West Virginia University, Facilities Management unit of the Division of Facilities and Services at is currently accepting applications for a Trades Specialist I at the Health Sciences Center.

About the Opportunity

Under the supervision of the Supervisor/Building Trades and Lead performs journeyman level pipefitting, steam fitting, maintenance, installation, and repair work as outlined by university guidelines. Shall provide guidance to as assigned.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year, or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits (this position is a benefits-eligible non-classified staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs.

What you'll do:

• Develops requisition for parts, supplies etc. from Warehouse and vendors, ensuring timely delivery and sequencing.
• Performs maintenance duties as assigned.
• Maintains and utilizes personal protective equipment when performing work or entering hazardous areas.
• Shall interpret blueprints and specification, shall requisition parts, materials, ad supplies from warehouse for jobs as assigned; shall draw line drawings as required. Will also be responsible for tools and equipment used in the performance of duties. Shall leave work areas in a neat and orderly manner. Job duties are not to be considered so specific as to exclude any work which my cross tasks or other assigned duties.
• Installs, maintains, repairs, and overhauls steam distribution systems up to 250 PSI consisting of steam traps, pressure relief valves, condensate returns, expansion joints, steam rate valves, and pressure regulating valves. Also maintains and repairs coils and heat exchangers associated with the steam system.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs lavatory sinks, water closets, fire hydrants, sprinkler systems, domestic water, distilled water systems, sewage systems, and deionized water systems. This will include such fixtures as hot water tanks, water cooler, water filters, ice machines, dish machines, water treatment systems for cooling and heating water, training room equipment.
• Repairs, maintains, and installs high- and low-pressure gas systems such as compressed air, natural gas, nitrogen, oxygen, and gas fire extinguishing systems. Repairs, maintains, and installs vacuum systems for mechanical and laboratory use.
• Operates test equipment to inspect and diagnose piping systems, steam traps, heat exchangers, and valves. Operates hand tools and power equipment such as drain snake, grinder drill press, pipe-threading machine, pipe cutters, power saw, brazing equipment, air compressor, and carious other tools as needed.
• Must maintain safe working conditions in steam tunnels, trenches, manholes, ceiling space, crawl space and other working areas utilizing safety devices such as harness, shoring for trench work, ventilation fans for pit and tunnel work, ground fault, and protective clothing when needed.
• Installs, maintains, and repairs chilled water and heating water distribution system along with all associated valves, tanks, air bleeders and coils.
• Shall operate equipment such as hole saws, reciprocating saws, concrete saws, and hammer drills to penetrate walls, beams, floors, and other barriers for the purpose of installing piping systems. Shall install proper supports and hangers for piping and fixtures to ensure safety.
• Shall remove non-asbestos insulation and lagging material from piping systems to ensure that proper diagnosis and repairs can be made. Shall also remove material in a manner that is may be reused if possible.
• May be required to move, load, and carry all materials and equipment necessary to complete all phases of assigned maintenance and construction projects. May be required to assist in the effort of moving any existing conditions which interfere with the flow of the project. When project is completed, work site must be left in a clean and orderly fashion. Must be able to respond during off hours to cover emergency situations.
• May be required to perform general maintenance duties in assisting other trades and operations. Performs other duties as assigned. Ability to work with precision as regards to the attainment of set limits tolerances, or standards.
• Ability to work under stress to meet schedule deadlines or when confronted with emergencies.
• Ability to operate a computer.
• Ability to work in extreme environments.

Pay Grade: 13 (HSC approved up to $16.85/hour, anything higher will need to be approved by HSC)

Work Hours: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

• High School Diploma / GED required.
• Must have one of the following:
  • 2 years' experience in the maintenance and repair of piping and/or steam distribution system.
  • Completion of an associate degree in plumbing.
  • Completion of a 2-year accredited vocational plumbing program.
• Ability to maintain proper attendance and punctuality standards.
• Ability to maintain average or above work standards.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to sketch line drawings.
• Ability to work on scaffolds and ladders at various heights.
• Knowledge of usage of metric system pertaining to unit.
• Understanding of occupational health and safety standards and procedures.
• Familiarity with basic principles in the areas of blueprint reading, general mathematics, applied chemistry, and physics.
• Can demonstrate a general understanding of local building regulations and pipefitting codes. Ability to lookup regulations and codes using reference manuals and the internet.
• Familiarity with industry-specific tools and equipment and their use, including basic and specialized had tools (e.g. wrenches, plumbing hand tools, cutting and bending tools/equipment, basic welding equipment, machine threading and hand threading equipment, and plumbing test equipment).
• Ability to identify and operate several types of industry-specific power equipment such as sewer snakes, cameras, hydro jetters, following proper operating procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret building plans and working drawing to determine equipment and materials and sequence of pipe installations required for the job.
• Ability to properly inspect structures to ascertain obstructions to be avoided to prevent holes for pipes in walls and floors using ruler, spirit level, and plumb bob.
• Ability to make cuts and openings in beams, ceilings, floors, roofs and walls to accommodate pipe and pipe fittings using hand tools ad power tools.
• Identify proper technique used to hand steel supports from ceiling joists to hold pipe in place, as needed.
• Ability to cut and thread pipes with the use of pipe cutters, cutting torches, and pipe threading machines.
• Ability to bend pipe to required angle by use of pipe threading machine or by placing pipe over block and bending it by hand.
• Ability to appropriately assemble and install valves, pipe fittings, and pipes composed if metals such as iron, steel, brass, and lead; and non-metals such as glass, vitrified clay, and plastic using hand and power tools.
• Ability to appropriately join pipes by use of screws, bolts, fittings, solder, cement, or plastic solvent.
• Can demonstrate proper technique used to caulk joints.

• Valid US driver's license required.
• License Plumber, Journeyman pipefitter or steamfitter certification preferred.
• Daily standing, lifting, carrying bending, climbing, crawling, and awkward positions.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley - the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.
Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU's academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu. View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.