Technical Facilities Lead (Chicago)

Job Description

Job Description

TECHNICAL FACILITIES LEAD 

REPORTS TO: Director of Facilities 

DIRECT REPORTS: None. Serves as a senior technical escalation point and field-based project lead across the portfolio. 

POSITION SUMMARY The Technical Facilities Lead serves as the primary field-based technical expert and CapEx project coordinator for the organization’s housing portfolio. Rather than managing daily property upkeep, this role is dispatched by the Director of Facilities to address aging Yardi work orders, prepare sites for REAC/NSPIRE physical inspections, and oversee major building upgrades.

This position acts as an advanced diagnostic resource for site technicians and partners with Community Managers to tackle complex property issues, allowing the Director of Facilities to focus on overarching department operations and budget planning. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Capital Project Execution [35%]

• Solicit initial vendor bids, conduct pre-bid walkthroughs, and draft technical scopes of work for major capital expenditure (CapEx) initiatives, building envelope upgrades, and multi-family system overhauls under the direction of the Director of Facilities. 
• Perform on-site quality control inspections, monitor contractor progress, and verify project completion against contract specifications for capital projects across the portfolio. 
• Conduct technical audits and pre-inspection physical walkthroughs (e.g., NSPIRE, LIHTC, lender, municipal inspections) to identify asset risks and assist site teams in preparing for major physical reviews. 
• Monitor major building systems and mechanical assets across properties to feed accurate real-time data into the organization’s long-term capital replacement plans. 

Advanced Technical Support [25%]

• Serve as a senior diagnostic sounding board and field-based mentor for site-level maintenance staff, elevating team self-sufficiency beyond baseline onboarding. 
• Provide technical guidance and skills assessments to Community Managers upon request, recognizing that Community Managers retain full ownership of site-level staff discipline, scheduling, and standard work product.
• Collaborate directly with Community Managers to coordinate and deploy Maintenance Tech II schedules when multi-tech labor or specialized cross-property teams are required for complex, site-specific projects. 
• Assist Community Managers and the Director of Facilities by participating in technical interviews for prospective maintenance staff. 

Tactical Site Coverage [25%]

• Provide targeted, high-level technical intervention across the assigned portfolio.
• Act as the secondary technical escalation point for severe, complex property emergencies (e.g., main utility line breaks, boiler failures, structural issues, or major casualty events) when site-level teams require specialized intervention, preventing routine callouts to the Director of Facilities. 
• Diagnose intricate mechanical, electrical, and plumbing failures that exceed standard site-level troubleshooting capacity. 

Operations, Safety & Administrative Support [15%]

• Reinforce standardized shop operations, inventory control protocols, and OSHA/ADA safety compliance standards across all physical sites. 
• Assist the Director of Facilities in drafting and updating property-specific emergency response plans and ensuring site teams are trained on cutoff protocols and safety guidelines. 
• Periodically review site-level operational expenditures alongside the Director of Facilities to verify that properties are not inappropriately utilizing third-party vendors for routine work that should be completed in-house. 
• Maintain accurate project tracking logs, technical audit reports, and service documentation in Yardi and company management systems. 
• Ensure all field operations and capital interventions are executed in accordance with Fair Housing laws and the organization’s mission to provide high-quality, dignified housing. 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Advanced, hands-on diagnostic expertise in commercial and multi-family residential building systems (HVAC, boilers, plumbing mains, electrical systems, and structural envelopes). 
• Proven ability to draft technical scopes of work, solicit competitive vendor proposals, and oversee third-party contractors. 
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to coach, influence, and mentor site personnel without direct supervisory authority. 
• Excellent project management, organization, and cross-departmental coordination skills. 
• Ability to interface effectively with Community Managers, site technicians, third-party vendors, and executive leadership. 
• Proficiency with digital asset tracking tools, Microsoft Office, and property management software (Yardi experience preferred). 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in multi-family facilities maintenance, building trades, or construction management, with demonstrated experience leading complex technical projects. 
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in multi-family mechanical systems, code compliance, and capital project coordination. 
• Valid driver's license, active auto insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle for frequent portfolio-wide travel. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Universal EPA Certification, CPO (Certified Pool Operator), or advanced trade/technical certifications (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing). 
• Prior experience in affordable housing operations (LIHTC, HUD, REAC standards). 
• Background in adult technical instruction, vocational mentoring, or formal staff training. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Active field position requiring frequent walking, standing, climbing ladders, bending, kneeling, crouching, and accessing mechanical spaces, basements, and roofs throughout the workday. 
• Ability to safely lift and move tools, machinery, and materials weighing over 50 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

• Field-based across the assigned portfolio, with periodic presence at the central administrative office.
• Standard operating hours with flexible exempt framing to accommodate capital project milestones, emergency responses, and site coverage needs. 
• Regular local travel between properties within the assigned multi-site portfolio is required daily.
• Serves as a secondary escalation lead for major property emergencies outside standard operating hours; does not participate in the primary routine line-staff emergency rotation. 

REVIEW CYCLE This job description is subject to a mandatory review every 24 months to ensure alignment with operational and organizational growth. The next scheduled review date is December 2026.

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