Maintenance Assistant, Painter - Multiple Positions

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a Maintenance Assistant (Painter) to perform interior and exterior painting under supervision of skilled trades staff, applying protective coats and preparing surfaces.

The role involves scaffolding, covering areas, cleaning brushes, and assisting in painting-related tasks. Candidates should have two years painting experience or completion of a two-year technical school course in painting, and may be required to hold a NYS driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Two years of full-time painting experience under supervision.
• Or completion of a two-year technical school course in painting.
• When required to operate motor vehicles, candidates must possess a valid New York State driver’s license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and applies protective and decorative coats of paint to interior and exterior surfaces.
• Arranges, assembles, and erects scaffolds and ladders at work site.
• Spreads drop cloths over areas to avoid paint splatter and dries surfaces.
• Cleans brushes and equipment with soap, water, solvents, or turpentine.

Skills

Painting experience

Education

Two-year technical school course in painting

Job description

Distinguishing CharacteristicsMaintenance Assistant (Painter): non-competitive; as a semiskilled employee, performs interior and exterior painting, generally not requiring fine finish or the mixing of paints and matching of colors to decorate interiors of structures.

Job DescriptionDistinguishing CharacteristicsMaintenance Assistant (Painter): non-competitive; as a semiskilled employee, performs interior and exterior painting, generally not requiring fine finish or the mixing of paints and matching of colors to decorate interiors of structures. Generally, Maintenance Assistants (Painter) work under the supervision of a skilled trades or supervisory maintenance position; in turn, they may supervise Facility Operations Assistants 1 and other relatively unskilled workers in performing manual tasks involving elementary skills. Related Classes There are a number of other specialized maintenance assistant classes having parenthetic designations describing the predominant trade area in which the incumbent is assigned including carpenter, plumber and steamfitter, electrician, and mason and plasterer. Although incumbents of such classes may perform tasks normally associated with more than one trade, most of their time is spent performing tasks typical of the trade indicated by the parenthetic designation. Incumbents of Maintenance Assistant positions without a parenthetic designating a trade specialty are usually found in relatively small maintenance staffs where such specialization is not desirable, or in maintenance pools where specialization is not efficient. However, incumbents may be assigned to tasks such as those described for any of the specialized positions of Maintenance Assistant. Maintenance Assistant is distinguished from Facility Operations Assistant 1 by the latter's performance of relatively unskilled tasks in direct support of semiskilled and/or skilled trades positions. Such tasks involve a limited use of the tools and equipment of the trade under very specific instruction and supervision of either a Maintenance Assistant or a journey-level tradesperson. Critical distinctions between the Maintenance Assistant (Painter) and Trades Specialist (Painter) are the latter’s responsibility for supervising a crew of Facility Operations Assistants 1 and occasionally other Trades Specialists (Painter) on a project basis performing interior and exterior painting at a State facility, and for estimating the quantity and quality of paint and other materials required to complete a job. Positions of Trades Specialist (Painter) may work independently on painting projects requiring special surface preparation, remixing of paints to match specified colors, and painting requiring fine finish and decorative treatment. Illustrative Tasks Prepares and applies protective and decorative coats of paint to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings, furniture, equipment, guiderails, fences and like surfaces.

• Arranges, assembles, and erects scaffolds and ladders at work site.
• Places drop cloths over shrubbery, furniture or floors to avoid paint splattering.
• Moves furniture and moveable equipment from area to be painted.
• Prepares surfaces for painting by such methods as washing surfaces with soap and water, the use of paint remover, blowtorch, wire brush, or chipping hammer to remove all paint, and by sanding surfaces to smooth them.
• Removes electrical wall plates prior to painting and replaces when job completed.
• Fills cracks, crevices and holes with putty, plaster, or other materials.
• Mixes paints following standard proportions to achieve desired color.
• Paints surfaces usually not requiring fine finish, using brush, spray gun, paint roller, or mittens following oral or written instructions.
• May install or replace window glass.
• Cleans brushes and equipment with soap and water, turpentine, or other solvents.
• Cleans work area of spotted paint and dirt.
• May assist in covering interior walls with wall coverings.
• Prepares and cleans surfaces to be covered.
• Cuts wall covering to proper lengths.
• Mixes paste, brushes on back of wall covering, and places and smooths strips on wall.

Independence of OperationMaintenance Assistants (Painter) are usually supervised by a higher-level trades position, such as Trades Specialist (Painter) who determine work priorities, define the nature and extent of work to be performed, provide instructions and direction, provide resources for work projects, layout and plan projects, assist in performing the more difficult tasks, train staff in skilled work, activities, evaluate performance, and inspect work in progress and upon completion. Maintenance Assistants (Painter) may perform the activities of this class with considerable independence when supervision is not available and are expected to perform routine activities with considerable independence. CommunicationThe nature of a Maintenance Assistant’s (Painter) activities generally restricts relationships to oral communications with employees working within the same organizational unit and to individuals for whom the State has custody or responsibility assigned to projects or work units. Such relationships are characterized by frequent oral and written communication in assigning work, providing instructions, and exchanging information. Written and oral communications with the general public are not typical of this class. Supervision ExercisedA Maintenance Assistant (Painter) may supervise work crews of relatively unskilled workers and/or individuals for whom the State has custody or responsibility by making assignments, giving instructions, and aiding in performing tasks. Non-competitive QualificationsTwo years of full-time experience in painting work under the supervision of a skilled tradesperson; OR completion of an appropriate two-year technical school course in painting at a school, institute, or branch of the Armed Services; or an equivalent combination of experience and training gained by completion of appropriate technical courses at a school, institute, or branch of the Armed Services. When required to operate motor vehicles, candidates must possess a valid New York State driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.