Maintenance - Woodshop Instructor

Center for Veterans Issues, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Center for Veterans Issues, Inc. in Milwaukee seeks a hands-on Maintenance Assistant / Woodshop Instructor to support veterans by maintaining facilities and teaching woodworking.

This role blends repairs, turnovers, and safety-focused instruction, with hands-on demonstrations, patient coaching, and trauma-informed approaches to help veterans build skills, confidence, and independence.

If you value safety, quality workmanship, and can guide others through projects, we want to meet you.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in maintenance, carpentry, woodworking, or related skilled trades.
• Ability to safely operate and teach use of woodworking tools.
• Strong safety mindset and professionalism.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between CVI locations.

Responsibilities

• Perform repairs, preventive maintenance, inspections, work orders, and facility projects.
• Assist with apartment turnovers and residential room turnovers.
• Teach woodworking classes and demonstrate tool use safely.
• Develop trauma-informed, veteran-centered instruction.
• Maintain woodshop safety, PPE, and records.

Skills

Maintenance

Carpentry

Woodworking

Teaching

Safety

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Hand tools

Power tools

Stationary equipment

Job description

Build Skills. Build Confidence. Build Something That Matters.

At the Center for Veterans Issues, Inc. (CVI), we believe meaningful work can do more than repair a building-it can help rebuild confidence, create connection, and give Veterans a renewed sense of accomplishment.

We're looking for a hands-on, skilled, patient, and safety-minded Maintenance Assistant / Woodshop Instructor who wants to put their talents to work for a mission that matters.

This unique position is approximately 50% facilities maintenance and 50% woodshop instruction. One day you may be completing repairs or helping turn over an apartment for a Veteran moving into housing. The next, you may be teaching a Veteran how to safely operate a saw, build a woodworking project, or discover a skill they never knew they had.

If you know your way around tools, enjoy teaching others, and believe that dignity and purpose can be built one project at a time, we want to meet you.

The Person We're Looking For

You don't just know how to build things-you enjoy helping other people discover that they can build something, too.

You take pride in quality workmanship. You know when to teach, when to encourage, when to step in for safety, and when a job requires expertise beyond your authorization. You can establish clear expectations while treating every Veteran with dignity and respect.

Most importantly, you understand that sometimes a woodworking project is more than a woodworking project. It can be a chance to learn something new, reconnect with others, experience success, and say, "I made that."

What You'll Do

Keep Our Veterans' Homes Safe & Strong

• Complete repairs, preventive maintenance, inspections, work orders, and facility projects.
• Assist with apartment and residential room turnovers.
• Perform painting, carpentry, minor plumbing and electrical work, landscaping, and general facility upkeep.
• Identify and promptly address safety hazards and maintenance concerns.
• Track and complete work orders using Buildium.
• Maintain tools, equipment, vehicles, and work areas with pride.
• Participate in emergency and on-call maintenance coverage as assigned.

Bring the Woodshop to Life

• Develop and lead engaging woodworking classes for Veterans of varying experience and ability levels.
• Teach the safe use of hand tools, power tools, stationary equipment, materials, finishes, and basic woodworking techniques.
• Create individual and group projects that build practical skills, creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and confidence.
• Provide clear demonstrations and patient, hands-on coaching.
• Use veteran-centered, trauma-informed approaches that emphasize dignity, choice, strengths, and achievement.
• Ensure every participant completes safety orientation and demonstrates competency before independently operating equipment.
• Find meaningful ways to showcase completed projects and celebrate Veteran achievement.

Make Safety Non-Negotiable

• Maintain a clean, organized, accessible, and secure woodshop.
• Inspect equipment routinely and immediately remove unsafe equipment from service.
• Consistently enforce PPE, machine guarding, ventilation, housekeeping, emergency shutoff, and equipment safety requirements.
• Maintain required safety, inspection, inventory, and incident records.
• Stop unsafe activity immediately and appropriately respond to injuries, near misses, or other safety concerns.
• Manage materials and supplies responsibly while minimizing waste.

What Success Looks Like

You’ll be successful when:

• 90%+ of assigned maintenance tasks are completed on time.
• 95%+ of preventive maintenance and inspections are completed as required.
• 90%+ of scheduled woodshop sessions are delivered as planned.
• 100% of participants receive safety orientation and demonstrate competency before independent equipment use.
• 100% of required equipment inspections and safety documentation are completed.
• Tools, equipment, and inventory are consistently maintained and accounted for.
• You become proficient in Buildium

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in maintenance, carpentry, woodworking, construction, facilities, or another skilled trade.
• Demonstrated ability to safely operate-and teach others to operate-common woodworking tools and equipment.
• Working knowledge of carpentry, painting, mechanical systems, minor plumbing/electrical work, and preventive maintenance.
• Patience and the ability to teach skills step-by-step to people with different learning styles and abilities.
• Strong judgment, professionalism, dependability, and a serious commitment to safety.
• Ability to communicate respectfully with Veterans from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
• Comfort using smartphones, tablets, computers, and electronic work-order systems.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between CVI locations.
• Ability to meet applicable background, driving, and other position-related screening requirements.