Maintenance Technician

Job description

The Housing Authority of the County of Jackson, Illinois ("JCHA") was
established in 1946, and the first public housing was constructed in 1960. JCHA's mission is to provide safe, decent, and sanitary housing to low-income families, elderly families, disabled families, and low-income individuals in 6 towns throughout the County.


JCHA currently seeks Maintenance Technicians to join the team full-time, with hours between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position will work out of several locations throughout Jackson County. Applications will be accepted through September 1, 2026. Applications may be reviewed and applicants interviewed before the closing date.


The Maintenance Technician provides high-quality residential maintenance and unit turnaround services for public housing units so that tenants are assured safe, quality, and decent living conditions. This type of work involves semi-skilled and skilled work in connection with repairs to and maintenance of buildings and grounds, requiring many skills found at the journeyman level and in carrying out a full set of maintenance duties. This position may be required to work in and under hazardous and adverse conditions such as sleet, snow, heat, cold, dust, and dirt.


Compensation begins at $19.32 to $19.90/hr and may increase after a 90-day probationary period. A generous benefits package is available after the probationary period.


Benefits Package Highlights:
- 100% employer-paid insurance for employees (medical/dental/vision)
- Retirement contribution to a pension fund
- 16 paid holidays
- Paid Time Off
- $75,000 employer-paid life insurance policy
- Employer-paid STD and LTD benefits
- Voluntary contributions to a 457b retirement plan
- Voluntary benefits with AFLAC, Colonial Life, and Globe Life Liberty National
- Paid training and career development opportunities

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Independently or in the assigned team, performs a wide range of maintenance functions including but not limited to: painting, caulking, HVAC repairs, lock repairs, window/door repairs, electrical repairs, appliance repairs, plumbing repairs, preventative maintenance, and changing light bulbs, filters, batteries, etc.
2. Cleans vacant units
3. Assures vacancy preparation of units is thoroughly completed while meeting required deadlines.
4. Provides friendly and professional customer service to tenants, addressing their inquiries and concerns respectfully by consistently and thoroughly completing work orders, and providing necessary explanations and applicable fees.
5. Maintains company-owned or leased vehicles. This includes annual inspections, regular service, oil changes, and regular cleaning.
6. Maintains accurate inventory counts and records for assigned vehicles, tools, and warehouses. Reports any inventory issues to the Maintenance and Capital Improvements Coordinator.
7. Assists with the organization and cleanliness of the maintenance shop, and removes garbage daily.
8. Provides the Work Order Technician with a list of supplies needed to complete unit renovations and work orders.
9. Organizes and cleans the maintenance shop, and removes garbage daily when assigned.
10. Empties garbage containers and trash compactors.
11. Maintains, cleans, and organizes garbage enclosures, dumpsters and/or garage compacter rooms, including deodorizing and power washing as needed or directed.
12. Maintains paperwork, as required, including completion of purchase orders and work orders.
13. Works an on-call, rotating call schedule as assigned.
14. Proactively addresses repairs.
15. Reports any contract work that needs to be addressed to the Maintenance and Capital Improvements Coordinator and/or Foreman.
16. Repairs, replaces, and cleans appliances as required.
17. Installs or replaces baseboard heating; Troubleshoots and repairs HVAC systems and recommends replacement when necessary; Performs preventative maintenance on HVAC systems.
18. Loads dumpsters and trucks with furniture, material, and debris.
19. Responsible for emergencies that may arise outside of normal business hours. e. flood, fire, power loss, etc.
20. Maintains grounds, parking lots, and walking pathways including removing objects such as rocks, glass, snow and ice, and large debris, tree limbs, other tripping hazards.
21. Maintains lawn and grounds as required.
22. Responds promptly to maintenance requests, assignments, and other inquiries from residents and supervisors.
23. Actively participates in staff meetings, training sessions, and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
24. Supports co-workers as a team to accomplish department and agency goals.
25. Participates in Housing Authority activities and committees as needed or desired.
26. Performs any other duties as assigned by supervisors to contribute to the overall success of the maintenance department.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities

1. Ability to contribute to a positive work environment and display the same positivity to the applicants, participants, and tenants.
2. Knowledge and compliance with Fair Housing and Illinois State Landlord/Tenant Laws and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
3. Proficient computer skills and ability to learn JCHA software systems.
4. Ability to work independently and multi-task on a variety of tasks.
5. Maintain reliable and predictable attendance.
6. Ability to use tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.
7. Ability to apply logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks to understand and communicate complicated policies and procedures.
8. Keep and guard all applicants, tenants, and participants' personal information in a private manner.
9. Establishing and maintaining ethical and cooperative relationships with all those contacts at work.
10. Ability to learn and be trained on complicated policies and procedures.
11. Ability to be a constant professional at work; including professionally dressed, groomed, and speaks professionally to clients and other staff.
12. Ability to respect and take care of the facility, and not be wasteful of supplies.
13. Ability to communicate effectively and solve problems related to property upkeep, work completion, tenants, and Management.
14. Ability to be safety oriented.
15. Knowledge of occupational hazards involved and necessary safety precautions for maintenance and repair work and use of automotive equipment.
16. Ability to use and service hand and power equipment operated in conjunction with job responsibilities.
17. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
18. Ability to perform a variety of skilled tasks to complete work assigned in carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and preventive maintenance work.
19. Ability to be trained on and use a variety of equipment, including but not limited to a bobcat, snowplow, woodchipper, lawn mower, dump truck, pulling a trailer and chainsaws.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirement (with or without reasonable accommodation)

1. Overtime is required in this position; provide scheduled on-call 24-hour coverage, as assigned.
2. Requires a degree of health and physical well-being that allows performance of the duties described herein.
3. Must be able to lift 80 pounds.
4. There are a number of deadlines associated with this position, which may cause stress.
5. Constantly operates tools and equipment used in apartment renovation and painting.
6. Frequently communicates. Must be able to exchange accurate information.
7. May be required to climb stairs, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, or crawl in order to complete inspections at various housing rentals.
8. Must be able to determine if a housing rental passes inspection, mainly through visual means.

Education/Specific Requirements

1. Must have at least two (2) years paid experience in related fields of construction or maintenance.
2. High school graduation or equivalency.
3. Experience in the work of subordinate classifications. Equivalent combination of training and experience.
4. Continuously holds a valid Illinois Driver's License with an insurable driving record or ability to obtain one within thirty days of hire.
5. JCHA is a Drug-Free Workplace where post-offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for drugs and alcohol when criteria are met as outlined in the JCHA's policies.
6. Ability to pass a background check.
7. Any employee who is hired for a position that requires on-call work must live within a thirty (30) mile radius of the Housing Authority's main office. Applicable employees who live outside of that radius shall have ninety (90) days to meet the location requirement.

JCHA is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.


JCHA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact View email address on click.appcast.io.
You may apply online or applications may be picked up and submitted at 300 North 7th Street, Murphysboro, IL 62966. If you are seeking a Section 3 preference, please submit the form with your application. The form can be found at