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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Facility Maintenance Technician

💰 $ - $

FacilitiesMaintenanceEngineeringOperationsBuilding Services

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires an experienced Facility Maintenance Technician to ensure reliable, safe, and efficient operation of commercial/industrial building systems. This role is responsible for performing routine preventive maintenance, diagnosing and repairing HVAC, electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, supporting building automation and controls, coordinating vendors and contractors, and ensuring compliance with safety codes and company policies. The ideal candidate combines hands-on trade skills with strong troubleshooting ability, familiarity with CMMS workflows, and a proactive approach to reducing downtime and controlling facility operating costs.

This position reports to Facilities Management and works closely with operations, safety, and external service providers. Candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, participating in on-call rotations, and documenting maintenance activities for regulatory compliance and asset lifecycle management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Maintenance Assistant / Facilities Helper
  • HVAC Apprentice or Refrigeration Technician
  • Electrician Apprentice or General Laborer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Facility Maintenance Technician / Lead Technician
  • Building Engineer / Facilities Supervisor
  • Maintenance Manager / Facilities Manager
  • Reliability Technician or Preventive Maintenance Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Controls Technician / Building Automation Specialist
  • Electrician or HVAC Service Technician
  • Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform scheduled preventive maintenance and inspections on HVAC systems (rooftop units, split systems, chillers, boilers), including cleaning coils, replacing filters, checking refrigerant pressures, calibrating thermostats and maintaining condensate piping to optimize system efficiency and reduce unplanned downtime.
  • Troubleshoot and repair electrical systems up to the facility’s working voltages, including lighting, distribution panels, circuit breakers, transformers, motor starters, and variable frequency drives (VFDs), following lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures and electrical safety standards.
  • Diagnose, repair and maintain plumbing systems — addressing leaks, valve replacements, backflow preventers, water heaters, pumps, and fixtures — ensuring uninterrupted water services and preventing property damage and compliance issues.
  • Respond to emergency maintenance requests and facility incidents (floods, HVAC failures, electrical outages, leaking equipment) with quick assessment, temporary remediation and coordination of repairs to restore safe operations.
  • Use a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) such as IBM Maximo, UpKeep, eMaint or similar to create, prioritize, update and close work orders; maintain equipment history, spare parts logs and maintenance documentation for audit readiness.
  • Inspect, service and repair refrigeration systems and cold storage equipment, including compressor service, refrigeration circuit troubleshooting, and adherence to EPA 608 refrigerant handling regulations.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot building automation systems (BAS) and control systems (PLCs, DDC controls), adjusting schedules, setpoints and sequences of operation to preserve occupant comfort and energy efficiency.
  • Conduct routine safety and regulatory inspections — fire alarms, emergency lighting, exit signage, sprinkler systems, eyewash stations, and electrical safety devices — and coordinate corrective actions with appropriate vendors and safety teams.
  • Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on pumps, motors, fans and conveyance equipment, including bearing replacements, shaft alignment, coupling adjustments, and vibration checks to extend equipment life.
  • Replace lighting fixtures, ballasts and lamps (including LED retrofits), maintain parking lot and site lighting, and support energy-saving lighting projects and reporting to reduce utility costs.
  • Carry out carpentry, drywall, painting, door hardware and minor building envelope repairs to preserve building aesthetics and occupant satisfaction.
  • Maintain inventory of critical spare parts and supplies, recommend stocking levels, and place purchase requests for parts, tools and contractor services to minimize mean time to repair (MTTR).
  • Coordinate and supervise external contractors and trade vendors during complex repairs, capital projects or annual inspections, ensuring scope adherence, safety compliance and accurate invoicing.
  • Prepare, update and follow preventive maintenance schedules, checklists and SOPs for mechanical, electrical and building systems to standardize service delivery and support audits.
  • Support capital improvement and retrofit projects — providing trade expertise, installation support, testing and commissioning services, and ensuring as-built documentation and warranty tracking.
  • Perform basic welding, brazing and soldering for piping and metal repair tasks; fabricate simple brackets, supports and custom parts as required for rapid resolution of equipment issues.
  • Read and interpret technical drawings, equipment manuals, schematics and P&IDs to diagnose system faults and execute repairs according to manufacturer recommendations and engineering specifications.
  • Maintain high standards of housekeeping in mechanical rooms, roof areas, and utility corridors; ensure clear access to equipment and compliance with NFPA and local code requirements.
  • Participate in on-call rotations and scheduled after-hours emergency support, providing timely response to minimize operational disruption and protect personnel safety.
  • Implement and document energy conservation measures, track equipment runtime, and recommend improvements to building systems (insulation, controls, scheduling) to reduce energy consumption and utility expenses.
  • Train and mentor junior technicians and temporary staff on safe work practices, basic troubleshooting techniques, CMMS usage and vendor coordination to build team capabilities.
  • Ensure all work is performed in compliance with OSHA, NFPA, local building codes and company environmental, health and safety policies; promptly report hazards and participate in safety investigations.
  • Maintain accurate logs, service reports and regulatory records for equipment, calibrations and inspections to support compliance audits and insurance requirements.
  • Assist with grounds maintenance and seasonal tasks (snow removal coordination, roof drain clearing, gutter maintenance) to maintain safe building access and site integrity.
  • Support facility shutdowns, preventive maintenance windows and production changeovers by coordinating timelines, isolation procedures and resource allocation to ensure safe and efficient execution.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist facility management with utility monitoring, meter reading and monthly energy reporting to identify consumption trends and cost-saving opportunities.
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives — suggest process improvements, streamline workflows and pilot new maintenance technologies or tools.
  • Support procurement activities by evaluating vendor quotes, tracking receipts, and ensuring correct material specifications for maintenance and repair tasks.
  • Provide on-the-job training documentation and contribute to the development of maintenance manuals, SOPs and emergency response playbooks.
  • Support environmental compliance tasks such as hazardous materials tracking, proper disposal of refrigerants, and maintaining MSDS/SDS documentation.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • HVAC system troubleshooting and preventive maintenance (rooftop units, chillers, boilers, split systems)
  • Electrical systems knowledge: distribution panels, circuit troubleshooting, VFDs, motor starters, lighting circuits
  • Plumbing and piping repair: valves, pumps, water heaters, backflow devices and basic hydronic systems
  • Experience with refrigeration systems and EPA 608 refrigerant certification (preferred)
  • Building automation systems (BAS/DDC) and PLC fundamentals; ability to interpret control diagrams and adjust setpoints
  • Proficient use of a CMMS (e.g., Maximo, UpKeep, eMaint) for work order management and asset tracking
  • Ability to read electrical schematics, P&IDs, mechanical drawings and equipment manuals
  • Use of diagnostic tools: multimeter, clamp meter, manifold gauges, manometer, vibration analyzer and thermal imaging
  • Welding, brazing or soldering for mechanical repairs (basic level)
  • Knowledge of safety and compliance standards: OSHA, NFPA, local building codes and lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures
  • Preventive maintenance planning, spare parts management and basic inventory control
  • Experience coordinating third-party contractors and managing small capital projects
  • Basic carpentry, painting and general building repair skills

Soft Skills

  • Strong troubleshooting and analytical thinking to diagnose complex equipment failures
  • Clear verbal and written communication for documenting work, interacting with stakeholders and conveying technical information
  • Customer-service orientation and professionalism when supporting building occupants and internal teams
  • Time management, prioritization and ability to manage multiple concurrent work orders in a fast-paced environment
  • Team-player mindset with ability to mentor junior staff and collaborate across departments
  • Attention to detail for accurate recordkeeping, safety compliance and quality repairs
  • Initiative and proactive problem solving to identify root causes and prevent recurrence
  • Adaptability to changing schedules, on-call duties and emergency response situations
  • Dependability and strong work ethic, including punctuality and adherence to safety protocols

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

  • Technical certificate, trade school diploma or associate degree in HVAC, Electrical Technology, Facilities Maintenance, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Facilities Management
  • HVAC/R Technology
  • Electrical or Mechanical Technology
  • Building Systems Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of hands-on facility or building maintenance experience in commercial, institutional or industrial settings.

Preferred: 3–7 years of progressive experience with documented preventive maintenance programs, CMMS usage, HVAC/refrigeration work, electrical repairs, and building systems troubleshooting. Prior experience in a safety-sensitive or regulated environment is highly desirable.

Preferred Certifications (recommended but not always required): EPA 608 Refrigerant Certification, HVAC technician certification, OSHA 10 or 30, electrical licensing or journeyman certification (where applicable), forklift certification, CPR/First Aid.

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