Maintenance Tech

Primo Center is seeking a qualified, caring individual who wants to make a difference by supporting families experiencing homelessness by working as a Maintenance Tech with our Maintenance and Facilities Team.

About Primo Center The mission of Primo Center is to empower families to become productive, responsible, and independent members of their community. Today, the Primo Center is a leader in providing family shelter and permanent supportive housing, as well as integrated physical, dental, and mental health care, early childhood development, and supportive services to homeless families in Chicago. The organization has considerable capacity and experience as a provider of services to families affected by extreme poverty and homelessness, assisting more than 1100 people each year with the aid of volunteers, over 90 staff members, and an annual operating budget of nearly $10 million.

Primo Center operates facilities in high-need communities across Chicago, with locations in Austin on the city’s west side, Englewood on the south side, and Hermosa on the northwest side.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Property/Preventive Maintenance (80%)

• Perform general janitorial duties, cleaning, and trash removal, ensuring clean, presentable spaces for staff and clients
• Complete necessary repairs, including fixing broken locks, patching walls, and addressing minor maintenance issues.
• Inspect control panels and electrical wiring to identify and report potential hazards.
• Install and set up common-use appliances and equipment as needed.
• Maintain exterior areas, including garden/yard upkeep and seasonal tasks like snow removal.
• Conduct routine maintenance tasks such as replacing light bulbs and air filters.
• Troubleshoot and inspect building systems (e.g., HVAC, plumbing, ventilation).
• Test and verify the functionality of safety systems, including fire alarms and emergency lighting.
• Perform regular walk-throughs to ensure facility standards are upheld.
• Follow through on maintenance issues to ensure timely and thorough resolution.

Vehicle Fleet Management (20%) Maintain the organization’s fleet of vehicles, including coordination of licensing and registration. Ensure insurance documentation is available, and routine maintenance is performed. Coordinate services and requests for auto service.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Commitment to Primo Center Mission
• High School Diploma & 2+ years relevant work experience in related field, and/or military service.
• Comfortable working in a multicultural environment
• Ability to complete assigned work orders independently, with minimal supervision
• Must be available for after hours, weekend and on-call work, as needed.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass background check
• Capacity to take direction
• Strong attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications Advanced mechanical, electrical, plumbing or carpentry skills/certifications

Knowledge of HVAC and other building systems.

Physical Requirements To ensure effective care and client support, this role requires the ability to:

• Lift and carry up to 25 lbs. (e.g., supplies, personal belongings)
• Stand, walk, bend, and climb stairs frequently throughout a shift
• Respond rapidly to crises—move quickly across the facility and grounds
• Perform routine inspections of communal areas (bending, reaching)
• Work in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings; occasional exposure to loud or crowded environments

Reporting Relationship This position reports to the Facilities Manager and may take additional directions from the Program Director in the absence of the Facilities Manager.

Compensation And Benefits –

• Salary: $43,437 (non-exempt, full-time). Benefits include:
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k), Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off, Wellness Days, Paid Holidays
• Life/AD&D Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, mileage reimbursement
• Voluntary AFLAC plans

Primo Center is an equal opportunity employer. The agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age disability, veteran or military status or any other protected status in accordance with federal and state law.