Position Summary
The Maintenance and Grounds Specialist is responsible for maintaining the safety, functionality, appearance, and operational readiness of all facilities, buildings, grounds, equipment, and agency property for New Era Child Placing Agency and New Era Residential Treatment Center. This position performs preventive maintenance, routine repairs, grounds maintenance, facility inspections, and safety monitoring to ensure compliance with Texas Minimum Standards, health and safety regulations, and agency policies. The Maintenance and Grounds Specialist plays an essential role in providing a safe, clean, secure, and trauma-informed environment that supports the well-being of youth, families, employees, and visitors while promoting operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Facility Maintenance
- Perform routine preventive maintenance on agency buildings, offices, residential homes, and support facilities.
- Complete minor repairs involving plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, drywall, flooring, doors, locks, windows, and fixtures.
- Inspect building systems and equipment to identify maintenance needs.
- Ensure all facilities remain safe, functional, and well-maintained.
- Coordinate major repairs with outside contractors as approved by leadership.
- Maintain maintenance logs and service records.
Grounds Maintenance
- Maintain agency grounds, landscaping, sidewalks, parking areas, playgrounds, fences, and outdoor recreational areas.
- Mow lawns, trim shrubs, remove weeds, and maintain landscaping.
- Remove debris and maintain safe walking and driving surfaces.
- Monitor irrigation systems and outdoor lighting.
- Ensure outdoor environments remain attractive, safe, and welcoming.
- Assist with seasonal grounds maintenance and weather preparedness.
Safety and Compliance
- Conduct routine facility safety inspections.
- Identify and promptly correct environmental hazards and unsafe conditions.
- Ensure compliance with Texas Minimum Standards, OSHA regulations, fire safety requirements, and agency safety policies.
- Inspect fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, exit signs, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other life safety equipment.
- Report safety concerns requiring immediate attention.
- Assist with emergency preparedness and disaster readiness activities.
Preventive Maintenance Program
- Maintain a preventive maintenance schedule for buildings, equipment, HVAC systems, generators, appliances, vehicles, and other agency assets.
- Monitor warranty information and equipment service schedules.
- Coordinate vendor services for specialized maintenance when necessary.
- Document completed preventive maintenance activities.
- Recommend equipment replacement or capital improvement needs.
- Promote long-term asset preservation.
Facility Inspections and Licensing Readiness
- Conduct routine facility inspections to ensure continuous licensing compliance.
- Assist in preparing facilities for HHSC inspections, accreditation surveys, and regulatory reviews.
- Correct deficiencies identified during inspections.
- Maintain documentation supporting environmental health and safety compliance.
- Collaborate with the Quality Assurance Department regarding facility readiness.
- Promote continuous regulatory compliance.
Inventory and Equipment Management
- Maintain inventories of maintenance tools, equipment, supplies, and replacement parts.
- Order maintenance supplies as authorized.
- Ensure proper storage of equipment, chemicals, and hazardous materials.
- Monitor maintenance budgets and supply usage.
- Maintain accountability for agency-owned equipment and tools.
Fleet and Vehicle Support
- Perform routine inspections of agency vehicles.
- Coordinate vehicle maintenance, repairs, inspections, and preventive servicing.
- Monitor vehicle safety equipment and cleanliness.
- Maintain maintenance records for agency fleet vehicles.
- Report vehicle concerns to leadership promptly.
Contractor Coordination
- Coordinate outside contractors performing maintenance, repairs, inspections, and improvement projects.
- Monitor contractor performance and project completion.
- Ensure contractors comply with agency safety and security requirements.
- Assist leadership in obtaining repair estimates and coordinating projects.
- Verify satisfactory completion of contracted work.
Emergency Response
- Respond to facility emergencies including plumbing failures, electrical issues, weather-related damage, equipment failures, and safety concerns.
- Assist with emergency repairs to minimize service disruptions.
- Participate in emergency preparedness drills and disaster response activities.
- Maintain emergency repair supplies and equipment.
- Support continuity of agency operations during emergencies.
Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate maintenance records, inspection reports, repair logs, work orders, and preventive maintenance schedules.
- Document completed repairs and maintenance activities.
- Prepare reports regarding facility conditions and repair needs.
- Maintain records required for licensing and regulatory compliance.
- Report recurring maintenance issues and recommend long-term solutions.
Professionalism and Customer Service
- Provide courteous and professional service to youth, families, visitors, contractors, and staff.
- Respect confidentiality and maintain professional boundaries.
- Respond promptly to maintenance requests.
- Support a safe, welcoming, and trauma-informed environment.
- Demonstrate reliability, accountability, and attention to detail.
Continuous Quality Improvement
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to facility operations and safety.
- Recommend improvements that enhance facility efficiency, safety, and appearance.
- Assist with organizational projects supporting operational excellence.
- Participate in required meetings and training.
- Promote continuous improvement in facility operations.
Qualifications
Required
- High school diploma or GED.
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience in building maintenance, facility management, construction, or a related skilled trade.
- Working knowledge of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, painting, and general building maintenance.
- Ability to safely operate maintenance equipment, lawn equipment, power tools, and hand tools.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Valid Texas driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Preferred
- Technical certification in building maintenance, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or related trade.
- Experience working in child welfare, residential treatment, healthcare, educational, or human services environments.
- Knowledge of Texas Minimum Standards and environmental safety requirements.
- OSHA safety training.
- First Aid and CPR certification.
Core Competencies
- Facility Maintenance and Repair
- Preventive Maintenance Planning
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Grounds Maintenance
- Building Systems Knowledge
- Regulatory Compliance
- Problem Solving and Troubleshooting
- Organization and Time Management
- Professionalism and Customer Service
- Initiative and Accountability
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
- Work is performed indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
- Frequent standing, walking, climbing ladders, kneeling, bending, crawling, lifting, pushing, pulling, and reaching.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 75 pounds.
- Ability to safely operate vehicles, maintenance equipment, power tools, and machinery.
- Exposure to cleaning agents, maintenance chemicals, dust, noise, and outdoor environmental conditions.
- Must be available to respond to emergency maintenance needs outside of normal business hours as necessary.
Leadership and Special Projects
- Agency Preventive Maintenance Program
- Facility Safety Inspection Program
- Grounds Beautification and Landscaping Projects
- Licensing Readiness and Environmental Compliance
- Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Readiness
- Capital Improvement and Renovation Projects
- Fleet Maintenance Coordination
- Vendor and Contractor Management
- Facility Security and Access Control Support
- Environmental Health and Infection Prevention Initiatives
- Sustainability and Energy Conservation Projects
- Facility Asset Inventory and Equipment Lifecycle Management
Equal Opportunity Statement
New Era RTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination. New Era RTC full adheres to all licensing and employment requirements of the Texas Administrative Code Title 26, Chapter 748, as governed by the Texas Health and Human Services.
Pay: From $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
