Facilities Maintenance Specialist

Department

BSD ARC - Facilities Maintenance & Infrastructure

About the Department

The mission of the Animal Resources Center (ARC) is to assist investigators in performing their animal research while ensuring appropriate and humane care of all laboratory animals. The Animal Resources Center (ARC) at The University of Chicago is responsible for the use and care of all research animals on campus. The ARC manages 6 facilities and a business office. Its sections are as follows: husbandry, maintenance, operations, veterinary care, finance and administration. The unit merged with the Office of Shared Research Facilities managing all of the BSD cores on campus.

Job Summary

The Facilities Maintenance Specialist role supports the maintenance, operation, and reliability of specialized equipment within the Animal Resources Center (ARC) and research facilities.

Responsibilities include performing preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and repairing equipment, and coordinating with internal teams and external vendors to resolve issues efficiently.

The position also supports facility projects, contractor activities, and equipment installations while helping ensure minimal disruption to research operations. Additionally, this role monitors environmental systems, assists with building automation reporting, and serves as a technical resource to staff.

Responsibilities

• Manages preventative maintenance activities of all ARC specialized equipment in the animal facilities.

• Implements special projects/tasks as delegated.

• Participates in facilities renovations, contractor activities, and other activities performed by hired outside vendors.

• Performs on-site maintenance and emergency equipment repairs of ARC specialized equipment.

• Coordinates some repairs with Plant/Facilities Departments.

• Assists with ARC environmental monitoring systems.

• Provides technical support for the general operations of the Animal Resources Center and Office of Shared Research Facilities.

• Manages on-site preventative maintenance of specialized equipment, coordinates equipment repairs with Plant and Facilities departments.

• Acts as the ARC liaison to anyone working in ARC space. Follows up on work requests and reports back to ARC staff.

• Involved with new equipment installation and diagnostics evaluations of specialized equipment malfunctions.

• Participates in building renovations and ARC facilities construction projects.

• Assists with obtaining quotes and proposals from contractors and vendors.

• Monitors contractor and coordinates schedule with Manager and stakeholders, and confirms all contractor work is completed.

• Responsible for minimizing negative impact on research for investigators during renovations and contractor activities. Supports ARC initiated projects with equipment relocation and mounting/de-mounting as well as fabrication and installation of purpose-built solutions.

• Routinely assists with monitoring environmental conditions (lights, temperature and humidity) and verifies proper operation of building systems and equipment.

• Utilizes the Building Automation System (BAS) to create reports and retrieve trending data.

• Understands proper environmental parameters and awareness of effects on research animals if ranges exceed specifications.

• Functions as a resource for the team in matters regarding equipment operation and repair.

• Provides hands on equipment troubleshooting and diagnostics and implements approved solutions.

• Maintains light fixtures, replaces bulbs, cleans supply and exhaust grilles and replaces filters.

• Un-crates, assembles, installs and otherwise prepares and maintains miscellaneous equipment (carts, housing racks, dispensers). Loads/unloads and transports equipment within and between facilities.

• Leads the coordination of maintenance of facilities, grounds and/or equipment. Receives requests for facilities services from unit employees and coordinates delivery of appropriate services. Utilizes specialized skills and on-the-job experience to conduct inspections of buildings, equipment and/or surrounding grounds for deficiencies and potential safety, health, or code problems.

• Prepares written reports summarizing findings and recommends solutions. Typically coordinates package receipt and delivery; coordinates movement of equipment and materials, including ensuring proper and timely set up of employees in new office space; maintains building security, including maintaining building keys; and maintains information on building blue prints, space utilization data and equipment.

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