Maintenance Specialist

Illinois Action for Children (“IAFC”), is a local, state and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years.
IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty.
IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois – particularly those in need – have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life.
Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture.
We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients.
IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities.
We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.
Under the general supervision of the Site Director, this position is responsible for ensuring healthy, safe, and functional facilities by performing maintenance and minor construction and repairs, including electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, and grounds and lawn maintenance.
This position is responsible for using the tools and equipment needed for lawn care, pruning, and gardening; carpentry; plumbing; and general minor construction and repairs.
The position is also responsible for cleaning up after repairs and for keeping all areas of the facility clean of debris.
The Maintenance Worker is responsible for assisting other agency maintenance staff, as needed.
This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities.
All work to be completed with minimum supervision and in accordance with organizational standards.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following (see the job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities).
The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.
Performs basic repairs of plumbing leaks or breaks; opens clogged lines and drains; maintains and monitors septic system; and replaces washers and other minor parts.
Performs basic rough and finished carpentry including drywall in the construction and repair of structures such as partitions, walls, doors, fences, windows frames, ceiling tiles, office furniture roof and shelves.
Removes debris resulting from work, including broken glass, putty, drywall, plastic, etc.
Replaces or makes arrangements to fix broken windows and door hardware.
Provides for the satisfactory maintenance and appearance of lawns, shrubs, flower beds, sidewalks and parking lots.
Maintains lawn by mowing, edging and trimming grass as necessary.
Maintains gardening equipment and provides routine service to power equipment to ensure proper operation and safety.
Communicates with Site Director when any tools, power tools, or machinery needs to be added, repaired or replaced.
Acquires information and develops knowledge of federal, state and local safety and building code requirements related to Head Start/Early Head Start facilities within first month on the job, including, but is not restricted to OSHA and MSDS chemical inventory, "Right to Know" training, Davis-Bacon, etc.
Is continuously alert to matters of health and safety in all facilities and activities.
Takes precautions to protect own health and safety as well as the health and safety of children, families, and staff and to protect equipment and facilities and the Program.
Reports any health and safety concerns observed to supervisor.
Assists other maintenance staff in day-to-day duties and responsibilities as well as special project work, as needed.
Executes our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.
Independently works on multiple tasks effectively in support of department.
The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or GED.
Associate degree or higher in related field preferred.
Five years relevant experience in areas such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting and ground maintenance functions.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must have a valid driver's license and be insurable by an IAFC Head Start insurance carrier.
Must have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to IAFC Early Learning.
Must Have access to own vehicle.
Must have proof of motor vehicle Insurance KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES: The ability to manage numerous tasks with good organizational skills; communicate effectively with coworkers and the public, and work collaboratively in a team environment.
Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision.
Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Knowledge of the basic operations of tools and the terms used in building maintenance work.
Ability to operate standard tools used for skilled maintenance responsibilities; lawn and landscape maintenance; and cleaning appliances such as vacuum cleaners , rug shampoo machines, polishers, etc.
Knowledge of plumbing, painting and other light to medium facility maintenance.
Knowledge of federal, state and local safety and building code requirements.
Knowledge of safe and thorough basic cleaning and sanitation practices.
Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
Ability to lift objects weighing 75 pounds.
Ability to operate light trucks (where required) and equipment for minor building upgrades where needed.
While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.
IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.
The starting rate for this role is $17.
40 per hour As established by the Illinois Action for Children Board of Directors, all employees are required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious reasonable accommodation is approved.
If offered a job, the candidate must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated with one of the CDC-authorized vaccines, including either Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson / Janssen or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.