Senior Maintenance / Building Systems Technician, Ruskin

Gannon University•Erie, PA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Maintenance / Building Systems Technician serves as the primary on-site maintenance professional for the Gannon University Ruskin campus and is responsible for routine preventive and corrective maintenance, building inspections, first-line troubleshooting of facility systems, and general repair of University buildings and equipment. The position performs necessary work to maintain a safe, functional, dependable, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This position requires broad commercial building-maintenance knowledge with strength in HVAC and mechanical systems and the ability to work independently. The technician evaluates facility conditions to determine whether work can be both safely and appropriately completed in-house, performs assigned maintenance within training and qualification, and provides informed technical support when qualified specialty contractors required. Major HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life-safety, roofing, access-control, and other specialized work remains outsourced. The Senior Maintenance / Building Systems Technician collaborates closely with the Director of Operations to identify needs, support contractor access, and technical coordination, verify completion of work, and maintain accurate work-order and preventive-maintenance records.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required; technical or trade education strongly preferred.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in commercial, institutional, educational, healthcare, or similar facilities maintenance, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Demonstrated experience troubleshooting commercial HVAC /mechanical systems and performing routine preventive maintenance on building equipment.
Working knowledge of general plumbing, electrical safety and basic troubleshooting, carpentry, painting, doors/hardware, and general commercial building maintenance.
Ability to independently evaluate a facility problem, determine whether work can be safely completed in-house, and identify when qualified specialty contractors are required.
Ability to safely operate hand tools, power tools, ladders, lifts, and maintenance equipment appropriate to assigned work.
Basic computer skills and ability to use electronic work-order/ CMMS systems.
Valid Florida driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Ability to pass required background screening.
Candidates must be able to support and promote the University’s Mission and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

Nice To Haves

EPA Section 608 certification.
Experience with building automation systems (BAS), commercial controls, or energy-management systems.
Trade certification or formal technical training in HVAC, mechanical systems, electrical, plumbing, or building maintenance.
Experience using computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
Experience in higher education, healthcare, laboratory, or institutional facilities.
Strong troubleshooting, mechanical aptitude, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple assignments and respond to changing operational needs.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and communicate when escalation is required.
Excellent interpersonal and customer-service skills.
Knowledge of OSHA safety standards, lockout/tagout principles, and safe work practices appropriate to assigned duties.
Ability to communicate effectively with specialty contractors and verify that contracted work addresses the reported condition.
Ability to respond to emergency situations and safely access affected areas consistent with assigned responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Perform routine corrective and preventive maintenance on campus buildings, equipment, and furnishings within the scope of training and qualification.
Repair and adjust doors, locks, door hardware, classroom and office furnishings, window blinds, shelving, signage, and similar building components.
Replace ceiling tiles and complete minor drywall, painting, finish, and carpentry repairs.
Install approved fixtures, signage, shelving, artwork, and classroom equipment as authorized by the Director of Operations.
Conduct scheduled building rounds and condition inspections, including occupied areas, unoccupied areas, shell space, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, roofs from safe accessible locations, and exterior building conditions promptly report significant deficiencies.
Monitor HVAC and mechanical systems and perform first-line troubleshooting of comfort complaints, alarms, and observed equipment issues.
Review building automation system (BAS) information, occupied/unoccupied schedules, alarms, and trends within assigned access and training; communicate significant issues to the Director of Operations and specialty contractors.
Perform assigned routine HVAC preventive maintenance such as filter replacement, visual inspection of equipment, belt inspection/replacement where appropriate, cleaning accessible components, and other manufacturer- or University-approved tasks within training and qualification.
Identify conditions requiring qualified HVAC or controls contractors and provide the Director of Operations with clear technical information to support service calls.
Provide access and on-site technical coordination for HVAC /mechanical contractors and verify that reported work is complete before closing associated work orders.
Perform minor electrical maintenance within training, qualification, University policy, and applicable safety requirements, including lamp replacement and other approved low-risk tasks.
Perform first-line observation and troubleshooting of lighting and electrical issues and identify conditions requiring a qualified electrician.
Reset breakers or equipment only when authorized, appropriate, and safe to do so; do not perform licensed or high-risk electrical work.
Respond to clogged sinks, drains, and toilets and perform minor plumbing repairs within training and qualification.
Identify and contain minor leaks, operate known and clearly identified water shutoffs when necessary, and promptly report conditions requiring a qualified plumber.
Support routine maintenance of plumbing fixtures, plaster traps, water softener components, and similar equipment as assigned.
Provide access and technical coordination for plumbing contractors and verify completion of reported work.
Complete assigned preventive maintenance and recurring inspection tasks in accordance with the campus preventive-maintenance schedule.
Maintain accurate and timely work-order records, including problem description, work performed, parts used, contractor involvement, and completion status.
Identify recurring failures, deferred maintenance concerns, equipment condition issues, and potential capital needs and communicate recommendations to the Director of Operations.
Maintain maintenance areas, tools, parts, equipment, and supplies in an organized and safe condition and identify routine inventory needs.
Monitor patios, sidewalks, entrances, exterior gathering areas, grounds interfaces, pest/wildlife concerns, and general exterior conditions during routine rounds and report deficiencies requiring custodial, landscaping, pest-control, roofing, or other contracted service.
Address immediate minor hazards or housekeeping conditions when necessary to protect safety or property; routine custodial, landscaping, exterior window washing, and grounds maintenance remain the responsibility of contracted service providers.
Provide contractors with building access, relevant equipment information, and on-site technical coordination as directed by the Director of Operations.
Perform routine visual checks or assigned functional observations of emergency lighting, exit signs, generator status, and other facility conditions as directed; formal inspection, testing, certification, and specialized repair remain with qualified contractors where required.
Provide access and operational support to fire/life-safety contractors and promptly report observed deficiencies to the Director of Operations.
Respond to urgent facility needs during normal work hours and take reasonable make-safe or isolation actions within training and authorization while qualified contractors are dispatched when needed.
Provide limited facilities support for major institutional events or activities that require technical assistance, heavy furniture movement, or facilities expertise.
Maintain accurate maintenance, preventive-maintenance, inspection, and contractor-support records using the University’s computerized maintenance management or work-order system.
Assist in maintaining facility key inventories, building-access information, equipment documentation, shutoff information, and other physical plant records as assigned.
Communicate significant building conditions, contractor needs, safety concerns, and capital improvement recommendations to the Director of Operations.
Prioritize daily work based on safety, operational impact, preventive-maintenance requirements, and direction from the Director of Operations.
Respond professionally and courteously to faculty, staff, students, contractors, and visitors.
Maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with campus departments and contracted service providers.
Communicate status and expected next steps on maintenance issues in a timely manner.
The position may occasionally require outside normal business hours for significant facilities emergencies in accordance with University procedures and applicable call-back requirements.
Routine maintenance requests occurring outside normal work hours are addressed during the next appropriate work period.
The Director of Operations provides management-level backup and coordinates qualified emergency contractors when the technician is unavailable.
The position will not provide routine work to support after-hours campus events.