What are the responsibilities and job description for the Journeyman HVAC Technician position at Santa Fe South Public Schools?
Job Description: Journeyman HVAC Technician
Reports To: Director of Facilities / Maintenance Supervisor
Department: Facilities & Maintenance Operations
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt (Hourly)
Position Information:
The Journeyman HVAC Technician performs highly skilled, independent work in the installation, diagnostic troubleshooting, repair, and preventative maintenance of commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems across all district schools and administrative facilities. This role is crucial for maintaining indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and a healthy learning environment for students and staff.
Core Responsibilities
- System Maintenance & Diagnostic Repair
- Troubleshooting: Rapidly diagnose and repair failures in complex commercial and industrial HVAC equipment, including chillers, boilers, rooftop DX units, air handlers, exhaust fans, and walk-in coolers/freezers.
- System Integrity: Reclaim and charge refrigerants according to regulations, repair leaks, braze piping, replace compressor motors, fans, electrical contactors, and control boards.
- Emergency Response: Respond promptly to urgent work orders regarding climate control failures, particularly during extreme weather, to prevent classroom disruptions or pipe freezes.
- Preventative Maintenance (PM)
- Routine Servicing: Perform scheduled PM tasks including replacing air filters, checking and tensioning belts, lubricating bearings, cleaning condenser/evaporator coils, and verifying proper airflow.
- Seasonal Changeovers: Execute annual transitions between heating and cooling configurations (e.g., firing up winter boilers or prepping summer chilling loops).
- Energy Management & Controls
- Building Automation: Monitor, adjust, and troubleshoot computer-based Building Automation Systems (BAS) / Automated Logic Control (ALC) to optimize energy efficiency and schedule occupancy runtimes.
- Pneumatic & Digital Controls: Maintain and calibrate thermostats, dampers, actuators, and electronic-to-pneumatic transducers.
- Compliance, Safety, & Record-Keeping
- EPA Compliance: Maintain strict digital logs of refrigerant usage, recovery, and disposal in absolute compliance with EPA Section 608 regulations.
- Work Orders: Track and close out maintenance requests using the district's computer-based asset management software, detailing hours worked and parts used.
- Safety Practices: Adhere to all OSHA safety rules, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) protocols, fall protection, and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) usage.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
Licensing & Education
- Certification: High school diploma or equivalent, plus completion of a formal HVAC apprenticeship program or an accredited trade school program.
- Licensing: Possession of a valid state or municipal Journeyman HVAC License.
- EPA Certification: Universal EPA Section 608 Certification is strictly required.
Experience & Skills
- Field Experience: Minimum of 4 to 5 years of commercial or industrial HVAC experience. Experience handling large-tonnage equipment or working inside institutional/public settings is highly preferred.
- Technical Savvy: Proficiency in reading electrical schematics, mechanical blueprints, and sequence of operations manuals.
- Mobility: Must possess a valid driver’s license to operate district maintenance vehicles. Ability to climb ladders, enter crawl spaces, and safely lift up to 50 lbs.