Building Trades Worker

Job Title

Under general supervision, performs a variety of activities and functions in relation to building maintenance and repair to interior and exterior buildings and structures for the Detroit Public Library (DPL).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Provides assistance in maintaining all Library owned buildings, facilities, and grounds by performing various electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, painting, welding, and landscaping functions.
• Prepares surfaces and paints, stains, and plasters; sets up ladders, scaffolding, manlifts, and other equipment; applies paint and/or other materials to interiors and exteriors of buildings; stains and seals wooden doors and furniture; repairs damages walls and ceilings; and removes graffiti.
• Performs non-permit plumbing activities such as installing, replacing, or maintaining fixtures.
• Changes lights and ballasts; replaces electrical fixtures; troubleshoots electrical problems; solders various fittings, welds cracked or broken parts and tests joints and pipe systems for leaks.
• Cleans and lubricates mechanical equipment in and around buildings as needed.
• Operates various hand tools, power tools, and equipment which includes saws, drills, sanders, and planers.
• Transports, assembles, and installs equipment, furniture, and shelving; moves furniture, and sets up displays.
• Operates snow plows and blowers during the winter; makes parts runs as directed.
• Participates in coordinating and implementing facilities remodeling and repair projects.
• May assist with the preparation and maintenance of a variety of maintenance records, reports, and documentation.
• Cleans equipment, shop area and work site area.
• Provides support to the Library – Manager, Facilities Maintenance on matters as directed; participates on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Library policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Ensures an environment of customer-responsive services, providing customer-responsive service and handling customer service issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma/GED and two years experience involving general building construction repair and maintenance activities; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Must possess a valid State of Michigan Driver's License.

Required Knowledge of

Preventative and general maintenance. Facilities maintenance equipment, tools, materials, and supplies. General construction. Basic electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and HVAC systems and repairs. Safety practices common to the operation of maintenance equipment. Records and documentation relative to facilities maintenance. Other pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations. Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases. Public library operations, services, and policies. Customer service standards and procedures.

Required Skill in

Interacting with people of different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. The use and care of hand tools and power equipment necessary to perform various building maintenance and repair tasks. Performing a variety of facilities maintenance functions within a large public library system. Promoting and enforcing safe work practices. Preparing and maintaining accurate maintenance records, reports, and documentation. Meeting deadlines and adapting to unexpected changes and interruptions in workflow and in individual assignments. Responding to inquiries in effective oral and written communications. Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Library and department staff, board members, outside agencies, and the general public.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

Work is performed in a standard library environment. Subject to sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting of objects up to 50 pounds.