HVAC (R) Technician

Position Title: HVAC(R) Technician

Department: Facilities

Contract/Grade Level: Personnel Policies (non-union) Grade 7

Compensation: Pay range is $29.97 – $40.46. Actual salary is dependent upon qualifications.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Benefit eligible

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours, typically Mon.- Fri. and additional hours as required.

Reports to: Facilities Director and Duxbury Public Schools

1.       Nature of Work:  The HVAC(R) Technician typically works a regular schedule and must be available for emergency repairs 24/7, overtime, coverage as needed, extreme weather conditions, and critical events. The role includes non-mechanical work as needed to ensure proper plant operations. A successful technician will limit equipment downtime, be an effective communicator who manages expectations, conduct business in a timely manner, and provides the highest level of customer service. The Technician independently diagnoses, troubleshoots, repairs, replaces, and installs all associated components for HVAC(R) systems including boilers and chillers. Technician is responsible for planning, reviewing, scheduling and supervising the work and performs maintenance and service repairs on refrigeration and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems as well as all similar or related duties among other duties for all Town and School facilities.

 2.       Supervision Received:  Under direct supervision of the Facilities Director, the employee plans and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with substantial responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action and substantial independence in planning and organizing the work activities, including determining the work methods.  The employee is expected to solve through experienced judgment most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem.  Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities.  Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out, and carries it through to completion independently.  Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail.

3.       Supervisory Responsibility: The employee is responsible for overseeing the performance of various persons who may work for the Town on a contractual basis relating to HVAC(R) tasks.

 4.       Confidentiality:  Employee has regular access to confidential information of the department such as official bid documents, as well as other information pertaining to the construction and maintenance of public building projects.  Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and the Public Records Act.

 5.       Accountability:  Errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment could severely jeopardize department operations, result in delay and confusion in the provision of service, cause personal injury, and significant damage to buildings/property, legal repercussions, monetary loss and negative public relations for the Town or have extensive financial and legal repercussions, excessive costs, delay of service delivery, and adverse public relations. Duties include department level responsibility for technical processes, service delivery, and contribution to municipal wide plans and objectives, and fiscal responsibility for the Town.

 6.       Judgment:  Extensive judgment is required to develop new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies.  The employee is recognized as the department or functional area’s authority in interpreting the guidelines, in determining how they should be applied, and in making recommendations for operating policies, standards, or criteria.

7.       Complexity:  The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques, and practices relating to a technical field.  Assignments typically concern such matters as studying trends in the field for application to the work; assessing services and recommending improvements; planning short and long-range projects; and devising new techniques for application to the work, and recommending policies, standards or criteria.

Nature and Purpose of Public Contact:  Employee interacts constantly with co-workers, faculty, students,  public, groups, and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from the other organizations, representatives of professional organizations, and news media.  Excellent communication and customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns during sometimes stressful and difficult situations and maintain a professional appearance

8.       Essential Functions:  The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logical assignment to the position:  

1.       Install, troubleshoot, and service large-scale systems, including hot water hydronic systems, chillers, package units, split systems, and other equipment designed for air conditioning, refrigeration, and climate control. 

2.       Maintain and repair individual HVAC components such as damper actuators, valve actuators, thermostats, and Laboratory Fume Hood exhaust systems to ensure precise functionality and optimal performance of integrated systems. 

3.       Diagnose malfunctions in control systems and repair heating and air conditioning (A/C) units as needed ensuring optimal performance and system reliability.

4.       Regularly monitor proper operation, pressures and temperatures of HVAC (R) .

5.       Ensure and facilitate the inspection of all boilers and pressure vessels consistent with local state and federal laws.

6.       Maintain repair, troubleshoot, and install hot water pumps and associated components.

7.       Ensure mechanical systems are running at peak efficiency by inspecting equipment for operating efficiency and safety standards.

8.       Install new units or replacement parts for existing units according to specifications and established safety guidelines.

9.       Maintain and repair Air Displacement type systems.

10.   Read thermometers and gauges; record readings daily, weekly, monthly, as requested.

11.   Adjust thermostatic controls and blowers.

12.   Lubricate service compressors, motors, and other moving parts of HVAC equipment as needed.

13.   Responsible for the accurate and timely completion of paperwork.

14.   Perform each day’s tasks according to the work order system.

15.   Effectively work with vendors and contractors as needed to facilitate repairs in a timely manner. 

16.   Remain up to date on related industry standards including federal, state and local regulations. 

17.   All other duties as assigned. 

9.   Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Must have High School diploma or equivalent and minimum of three (3) years recent, full-time experience working for a licensed Contractor, or maintenance organization installing, repairing, testing, calibrating pneumatic and digital control systems. At least one year of licensed EPA Universal Refrigerant Technician experience and Massachusetts HVAC(R) license certification preferred.  Factory chiller/boiler, OSHA, pipefitter or gasfitter certification(s) a plus. Candidates who have the Universal Refrigerant Technician certification but not the Massachusetts HVAC(R) license may be considered if they have five plus years of industry experience.  Must have working knowledge of computers in a Windows environment (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) Building Management Systems, Energy Management Systems, and work order systems BAS systems and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems. Must have strong customer service skills and effective written and verbal communication skills. Possess sound judgment and problem resolution ability. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple work orders under time sensitive deadlines. Experience with AAON, DAIKEN, and heat pump systems a plus or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements:  Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, EPA Universal Refrigerant Technician and Massachusetts HVAC(R) license certification.  Experience with managing 24/7 maintenance operations in a union environment and factory chiller/boiler and OSHA certification(s) a plus.

10.   Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge:  Through knowledge and a complete understanding of the refrigerant cycle and HVAC(R)  building systems (including all normal operating temperatures and pressures of all town and school owned building mechanical equipment), and have a basic electrical knowledge. Must have ability to read and comprehend blue prints including the ability to understand electrical schematics as they pertain to HVAC(R)  systems. Technician must have superior skills in the operation of most basic power and hand tools common to the HVAC(R) trade.

a)       Mechanical - Knowledge of standard mechanical system configurations (e.g., VAV, constant volume with or without reheat), DDC control systems, and water treatment for closed and open loop systems. Familiarity with chiller operations, cooling towers, pumps, and associated equipment is essential, along with a general proficiency in total building operations, machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 

b)      Troubleshooting - determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

c)       Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

d)      Equipment Maintenance- performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

e)       Operation Monitoring - watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine are working properly. 

f)        Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

g)      Operation and Control - Must be able to operate, schedule, and maintain multiple control interfaces.  Must be able to determine whether a problem is a control issue or a mechanical issue and respond and repair either. 

Abilities:  Ability to communicate clearly in written and oral form; ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with town officials and governmental representatives.  Ability to make basic arithmetical computations and tabulations in a timely and accurate manner, maintains confidential information, maintain, manage, and organize complex records. Ability to plan, assign and supervise the work of department personnel.

Skill:  Excellent customer service, interpersonal and organizational skills; skill in working with numbers and detail; excellent time management, organizational, analytical and communication skills; must have good computer skills, work well under pressure, and juggle multiple tasks effectively prioritizing competing needs.

11.     Work Environment:  The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices with regular interruptions from the public and other Town employees. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  In addition, the employee may be required to work on ladders, outdoors under inclement weather conditions and the employee may be exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, fumes or airborne particles, explosives, radiation, and other hazards commonly found at constructions sites. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours.  

12.    Occupational Risk:  Personal injury could occur through employee failure to properly follow safety precautions or procedures in the course of related duties. Examples of injury may include bruises from falls, minor cuts or burns, or muscular strains and serious personal injury while completing work tasks.  Technician must function in a safe manner including wearing the proper personal protective equipment at all times.

13.    Physical and Mental Requirements:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must  be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

 14.   Physical Demands:  Work requires some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about facilities or standing or walking most of the work period. Work requires lifting heavy objects and carrying them. There may be need to stretch and reach to retrieve materials. Usually, the work will require extended physical effort over a significant portion of the day. Must be able to move and work off of a ladder, lift 50 lbs above head, bend, sit, squat, stand, crawl, walk, climb, push/pull, kneel, handle objects (manual dexterity), reach above shoulder level, and use fine finger movements and work in a confined space. 

15.   Motor Skills:  Duties involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination.  Examples include; building maintenance tools, using a personal computer and/or most other office equipment, typing, filing, moving objects, sorting of papers or operating a motor vehicle.

16.  Visual Demands:  Position requires the employee to frequently read documents and reports for understanding and analytical purposes. 

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)