what we call Heartspitality®—the intersection of heart and hospitality.

As an equal-opportunity employer, we strive to provide environments where every host, guest, and partner feel welcome, valued, and loved. We firmly believe that words and actions matter, which is why all individuals are to be treated equally and with respect.

The Facilities Maintenance Assistant is responsible for assisting with hands-on daily inspections and general maintenance services, as well as helping with the repair, removal, reinstallation, or replacement of park rides, buildings, and equipment throughout the Idlewild and SoakZone Property. Under the direct supervision of senior maintenance team members and leadership, Facilities Maintenance Assistants are responsible for helping with providing maintenance services to amusement rides, water rides, go-karts, and all other attractions found within the park.

We are currently looking for a:

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Assists with all required maintenance services anywhere throughout the park.
• Provides repair and maintenance to park property
• Provides general upkeep and maintenance to all buildings and physical structures found within the park.
• Utilize basic measurement skills as they pertain to carpentry work (e.g. for blueprints, elevations, and/or identifying materials needed)
• Fabricate and install signs, stairs, furniture, walls, and structures as assigned
• Assist with the installation of structures and fixtures such as windows, framing, flooring, and trim
• Assist with general maintenance, plumbing, electrical and carpentry repairs
• Develop an understanding of Electrical, Hydraulic, and Pneumatic Circuits to assist with maintaining continuous ride operation
• Perform water quality duties to Aquatics areas of the park
• Safely operate heavy equipment including forklifts, scissor lift, and more
• Safely operate motor vehicles both on-and-off site
• Perform landscaping duties including mowing, line trimming, grounds cleanup, pruning and planting, whenever assigned
• Assists with preventive maintenance through the park to buildings, restrooms, pavilions, and rides
• Maintain all storage areas, shops, and mechanical areas in a clean, safe, organized, and secure manner
• Develop an understanding of the layout of plumbing, waste disposal, and water supply systems
• Inspect pools and aquatics attraction plumbing and maintain operation of pumps, motors, filters, computerized electronic controls, plumbing and pool equipment
• Handle hazardous chemicals, such as chlorine, bromine, muriatic acid, and test kit materials for pool set, in a safe and compliant manner
• Prepare and maintain outdoor pools and filter rooms for summer operation and winter shut down
• Repair appliances and fixtures (e.g. sinks, toilets, dishwashers, etc.) as needed
• Repair appliances and fixtures (e.g. sinks, toilets, dishwashers, etc.) as needed
• Accountable for tools and materials.
• Assist full-time staff in maintaining the park's attractions. These duties would include, but are not limited to, ride operation, maintenance, and clean-up
• All other duties as assigned by Maintenance or Park leadership

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred
• Equivalent work experience will also be considered
• Trade school training or other technical certification is a plus
• 1 + years of previous work experience in a maintenance, carpentry, or related role desired, but not required

Ability to read, write, and speak fluent English Spanish or other bilingual language skills are a plus.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age to comply with Pennsylvania Child Labor Laws
• Ability to work flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, open to close
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and a good driving record
• Must possess strong mechanical aptitude and ability to utilize a variety of hand and power tools in a safe and effective manner, including landscaping equipment
• General working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pumps, motors, hydraulics, pneumatics, plumbing and carpentry preferred.
• Ability to read and comprehend ride maintenance manuals, blueprints, schematics, and technical drawings
• Familiarity and experience with theme park ride mechanics a plus
• Familiarity with state and local codes as they relate to theme park attractions a plus

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, twist, kneel, bend, climb, or squat for long periods of time
• Ability to remain on feet for majority of the workday
• Ability to carry, push, pull, lift, and hold objects weighing 75 pounds or more
• Ability to work in all non-conventional areas of the property, including in confined spaces or above ground-level, on scaffolds, ladders, and manlifts
• Ability to consistently use hands to grasp, control, move objects/tools
• Ability to see differences between colors and brightness
• Ability to see details of objects that are more than a few feet away

Working Conditions:

• Frequent exposure to the variable outside temperatures, including high heat, cold, direct sun, humidity, dust, rain, snow, ice, and other weather conditions
• Subject to constant repetitive motion, high noise levels, vibrations, motorized equipment, and exposure to various chemicals and greases
• Subject to bloodborne pathogens Proper PPE is required in these situations.
• Subject to working at significant heights greater than 50 feet

Team member benefits:

Working at Idlewild and SoakZone is about making people happy! It’s about being independent and having fun, making new friends and earning extra money while doing so. As an Idlewild and SoakZone employee, you can be the smiling face that makes a great first impression for incoming guests, a cook that serves up tasty treats and culinary delights, a lifeguard who soaks up the sun while keeping guests safe, or a ride operator that keeps guests coming back for more thrills! There are many exciting seasonal job opportunities available to take your summer job to new heights!

Idlewild and SoakZone Perks & Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Ability to cross-train and learn unique skills across various departments
• Free admission to Idlewild and SoakZone, Kennywood, and Sandcastle on your days off, as well as free tickets for your family & friends!
• Exclusive employee events throughout the season

In keeping with our company values, we nurture a balance between work and family, strive to promote 70% from within and support each host’s efforts to develop a fulfilling and rewarding career

We’re not just in the attractions business; we’re in the people business-and that starts with our own.