Housing Rehab Project Technician

A healthy community begins at home. REACH provides quality affordable housing for individuals, families, and communities to thrive. REACH is an equal opportunity employer that strives to create a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.

REACH practices an equity pay philosophy that includes reviewing knowledge, skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions in the performance of work.

This organization believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope, but not limit the employee nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

REACH offers a generous Benefits Package (full-time employees) including:

• 401k 
• Medical, HSA, FSA
• Dental
• Life, AD&D
• Supplemental & Mo

Position Summary:

Works independently in the field to complete free health and safety home repairs for seniors, people with disabilities, and families living on a low‐income throughout Portland. Completes home assessments and develops scope of work with other staff. Sets up and supervises volunteer projects. Provides excellent customer service and builds trust with clients in a respectful and culturally‐competent manner. Requires a demonstrated ability to improve operations, decrease project turnaround time, and work cooperatively with staff, subcontractors, volunteers, clients, and community partners.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:

•    Completes a variety of minor healthy homes repair projects. Repairs include carpentry, plumbing, safety aid installation, painting, general maintenance and more.

•    Procures and delivers project supplies & materials.

•    Ensures all work completed safely, efficiently, and to code and grant specifications. Reports unsafe or hazardous conditions. Uses lead‐safe work practices.

•    Maintains work areas in a clean, professional manner.

•    Ensures high client satisfaction rates.

•    Maintains complete records of repair work, mileage, project costs, and time.

•    Maintains and securely stores program materials, supplies, tools and equipment inventory. Anticipates and identifies needs.

Required Statement:

REACH employees are expected and required to behave in a professional and courteous manner in doing REACH business and dealing with other staff, residents, and all contacts inside and outside the organization. Profanity, derogatory and abusive language is specifically forbidden.

Scope and Accountability:

Operates from established and well‐known procedures. Decisions are made within organization operating guidelines. Performs duties with little‐to‐moderate supervision. Position involves a moderate degree of complexity in dealing with recurring work situations with infrequent variations from the norm. Program Manager reviews work.

Errors may result in additional time required to correct errors, incorrect payments made. Additional costs to organization. Faulty management decisions based on erroneous data. Improperly or uncompleted work, cost or time overruns, tool theft or damage and shop and van break‐ins, reduction in available funds, materials and volunteers. May produce negative press for organization.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Job is not supervisory in nature. May involve supervision and support of volunteers. Follows REACH volunteer policies and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

•   Possess excellent verbal and interpersonal skills—able to communicate effectively and build trust with diverse clients, in a respectful and culturally‐competent manner both on the phone, in writing, and in person. 

•   Required to work independently as well as with volunteers with varying skill levels.

•   Basic math skills, including the ability to calculate material needs and stair/ramp rise and run required.

•    A knowledge base in building codes and the permit process essential.

•    Must have own vehicle, capable of hauling tools, lumber and ladders as well as their own hand and power tools. Must also have a valid driver’s license and proof of         vehicle liability insurance.

•    Working knowledge of Microsoft office Word, and Outlook. Working knowledge of Smartphone technology including phone calls, calendar, email and text.

•    Be flexible and reliable, and able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.

•    Employee must own and have access to their own vehicle, have a valid driver’s license, state applicable vehicle liability insurance and a safe driving record.

•    Bicultural/Bilingual in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese a plus.

•    Minor drafting skills needed.

•    Strong interpersonal and spatial relation skills a must; ability to speak and write English.

Education and/or Experience:

•    A minimum of two year’s residential rehab or home maintenance experience required.

•   Demonstrated trades skills in: carpentry, painting, plumbing, general home maintenance, and power and hand tool safety a plus.

Interpersonal Contacts:

Contacts are made with others both inside and outside the organization. External contacts occur with homeowners, volunteers, subcontractors, community members, suppliers and other vendors. Internal contacts occur with department staff, office staff and other REACH employees. Contacts are made both on own initiative and at the direction of the Program Manager and may concern confidential or sensitive matters requiring the use of discretion.

Contacts occur face to face, via the telephone and email. Frequently in homes with pets.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

May be required to deal with distraught, angry and/or potentially violent people. Requires use of a variety of hand and power tools, chemicals and paints. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. Requires periods of walking, standing, stooping, working in confined spaces or heights, and lifting or moving objects weighing up to 60 pounds on a regular basis; 100 pounds on an irregular basis.

Vision abilities required by this job include ability to effectively see within an office environment, which may include long term computer exposure, and to adjust focus accordingly. Regular attendance is required in accordance with a regular schedule established for the position by the Program Manager. The Housing Rehab Project Tech supplies his/her own tools and vehicle. The position is a 40 hour work week during regular business hours. In addition, he/she will be asked to occasionally work on Saturdays and evenings.

Disclaimer Language:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time‐to‐time, as needed. The company reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the company desires. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship is “At‐Will”. The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.