Maintenance Helper

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Open externally until July 27, 2026.

Class Title: Maintenance Helper

Position Title: Maintenance Helper

Accountable To: Maintenance Supervisor or Maintenance Manager

Department : Maintenance

Band : A

Grade : 1

Subgrade : 3

Come join one of the nation’s highest ranked housing agencies. Be a part of an innovative and creative team of individuals committed to serving the community by providing affordable, quality housing.

The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) has been serving the community for over 45 years. St. Paul PHA is an independent agency that owns and operates affordable rental housing for low-income families and individuals throughout the City, with subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PHA provides approximately 4,273 affordable rental units in hi-rise buildings, townhomes, and scattered site single family and duplex homes. The PHA administers 5,242 Housing Choice Vouchers, paying over 45 million annually in federal rent subsidies to private owners who rent units to eligible families and individuals with very low incomes.

Mission Statement:

The PHA helps families and individuals with low incomes achieve greater stability and self-reliance by providing safe, affordable, quality housing and links to community services.

Employment Benefits:

The PHA offers a generous employee benefits package. The standard package includes paid vacation and sick leave; eleven paid designated holidays and two paid floating holidays; health and dental insurance coverage; and an employer pension contribution equal to 7% of employee's salary (employee contributes 5%). Additional benefits vary by contract or Supervisory and Confidential (S&C) policies.

Class Summary: Incumbents are responsible for performing janitorial services, grounds maintenance activities and minor building repairs.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Maintenance Helper is the first level of a five level maintenance series and is distinguished from the Maintenance Technician, which is responsible for performing maintenance and repairs on hi-rise buildings.

Position Summary: Same as above.

Duties:

1. Performs routine building and grounds maintenance in family sites; scattered sites; and, community centers to include: removing leaves, branches, trash, and debris from sidewalks; roofs; trimming hedges and shrubs; edging and mowing; salting and snow removal; repairing retaining walls; painting exterior surfaces; and, minor landscaping.
2. Performs routine janitorial duties in family site management and maintenance offices, common areas, and restrooms to include: cleaning and dusting furniture; washing windows and walls; as necessary.
3. Completes and submits all logs and receipts.
4. Operates vehicles and equipment such as snowplows, mowers, large floor snake and saws. Performs routine preventive maintenance such as changing oil and sharpening and replacing blades.
5. Performs bench duties to include repairing windows and screens; hand out requested items to residents; and, keep inventory of supplies and order / check on supplies.
6. To learn basic maintenance repair skills, works with and is taught by a Maintenance Mechanic in the preparation of vacant units to include: cleaning appliances; waxing floors; repainting walls; repairing cabinets, fixtures, or appliances;
7. Must be available to work evenings, nights and weekends including being available for 1) calls to respond to emergencies, and 3) snow removal.
8. Performs duties in a safe manner to minimize job related accidents and injuries.
9. Must abide by all Board approved policies, policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment, executive communications, administrative procedures, and safety procedures established by the PHA.
10. Must travel to various PHA sites and other locations that are required by the nature of the work.
11. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry):

• Basic building maintenance;
• Basic grounds keeping techniques;
• Basic cleaning procedures and equipment;
• English, grammar, punctuation.

Skills (position requirements at entry):

• Using cleaning supplies and detergents to sanitize and disinfect surfaces;
• Operating and maintaining equipment such as trucks, snow blowers, chain saws, bobcats, plows and tractors;
• Performing basic building maintenance;
• Using a variety of tools and equipment to include: basic hand tools, plumbing snakes and carpet vacuums and shampooers;
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, residents, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from high school or GED

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: 6 months or more relevant experience such as building and grounds maintenance. Demonstrated experience working with ethnically, culturally and economically diverse populations.

Physical Requirements:

HEAVY WORK - Exerting 50-100 pounds of force occasionally, or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. (For Complete physical requirements see "Physical Demands Job Analyst" on file.)