Staff Position - Facilities Technician

Description

The Facility Technician works as a member of The Buildings & Grounds (B&G) Team to create a healthy, safe, and clean school environment.  The B&G Team is accountable for the overall aesthetic of the campus and ensuring that buildings are well maintained.

Key Responsibilities:

Plumbing:

• Have a basic understanding of plumbing systems, including hot and cold water supplies, shut-off valves, vent pipes and p traps.
• Performs routine plumbing duties, such as repairing or installing faucets, toilets, flushing mechanisms, water heaters, water fountains and ice makers. Cleaning drains and removing obstructions with the use of chemicals or a snake.
• Conducts preventative maintenance tasks on water heaters, water fountains, ice makers, refrigerators, etc.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning:

• Have a basic understanding of HVAC systems, chillers, boilers, pumps, closed water loops, VAV boxes, dampers as well as residential HVAC systems.
• Be able to understand and manage a building management system that controls the temperature and humidity of Potomac School’s buildings.
• Troubleshoot basic HVAC issues, such as checking for obstructions in vents and ducts, make sure thermostats are operating normally, checking for leaks in refrigerant lines, refrigerant levels, check for normal operation of blowers, etc.
• Conduct preventative maintenance tasks related to HVAC, such as cleaning or replacing filters, cleaning coils, making sure condensate lines are working correctly, ensure all moving parts are lubricated properly, etc.

Additional Duties 

• Completion of all assigned work orders as assigned in a timely manner and with attention to quality. Responds to general maintenance requests on campus in a courteous, timely and efficient manner.
• Requisitions supplies and equipment needed for maintenance duties and uses school resources prudently.
• Moves heavy furniture, equipment, and supplies, either manually or with assistance of material handling equipment.
• Assists with the support of school events throughout the calendar year with adjusted work schedules, including after hours. 
• Assist with the removal of snow from sidewalks, driveways, and parking areas, using snowplows, snow blowers, and snow shovels, spreading snow-melting products, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Safety, Compliance, and Documentation:

• Ensure compliance with school health, safety, and sanitation protocols during evening operations, reporting any concerns or issues to the Associate Director of Facilities.
• Assists in the performance of campus safety and security drills.
• The school will provide all necessary Personal Protective Equipment, it is the responsibility of the employee to wear all necessary PPE at all times.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; some coursework in facilities management or a related field preferred. Strong customer focus and service orientation
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in the field of plumbing and HVAC. Experience in general carpentry is a plus.
• Must have good manual dexterity, mechanical aptitude, ability to analyze and solve problems, good communication skills and be a self-starter with the ability to work effectively without constant supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of addressing evening staff and working with event organizers and other departments. Ability to quickly solve operational issues or escalate to the Associate Director of Facilities as needed.
• Experience using a Building Management System – Facilities Management Express (FMX) is a plus.
• Must be able and willing to negotiate confined spaces, climb ladders and scaffolding.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to dangerous chemicals, moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions (extreme heat and cold). The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Work Schedule:

• This is a full-time position with a standard workweek of 40 hours.
• The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, with core hours between 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM.
• Flexibility is required to accommodate the school’s event schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays.

In striving to fulfill its mission, The Potomac School seeks many different voices, viewpoints, and backgrounds. We recognize that differences are a source of strength, and we know that everyone is enriched when each person's contributions and perspectives are valued.