Amherst College invites applications for the Building Trades Maintenance Worker position. The Building Trades Maintenance Worker is a full time, year round position, job group and level AO-3. Amherst College has profoundly transformed its student body in terms of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and nationality, among other areas. Today, nearly one-quarter of Amherst’s students are Pell Grant recipients; 45 percent of our students identify as domestic students of color. Our expectation is that the successful candidate will excel at working in a community that is broadly diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion.

The Building Trades Maintenance Worker assists the carpenters and painters in the maintenance and repair of campus buildings and structures to ensure a safe and secure environment for all campus residents and employees, as well as maintain safe egress and ingress to buildings. Some tasks may be performed independently. Additional responsibilities include the installation of artwork, banners, signs and plaques, and participation in event set-ups including staging chairs and tables.

The position is designated as providing essential services and may be required to report to work, or remain on duty even when the College is closed. In addition, must respond to emergency calls and be available for call-ins on nights and weekends as well as scheduled events.

Takes appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participates in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance and Repair

• Assist in the inspection, repair, installation, modification, rebuilding, construction and maintenance of woodwork, masonry, roofing, doors, railings, porches, stairs, patios, walkways, and plaster and drywall, locks and hardware, etc.
• Fix and repair storm windows, broken windows, insect and security screens, and other glaze and glass work
• Locate and eliminate entry points for pests including bats, squirrels, mice, bees, wasps, and ants.
• Repair bathroom partitions
• Respond to emergencies including floods, roof leaks, broken windows and screens, etc.
• Assist other trade shops with opening walls and ceilings, and closing them

Campus Support

• Set up and prepare for special functions including staging, putting up banners and signs, etc.
• Move contents of offices including books, desks, tables, etc.
• Install paper towel dispensers, toilet paper hangers, soap dispensers, and waste containers and dispensers
• Build and install new bookshelves and cases

Painting

• Prepare and paint interior and some exterior finishes

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Repetitive motions including hands, wrists, fingers, and arms
• Lift, carry, push and pull 35 pounds and occasionally lift, carry, push and pull up to 60 pounds. Normal and close visual concentration/manual dexterity
• Kneeling, bending, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, ascending/descending stairs, ladders, scaffolding
• Exposure to fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions
• Exposure to paint, cleaning products and other construction related chemicals

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent
• A valid driver’s license and successful credentialing is required to operate college vehicles
• 1-3 years of maintenance experience
• Basic carpentry and/or construction skills
• Attention to detail
• Good written and verbal communication, organizational, time management and problem solving skills
• Able to work evenings and weekends as needed including emergencies
• An acceptable criminal offender records information (CORI) check
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical/lift test

Preferred

• 1-3 years of carpentry experience

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information (email and/or telephone numbers) for three professional references. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

ABOUT AMHERST COLLEGE

Amherst College, one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation, is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, a town of approximately 35,000 residents in the western part of the state. The college’s community is composed of about 1,800 students from 48 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 54 countries around the world, and about 1,000 staff and faculty. The college’s scenic 1,000-acre campus includes a 500-acre wildlife sanctuary and the Book & Plow Farm; three museums: Emily Dickinson Museum, Beneski Museum of Natural History and Mead Art Museum; and multiple educational and cultural venues and resources through the Five College Consortium. The town of Amherst offers an amazing variety of coffee shops, restaurants and entertainment, and a very active outdoor life. Our vibrant campus, diverse community and beautiful surrounding, makes Amherst College and the Town of Amherst the perfect place to work, learn and live!