Lead Maintenance Technician

General Description:

The Lead Maintenance Technician is an integral member of the Coalition Homes Facilities and Maintenance Team, responsible for providing hands-on maintenance services across the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) and Coalition Homes (CH) property portfolio. This position is based at the Nebel Street Emergency Shelter in Rockville, Maryland, a 24-hour emergency shelter serving up to 220 men daily.

The Lead Maintenance Technician performs preventive, routine, corrective, and emergency maintenance to ensure the safety, functionality, and appearance of the facility and surrounding grounds. Responsibilities include responding to maintenance work orders, conducting routine inspections, troubleshooting building systems, completing repairs, coordinating maintenance activities, and maintaining equipment and building assets.

The Lead Maintenance Technician works collaboratively with shelter leadership, the Coalition Homes maintenance team, the Montgomery County Department of General Services (DGS), and external vendors to identify maintenance needs, coordinate repairs requiring County support or licensed contractors, and ensure timely resolution of facility issues. The position also helps maintain compliance with applicable safety standards, organizational policies, and County requirements while promoting a safe, clean, and respectful environment for clients, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

As the lead maintenance staff member assigned to the shelter, this position is expected to exercise sound judgment, prioritize work effectively, respond appropriately to urgent maintenance issues, and serve as a resource to shelter staff regarding facility operations and maintenance needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Prioritize, assign, track, and follow up on maintenance work orders based on safety, urgency, operational impact, and available resources.

· Personally completes routine, preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance work; this is a hands on position rather than a primarily administrative or supervisory role.

· Maintain records of work orders, inspections, repairs, recurring concerns, preventive maintenance, vendor visits, and equipment service history.

· Develop, implement, and monitor a preventive maintenance schedule for building systems, shelter spaces, equipment, and grounds.

· Coordinate timely repair requests with the Montgomery County Department of General Services (DGS), take immediate action to secure unsafe conditions, and track all maintenance issues to ensure timely resolution and compliance with organizational and County standards.

· Maintain an organized inventory of tools, equipment, replacement parts, keys, and supplies; recommends purchases to shelter leadership.

· Meet regularly with shelter leadership and Montgomery County to report open work orders, completed repairs, safety concerns, vendor activity, supply needs, and planned projects.

· Identify maintenance projects requiring licensed contractors or specialized expertise; obtain and evaluate contractor recommendations and cost estimates, coordinate site access, monitor contractor performance and quality of work, and verify satisfactory completion in accordance with organizational standards and Montgomery County requirements.

· Serve as the primary maintenance point of contact for the shelter and be on call for evening, weekend, and holiday emergencies on a rotation schedule with other Coalition Homes maintenance staff.

· Support facility readiness for changes in shelter capacity, seasonal weather operations, special projects, inspections, and emergency response.

· Ensure maintenance work is completed with minimal disruption and with respect for client privacy, dignity, and the shelter's trauma-informed environment.

Maintenance Responsibilities:

· Maintain working knowledge of electrical shutoffs, water and gas shutoffs, clean-out traps, fire extinguishers, hydrants, emergency systems, and other critical building controls.

· Troubleshoot and complete approved repairs involving plumbing, electrical fixtures, lighting, doors, locks, walls, flooring, appliances, furniture, and basic heating and cooling concerns.

· Ensure sleeping areas, bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, kitchen, offices, common areas, storage spaces, and exterior areas remain safe and operational.

· Inspect and maintain exterior lighting, walkways, parking areas, and grounds.

· Complete painting, patching, minor carpentry, assembly, preventive upkeep, and repairs to normal structural wear and damage.

· Respond to emergency maintenance conditions, take immediate steps to protect people and property, and notify the appropriate leadership, Montgomery County contact, or emergency service.

· Document completed work, materials used, outstanding needs, and unusual conditions; communicate issues that may affect safety, shelter capacity, or program operations.

· Follow all applicable federal, state, County, OSHA, fire safety, licensing, permit, and organizational requirements.

Cleaning Team Oversight:

· Provide oversight of the contracted cleaning team, to ensure work meets standards based on shelter operations and immediate needs.

· Develop and monitor cleaning schedules for sleeping areas, bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, kitchen, offices, hallways, common areas, entrances, exterior spaces, and other assigned areas.

· Conduct routine inspections to ensure cleanliness, sanitation, and quality standards are consistently maintained.

· Address missed assignments, recurring quality concerns, supply shortages, and urgent cleaning needs promptly with the contractor; communicate significant performance or coverage concerns to shelter leadership.

· Ensure appropriate inventory levels for cleaning supplies, chemicals, paper products, and equipment; ensure supplies are stored, labeled, secured, and used safely.

· Ensure cleaning staff demonstrate appropriate use of equipment, chemical handling, personal protective equipment, safety procedures, and expectations for professional and respectful interactions with clients. Communicate any issues to shelter leadership and the contractor.

· Coordinate deep cleaning, pest control preparation, biohazard response, emergency cleanup, and other specialized cleaning services with shelter leadership and approved vendors.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; vocational training, trade school, or technical certification in building maintenance, facilities management, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in building maintenance, facilities operations, property management, or a related field, including experience coordinating work or providing team leadership.
• Demonstrated knowledge of preventive maintenance, general building repairs, building systems, and safe work practices.
• Experience performing or coordinating basic plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, drywall, and mechanical repairs.
• Experience overseeing custodial or cleaning services, including conducting quality inspections and ensuring compliance with cleanliness and sanitation standards.
• Ability to assess maintenance priorities, respond effectively to emergencies, and manage multiple work assignments simultaneously.
• Ability to maintain accurate maintenance records, inventory, preventive maintenance schedules, and work orders using basic computer applications and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) or similar work-order software.
• Ability to identify maintenance work requiring specialized expertise or licensed contractors and coordinate repairs with the Montgomery County Department of General Services (DGS) and external vendors.
• Strong interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with clients, staff, County representatives, contractors, and community partners.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain professionalism in a fast-paced, 24-hour emergency shelter environment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb stairs and ladders, reach overhead, and work in confined or elevated spaces.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 65 pounds independently and heavier items with assistance or appropriate equipment.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Availability to work occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and respond to maintenance emergencies as needed.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record, if required for travel between facilities.

Preferred Certifications

Preference will be given to candidates possessing one or more of the following certifications:

• OSHA 10-Hour or OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Certification
• EPA Section 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification (if applicable)
• Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT)
• Building Operator Certification (BOC)
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM) or Facilities Management Professional (FMP) (preferred but not required)
• CPR/AED and First Aid Certification, or the ability to obtain certification within six months of hire

Other Requirements

• Commitment to MCCH's mission and values, including treating all individuals with dignity, respect, and compassion.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in working with vulnerable populations.