Preventative Maintenance and Safety Repair

Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC) provides well-maintained, safe and affordable community housing in a respectful and fair manner. We are leaders in the housing sector and contribute to the development and support of strong communities in the City of Windsor and County of Essex.

The ideal candidate will be confident, professional, optimistic, and energetic, must be customer service focused and be committed to our organization and values. The Temporary Preventative Maintenance and Safety Repairperson must exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with CHC customers and represent CHC in a positive manner.

*1 Year Contract*

Purpose of the Role

Working under the direction of the Manager, Health and Safety, the Temporary Preventive Maintenance & Safety Repairperson is responsible for performing ongoing preventative maintenance programs and inspections on life safety systems throughout the portfolio. The Temporary Preventative Maintenance & Safety Repairperson will assist with after hours emergency call outs as offered, perform minor repair tasks at CHC office locations, and perform other related duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

The following is a list of the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. The tasks and the time spent performing each task may vary as business needs require. WECHC maintains the right to modify job duties and responsibilities at its discretion.

• Perform all duties related to the monthly fire alarm system tests and inspect/check all components, including standby power batteries.
• Perform monthly voice communication system test, including operating the central alarm paging system to inform residents of a fire alarm test.
• Perform monthly sprinkler system alarm test.
• Inspect and test all emergency lighting, batteries, units, and lamps monthly.
• Inspect storage rooms and other rooms to ensure sprinkler heads are not obstructed or damaged.
• Working with onsite building staff, assist in performing monthly inspections and/or verifying inspection on all portable fire extinguishers, fire hose cabinets and racks, exit lights, and fire doors to ensure they are in proper working order.
• Perform monthly inspection on the water level in gravity fire protection water tanks.
• Bi-monthly, test sprinkler system central station connections, including flow switches actuated & annunciator panel checked.
• Every three months, participate in a fire alarm drill for supervisory staff in all high-rise buildings.
• Every three months, test all fire safety devices in high-rise buildings, test firefighter s elevator for proper operation, and perform test to prove central exhaust units shut down on alarm.
• Every six months, test all gate valve supervisory switches, standpipe systems, and other sprinkler and fire protection system supervisory devices.
• Every six months, check and clean crankcase, breathers, governors, and linkages on emergency generator sets.
• Every six months, inspect and maintain special extinguishing systems, and inspect fire protection equipment for commercial cooking equipment.
• Every six months, inspect elevators in elevator shafts that are intended for use as a smoke shaft and ensure that they function as designed under an alarm condition.
• Annually, inspect and test the smoke/CO alarms/detectors in every residential unit and every CHC office location; replace smoke/CO alarms/detectors as required throughout the CHC portfolio and office locations.
• Annual assistance provided to qualified contractors to carry out fire alarm tests verifying all current Ontario Fire Code requirements are met.
• Annually, assist with and/or verify that all fire hydrants within CHC are opened to ensure flow of water.
• Perform general preventative maintenance duties including the following, as directed: check boilers, hot water heaters, pumps, central exhaust fans, and make-up air units on roof to clean filters and ensure normal operation.
• Daily while on-site, check doors in fire separations to ensure they are closed, check corridors to ensure they are maintained free of obstructions, and ensure streets, yards and private roadways that are provided for fire department access are kept clear.
• As required, check elevator log book; inspect and check antenna systems and roof surfaces for damage and/or loose objects; inspect sprinkler system auxiliary drains; check lint traps in laundry equipment; advise of any defect or deficiency that is discovered in fire safety equipment for immediate corrective action by CHC or CHC s authorized agent(s); confirm any deficiencies found have been corrected or are in process of repair.
• As required, maintain smoke detecting/control equipment in a manner to ensure satisfactory operation; inspect and test all equipment used in conjunction with smoke control measures; inspect and test all equipment used in conjunction with smoke control systems.
• As required, conduct any annual or semi-annual inspections on the roof of multi- or single-family units; as required, assist with roof anchor inspections.
• Perform annual visual unit condition inspections for visible damage of substrates suspected of being Asbestos Containing Material (ACM); report irregularities or concerns to HSM for follow up.
• As required, and under the direction of the HSM, perform tape lift test of substrates suspected of mould contamination.
• Complete reports as required, and ensure all documentation, both electronic and hard copy, is complete for all assigned duties.
• As required, perform safety watch duties for Operations or Asset Management.
• Other related duties as assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed above satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Team members who may not possess all the requirements for a job at the time of hire are expected to attain the missing skills, knowledge and abilities required within a specified period of time as agreed upon, in writing, with the CEO. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Characteristic and Ability Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong maintenance knowledge.
• Exceptional safety orientation.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work to satisfy conflicting demands.
• Effective interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge and ability to operate all fire equipment.
• Tenant service oriented.
• Physical ability to perform the functions of the job.
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Proven track record of delivering results on both strategic objectives with a sense of urgency in a collaborative environment.
• Strong analytical and organization skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion.
• Strong leadership skills, nurturing an inclusive working environment.

Educational and Training Requirements

Education Required: Highschool diploma.

Certification Required: NA

Training Required: N/A

Other Education / Certification

/ Training preferred: CFAA certification, electrical license, or building trades certification. is considered an asset.

Work Experience Requirements

Work experience required: Minimum of five (5) years of experience working in a maintenance role with experience in fire equipment and inspection.

Job-related experience required: Preferably three (3) years of experience in the non-profit, social services and / or healthcare sector preferably with experience in the social and community housing sector.

Police Clearance Required for work in buildings and tenant units.

Technical Requirements

Software: Proficiency in Office 365 Suite specifically Outlook and Excel.

Equipment: Computer, Photocopier, Smartphone

Other: NA

Competencies

• Accountability – completes assigned inspections on time.
• Builds Relationships - identifies opportunities to build relationships and strategic alliances to help achieve WECHC’s objectives and networks with key stakeholders and partners.
• Builds Trust and Respect – treats people with dignity, respect, and fairness; listens to others and considers opinions and ideas; shares thoughts, feelings, and rationale for decisions made, operates with integrity.
• Client and Tenant Focus – meets the needs of internal clients, tenants, and other external parties with a desire to serve others; honours commitments by providing helpful, courteous, accessible, and responsive assistance.
• Collaboration -promotes cooperation between team members by actively listening, being genuine, valuing others’ points of view, supporting and recognizing successes, providing feedback and responding to the team member’s needs, while ensuring conflicts are addressed quickly to ensure positive relationships and favourable outcomes.
• Commitment to Learning – acquires and improves relevant technical and/or job specific knowledge and skills; keeps up with current developments and trends in the human resources and housing sectors.
• Communication – conveys information and ideas clearly through a variety of mediums to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.
• Develops Talent – inspires, influences, coaches and engages a group of individuals towards the common achievement of WECHC’s objectives and actively encourages their development.
• Drives Engagement –generates passion and enthusiasm for work being performed, ensures their own level of engagement and identifies meaningful work in partnership with the team; and actively and transparently communicates with team members.

Role Demands

• The job responds to frequent multiple demands. The team member may have frequent interruptions to workflow/pace imposed or controlled by others. Responding to tenant requests, fire alarms, on-call atmosphere, detailed work, maintaining quality, conflicting demands, accuracy pressures, or safety issues. The intensity of these events is regular, may be disruptive or persistent, but not extreme. Schedules and/or deadlines may be frequently changed.

Sensory and Physical Requirements

• High degree of sensory skills, coordination and manual dexterity are required for low duration and low intensity. Focuses on small or fine visual, auditory or other details requiring extra effort to ensure accuracy or where details involve the use of multiple senses at the same time. Physical activity is required to perform job tasks including but not limited to daily climbing stairs and ladders and working overhead. There may be periods of continuous body movement, lifting or pulling of awkward or heavy objects - between 25 lbs. and 50 lbs. without the aid of mechanical devices.

Working Conditions

• Frequent exposure to more disagreeable elements. Conditions include; dirt, biohazards, strong odours/fumes; constant noise of moderate intensity, inclement weather conditions. Risks include injuries associated with ladder use, working on rooftops, moving heavy objects, use of hand/power tools, and work in communities with challenging building occupants. Frequent travel to various communities is required.

Although we appreciate all applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The successful candidate will be required to supply a current satisfactory criminal reference check, including a vulnerable sector check, if applicable, before work can commence.

CHC is committed to meeting it obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If selected to participate in the recruitment process, and require accommodation, please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(a) that you may require in respect of any materials or process used to ensure you equal participation. Accommodation may be provided in all steps of the recruitment process.

To apply for this position, you must use the link provided on our website at www.wechc.com (Corporate), in the Employment Opportunities section, then use the apply button to begin the application process.