Animal Shelter Facilities & Building Maintenance Technician

Austin Pets Alive!; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 19,320 - 27,517; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized medical coverage

401(k) retirement plan with matching

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Austin Pets Alive! is seeking a Facilities Maintenance Technician to perform essential maintenance and repairs at APA! facilities.

This role involves supporting volunteer activities, managing donation areas, and ensuring a welcoming environment for volunteers and visitors. The position offers a competitive pay of $17.00 per hour with potential for additional stipends through successful completion of certifications.

The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and be dedicated to the mission of increasing live release rates across Texas.

Qualifications

• Must be comfortable working around animals, including potentially aggressive ones.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Experience in a mixed-use indoor/outdoor environment is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform general maintenance and repairs around the facility.
• Collaborate with volunteers and staff to operate smoothly.
• Manage daily donation areas and volunteer training.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Basic computer skills

Intermediate knowledge of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC functions

Education

Valid Texas driver's license

Job description

Austin Pets Alive! – Company Background

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and best-loved nonprofits. The organization is the leader in the no‑kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. Locally, APA! rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing a safety net for Austin’s most at‑risk shelter pets and helping the city to be a no‑kill community. The organization is distinguished by the scrappiness of its grassroots, community‑based animal rescue work. APA! also runs American Pets Alive!, its national division, and launched the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) project in 2020, a collaborative movement of more than 10,000 animal welfare professionals working in nearly 1,900 organizations.

Position Summary

The Facilities Maintenance Technician performs general maintenance and repairs around the assigned APA! facilities and grounds. Key functions include assigned work orders, emergency facility‑related items, grounds maintenance, donation sorting and distribution, and other duties as identified by management. The technician reports to the Facilities Manager, interacts regularly with staff, volunteers, and the public, and helps ensure the facility supports APA!’s mission to increase live release rates across Texas.

Responsibilities

• Actively contribute to a volunteer‑powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment.
• Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative, not siloed.
• Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program.
• Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work.
• Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager.
• Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts.
• Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands‑on guidance, and offering in‑the‑moment support.
• Perform general maintenance and repairs around the facility, under the supervision of the Facilities Manager, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and general housekeeping for the centers, as assigned.
• Troubleshoot facilities needs and exhaust all in‑house repair options prior to seeking outside assistance.
• Maintain on‑site storage management of facilities team areas (general upkeep, sorting, donating unneeded items, decluttering, etc.) with assistance from team members and volunteers as needed.
• Assist with large facilities‑related projects or volunteer work groups, as assigned.
• Utilize APA! email and other resources to ensure responses and maintenance/repair updates are provided to staff, contractors, and volunteers.
• Assist the Facilities Manager and Customer Service with tracking, sorting, storing, and disbursing program needs for donated goods in a timely manner, as needed.
• Keep all donated and purchased supplies stored safely and appropriately, taking charge and keeping storage areas clean, organized, and cared for.
• Track, confirm, and assist with proper delivery of large or valuable in‑kind donations, such as the monthly donated pet food supply, quarterly donation of cat litter, medical supplies, equipment, and other valuable items.
• Manage the daily donations area and assist the Volunteer Team with training volunteers on donations sorting and storage into respective areas, as needed.
• Perform beautification and grounds‑keeping tasks as needed to create a positive first impression of APA! in the community.
• Job duties may include some or all of the above and other duties as assigned by the manager.
• Demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, sound reasoning, and good judgment.
• Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings.
• Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis.
• React to change productively and perform related duties as assigned.
• Work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Work in a high‑volume, fast‑paced, high‑stress environment.
• Work autonomously when given goals and deadlines.
• Maintain open and consistent communication with the Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues using 2‑way radio, email/text, and program/APA! related apps or website interfaces.
• Prioritize tasks and be flexible as needs change daily.

Qualifications, Skills, & Expectations

• Committed to embodying APA!’s core values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, Inclusion, and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart.
• Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations.
• Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission.
• Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles.
• Comfortable working cross‑functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials.
• Self‑starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations.
• Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality.
• Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed.
• Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience.
• Intermediate knowledge of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC functions.
• High level of initiative and attention to detail; excellent time management and organizational skills are required.
• Experience working in a mixed‑use, indoor/outdoor environment, and managing needs across multiple facilities is a plus.
• Intermediate verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer skills, including the use of email and G Suite applications.
• Must have a valid Texas driver’s license and meet qualifications to drive company vehicles.
• Willing to offer help in other areas in times of need.

Physical Job Requirements

• Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals.
• Must be able to work in all weather conditions.
• Must be able to be on your feet for multiple hours of the day.
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects weighing up to 75 pounds.
• If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship to the organization.

Work Environment

• Outdoor environment subject to changing conditions and temperatures.
• Driving a vehicle and operating mobile motorized equipment to conduct work (hand and power tools, generators, pumps).
• Exposure to chemicals, fumes, noise from vehicle and equipment operation, dust, dirt, oil/grease, gasses, and pollen.
• Occasional after‑hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs.

Time Commitment

• This is a full‑time, nonexempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.
• Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change.
• Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Pay

This position starts at $17.00 per hour. Eligible employees may receive up to $2.00 per hour stipend within approximately six months through successful completion of internal APATec certifications. Certifications and stipends are discretionary and subject to change based on business need.

Location

• APA! Main – Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 West Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78703.
• Travel to off‑site locations as needed (Tarrytown location, thrift stores, Elgin, clinic).

Benefits

Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees, including subsidized employer‑sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short‑term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. Additional benefits include voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on a 401(k) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts, and additional life coverage. Full‑time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance animal welfare professionals in our life‑saving work.

Equal Employment Opportunities and Accommodations Statement

Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender‑non‑conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation. APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail] at least one week in advance of your interview.