Facilities & Ground Technician

Job Description

Job Description

You keep the outside of the community looking right. It is the first thing anybody sees, and you are the person residents see most.

Reports to

Asset Performance & Resident Experience Manager

Community size

About 300 homes

Location

Various Locations, Texas. On site, mostly outdoors

Hours

Full-time, daytime. Occasional early starts and storm coverage

Pay

$30,000–$45,000. On-site housing subsidy provided as a benefit

› What this job is

You look after the grounds, the common areas and the trash areas at one apartment community, and you help get empty homes ready between residents.

Two things make this job bigger than the title. The first is that people decide a lot about a place in the thirty seconds between their car and the front door, and almost all of that is your work. The second is that you are outside and visible all day, so residents talk to you more than they talk to anyone else on the team.

There is also a practical side people miss. Blocked drains, broken irrigation, trip hazards, branches on a roof, standing water, a fence coming loose — you see these first and every day, and catching them early is what stops them becoming expensive.

› What working here is like

The Company keeps to five standards. Here they mean: same standard every day, not just before a tour; say hello; and tell us when something needs fixing rather than walking past it. This is a job we are willing to train someone into if they are reliable and they notice things.

› What you will do

Grounds

• Mowing, edging, trimming, pruning and weeding.

• Beds, mulch, seasonal planting.

• Check irrigation is working and report what is not. Watch water use in summer.

• Leaves, debris and litter across the whole site.

• Storm prep and cleanup. Freeze protection when it is needed.

Common areas

• Entrances, walkways, breezeways, stairwells, parking lots and the leasing office entrance, cleaned daily.

• Pool surround, courtyards, grills, mail area, fitness room and lounge: swept, tidy, furniture in order.

• Pressure washing and deep cleaning on a schedule.

• Check lighting in common areas and report anything out.

Trash and recycling

• Keep trash and recycling areas clean and usable.

• Manage overflow, especially on weekends and around move-out dates.

• Coordinate with the waste hauler and report missed pickups.

• Deal with bulk items residents leave behind.

Spotting problems

• Walk the site every day and look properly.

• Report anything broken, unsafe or out of place to your manager: a light out, a loose handrail, graffiti, a trip hazard, standing water, a damaged fence, a branch against the roof.

• Do not walk past things. If you cannot fix it, tell someone who can.

Helping with empty homes

• Clear out and haul away what previous residents left.

• Prep work, cleaning and general help so a home is ready when it was promised.

Contractors and safety

• Check landscaping and cleaning contractors are doing what was agreed, and tell your manager when they are not.

• Work safely: equipment, ladders, tools, chemicals, heat, eye and ear protection.

• Any pesticide, chemical or pool work that needs a Texas license is done by a licensed applicator only.

Others

• Certified Pool Operator certification is helpful but not required.

• Basic drywall paint/patch, smart lock troubleshooting, minor plumbing clearing.

› Talking to residents

You will be stopped and asked things all day. A few simple rules cover almost all of it.

• Say hello. A community where the staff greet people feels like a different place to live.

• If someone has a problem, take it to the right person yourself rather than telling them where to go.

• If you are asked about rent, a lease, an application or another resident, say warmly that the office handles that and point them there. Never guess, and never say anything that could sound like a promise.

• Treat everyone the same. Fair housing rules apply to who you greet, who you help and how you respond, just as they do in the office. We train you on this.

• Be considerate about noise and timing. Loud equipment under bedroom windows early in the morning is a small decision with a big effect.

• If a resident seems to need help, tell your manager.

› What you need

• Experience maintaining grounds, a property or a facility to a standard somebody checked.

• You notice things. That is most of the skill.

• You are reliable and you work without being watched.

• You can deal courteously with residents, visitors and contractors face to face, and route questions to the right person.

• Safe use of common grounds equipment, and good judgment about your own limits.

• The work is outdoors in Texas heat and weather, on your feet for most of the shift, and involves lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, bending, kneeling and using ladders. We provide reasonable accommodation so qualified applicants and employees can perform these functions.

• A valid driver's license, because the role will require you to drive between sites.

• Able to use a phone or tablet to log work. We will train you on our system.

› What helps, but we do not require it

• Hotel, resort or club grounds and housekeeping experience.

• Golf course, parks, campus or commercial grounds work.

• Landscaping, janitorial, porter or facilities work.

• Multifamily experience.

• A pesticide applicator license.

• Spanish proficiency is a plus, because some residents prefer to be spoken to in Spanish. It is not required, and English fluency beyond what the job needs is not required either.