TRADES MANAGER

Fulton County; Georgia; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Fulton County is seeking an experienced Trades Manager in its Department of Real Estate and Asset Management to oversee a team of building maintenance staff and contractors. The role requires deep knowledge of HVAC, construction, and project management, with a focus on civil infrastructure and safety.

The position emphasizes owner-representative duties, coordinating preventive maintenance, safety programs, and contract administration across county facilities.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related field; four years in electrical/HVAC- Refrigeration, plumbing and two years supervisory experience or equivalent.
• Georgia driver's license required; HVAC, Plumbing or Electrician license/cert preferred.
• Must understand and apply county policies and procedures; be able to learn new county systems and safety rules.

Responsibilities

• Manages staff and contractors; sets workloads; evaluates performance; enforces policies; conducts annual reviews and payroll hours log.
• Provides technical guidance to resolve issues; assists field teams; ensures preventive maintenance plans are created.
• Writes specifications and describes materials, processes, and contracts; participates in bid meetings and contract administration.
• Leads in HVAC, electrical, mechanical systems; oversees CMMS-driven maintenance and safety programs.
• Oversees safety programs, PPE compliance, and OSHA requirements; ensures safe operations.
• Oversees contracts for operations, maintenance, and renovations; coordinates with vendors and SharePoint updates.
• Manages procurement of supplies and inventory; maintains records and controls.

Skills

HVAC knowledge

Construction management

Project management

Education

Associates degree (Engineering/Construction Management/Business)

Job description

UNCLASSIFIED POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT

Minimum Qualifications:

Associates degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or a related field required, supplemented by four years experience in electrical, HVAC/Refrigeration, plumbing and two years supervisory experience or a related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required:

Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license; HVAC, Plumbing, or Electrician license/certification is preferred.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities:

Must demonstrate considerable knowledge in HVAC, construction, and project management related to civil engineering and public infrastructure. Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Veterans' Preference:

Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans' preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only. To see the full Fulton County Veterans' Preference Policy and Procedure.

Examination:

The examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience, accomplished by analysis of the application. Application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education and experience as listed to be rated as qualified. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to oversee a specific group of building maintenance staff and perform related work for the benefit of Fulton County offices, departments, and personnel. Employees in this classification perform in a capacity similar to Trades Supervisors, but require a higher level of project management skills; function as owner agents/ representatives who attend to all aspects and components of their area of assignment; representing the needs of a specific infrastructure(s) or intended user while protecting the interests of the County overall in project implementation. Trades Managers are expected to exercise judgment relative to safety, cost, specifications, and project progression. Trades Managers either perform the essential tasks of this position or coordinate the work of others (in-house or contractual), depending on the needs of the specific project.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Manages assigned staff and contractors; establishes workloads; prioritizes work assignments and verifies completion; evaluates employee performance; interprets and enforces policies and procedures; resolves staff issues, conducts annual performance reviews and administers disciplinary action as required; maintains daily hours log for payroll department.

Provides technical assistance and knowledge to employees to help solve any problems during their work shifts; answers questions or helps troubleshoot issues within other departments; assists teams in the field when necessary; ensures a preventative maintenance plan is created if needed.

Writes construction specifications, technical descriptions specifying material qualities and properties, utilizing knowledge of material standards, construction processes or manufacturing procedures, descriptions of processes and processing operations, the scope of work for contracts, and attends contract bid specification meetings in area of assignment.

Demonstrates a high proficiency and understanding of systems such as HVAC, building automation, electrical, mechanical, and code compliance; leads, participates in, and provides insight into the maintenance and improvements of related system operations and computerized maintenance management systems that support work order management and preventative, corrective, and predictive maintenance programs.

Maintains a strong safety program; leads the overall safety programs to develop, follow, provide training, and ensure the complete and full implementation of all OSHA and departmental safety programs and procedures related to area of assignment; ensures that all staff have proper personal protective equipment available and understand how and when to use it.

Manages the overall operations of contracts to include: the performance of daily operations, the scheduling of preventive maintenance, and overseeing of projects and renovations; administers contracts for equipment; prepares quarterly meeting with contractors and weekly updates of projects in SharePoint; ensures that contracts are managed in a manner that meets all Fulton County contractual requirements.

Coordinates the purchase of necessary supplies, equipment and services from appropriate vendors and maintain proper inventory control, maintenance and consumable supplies; maintains sufficient records, files, controls, and procedures to ensure management and work production.

Additional Functions:

On-call hours may be required depending on specific area of expertise Performs other related duties as required.

For Applicants With Prior Military Service:

We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including:

• Leadership Under Pressure: Directs multiple trade teams (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, etc.) during urgent facility needs or system failures; Maintains calm, clear decision-making during emergencies such as power outages, equipment breakdowns, or safety incidents; Prioritizes critical tasks and allocates resources efficiently when under tight deadlines or high workloads; Provides steady leadership to ensure continuity of operations in mission-critical county facilities.
• Operational Planning & Execution: Oversees preventive maintenance programs and long-range facility improvement plans; Develops and manages work schedules, service orders, and project timelines to ensure efficient workflow; Coordinates contractor services, inspections, and compliance activities with regulatory requirements; Maintains budget oversight, resource allocation, and inventory control for materials and equipment.
• Adaptability & Rapid Problem Solving: Responds quickly to unexpected facility issues by diagnosing problems and implementing effective solutions; Adjusts maintenance plans or staffing needs based on shifting priorities or unanticipated system disruptions; Adapts to changing building codes, sustainability initiatives, and technology improvements; Identifies root causes of technical issues and reduces downtime through proactive corrective actions.
• Team Cohesion & Communication: Leads a diverse team of skilled trades professionals, promoting collaboration and accountability; Communicates project expectations, safety protocols, and performance standards clearly across teams; Fosters strong working relationships with internal departments, vendors, contractors, and county leadership; Coaches and mentors staff, supporting skill development and succession planning.
• Safety & Risk Awareness: Ensures compliance with OSHA standards, county safety policies, electrical and mechanical codes, and risk-management protocols; Conducts safety briefings, hazard assessments, and corrective action reviews; Promotes a culture of safety awareness, proper PPE usage, and incident prevention; Identifies facility risks early and implements strategies to mitigate hazards affecting employees and the public.
• Technical & Equipment Proficiency: Demonstrates extensive knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, structural, and energy-management systems; Uses computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) to track work orders, inventory, and maintenance logs; Understands procurement specifications, equipment warranties, and lifecycle maintenance planning; Supervises the proper operation, installation, troubleshooting, and repair of specialized tools and large-scale building equipment.

Performance Aptitudes:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.

It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, genetics, disability or sexual orientation.