CLASS SPECIFICATION

MAINTENANCE, RENOVATION & INSPECTION SPECIALIST

DEFINITION OF CLASS:
This class consists of a full range of planning, estimating, coordinating, monitoring and inspecting functions essential to getting maintenance and repair work, renovation and remodeling projects or installations accomplished by contractors or, in some cases, by County employees, in the trades. Assignments involve diverse structures (including mechanical, electrical, structural and finish work in primary and ancillary buildings) and infrastructure (including storage tanks and septic systems). The employee may specialize in one of four domains: (1) Electrical, (2) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), (3) Structural (multiple trades in combination, such as carpentry, masonry, roofing, drywall and painting), and (4) Plumbing, but may also manage projects involving most or all of the trades in these areas. Employees are also responsible for conducting building inspections to determine necessary planned maintenance within their area of trade specialization. Contacts are primarily with County employees, supervisors and managers (including procurement personnel, trade employees, trade supervisors, Property Managers, support services employees and facility occupants/user agencies) to identify or verify work requirements, coordinate work, follow established administrative procedures and keep occupants and user agencies informed, and with suppliers, contractors and subcontractors to lay out and ensure compliance with job plan or contract terms, verify work completed and billing and maintain quality control. Direct assistance to the public is provided on an incidental basis only.
An employee in this class is responsible for ensuring that the work project is adequately and properly planned, cost estimates and materials lists are accurate, and that the work done complies with mechanical, building, fire, health and/or life safety codes and the contract or task order specifications. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of continuing functional responsibilities, resources and desired results, key issues, priorities, resources available and deadlines for specific projects. The employee is expected to plan, schedule and carry out the work on one's own (which includes monitoring contractors or County employees, as appropriate) according to established or generally-accepted policies, standards and processes, keeping the supervisor informed. Completed work that is routine is expected to be accurate, adequate, timely and consistent with such guidelines as specifications and accepted trade practices and such other critical requirements as effective customer service (the facility occupants/user agencies are key customers). The employee works in the field, alone, up to 50 percent of the work time. The supervisor is usually available (in person or by phone) to help or provide guidance in unusual situations. Guidelines are available in the form of codes and regulations and project cost, time lines, materials and construction personnel estimating guides as well as such administrative guides as County procurement regulations. The employee applies appropriate guidelines based on experience in the trade(s) and assessment of the situation and has some latitude to adjust guides depending on the conditions of the project. An employee in this class has some authority to make changes at the work site in order to resolve problems (field expedients) affecting time lines or suitability of the work, but may refer highly complex or sensitive problems to the supervisor or occasionally to the engineering staff for resolution. Complexity in this class is characterized by a substantial number, over time, of large projects involving multiple trades and significant logistics and phasing, projects involving noteworthy electro-mechanical project planning issues (such as those arising from the interface of old and new systems) and other assignments involving problems where strong technical or wide-ranging project management knowledge and considerable experience in the field are needed to support sound reasoning and decision making to coordinate and accomplish construction and renovation projects in a timely and cost effective manner. The trade work is immediate, short-term or long-term, planned or emergency, and one-time or recurring in nature. The employees of the class together, each in a specialized domain or working across domains, assure the products and services of the unit by inspecting facilities to identify service requirements, managing conventional maintenance, renovation and inspection projects (including certain capital improvement projects) that include preparing accurate specifications and cost estimates, ensuring the effectiveness and timeliness of work by contractors, and verifying invoices. Work is performed in an office, field locations (inside or outside buildings or atop structures), contractor and supplier sites, and on the road between these places. Work includes some exposure to dirt, grease, foul odors, noxious fumes, loud noises, some inclement weather and other discomforting or unpleasant conditions as well as exposure to such potential hazards as sharp objects, energized electrical systems, risks of falling from roofs, scaffolding and hoists, and other risks faced by workers in the trades monitored. Care and use of gloves, safety shoes, hard hats, and/or a mask, along with situational awareness, are required. The work includes sitting, reviewing documents containing small print, talking on the telephone, other activities typical of office work, driving, walking, kneeling, stooping, bending, reading gauges, using ladders and reaching to assess work to be done and to inspect work performed in trenches, roofs, framing, etc. Most objects moved weigh up to 20 pounds, but some weigh as much as 50 to 100 pounds or require expenditure of equivalent forces.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)
Reviews work orders, conducts field investigations and prepares time, labor and materials cost estimates and written work orders for work to be performed by contractors or County employees.
Solicits estimates or proposals from vendors for work not covered by contracts or shops.
Maintains work assignment contract files, recommends/initiates encumbering of funds.
Manages remodeling, renovation and maintenance projects in progress for compliance with codes, work specifications, etc., assuring work is completed correctly and on schedule.
Meets or communicates with facility occupants/user agencies, Property Managers, shop supervisors, other departmental personnel and a variety of contractors to identify work to be done, develop work specifications, schedules, etc., monitor work for compliance with materials, trade practice, process, time and other requirements, and inspect projects for proper completion. Organizes and conducts project coordination meetings when required.
Plans and coordinates single- or multi-trade construction/renovation projects using contractors to ensure timely completion of work and conformance with codes and specifications.
Meets with and keeps supervisor and user agencies informed of project related activities (e.g., changes to the schedule, costs, problems, etc).
Maintains a daily log of all projects and time and materials contract files, recording observations and findings, and prepares weekly status reports of all projects and assignments.
Provides guidance to contractors as needed on assigned projects and solves a range of field problems.
Contacts user agency and checks project site before work begins to identify and report conditions, which may affect work. Identifies and coordinates logistics and phasing issues.
Performs facility maintenance inspections, prepares written inspection reports and initiates work orders for maintenance to be performed by County employees and/or time and material contractors.
Reviews contract documents with time and materials contractors to ensure both parties agree to terms, conditions, scope of work, specifications; makes recommendations to improve future contracts.
Reviews contractor's invoices for payment, certifies that payment should be made and provides recommendations concerning payment.
Prepares working sketches and drawings to accurately depict project requirements, if needed, reviews contractor drawings for errors, omissions and/or trouble areas before work begins, and refers to the agreed-upon drawings as work proceeds.
Drives to and from work and supplier sites.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience: Five (5) years of experience in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) trade, the Electrical trade, the Structural trades in combination (such as carpentry, masonry, roofing, drywall and painting), or the Plumbing trade depending on the specialty area of the position of assignment, two (2) years of which must have been at the full performance (journey) level.
Education: Completion of high school or High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland.
Equivalency: None.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC):
Thorough knowledge of the principles and generally-accepted practices of the HVAC trade to identify requirements, prepare specifications and monitor the work of contractors in installation, maintenance and repair of HVAC systems, subsystems and equipment. This includes knowledge of commercial building-size gas, oil, electric and hot water heating systems, compression air conditioning systems, HVAC controls, air handling systems, etc.

Electrical:
Thorough knowledge of principles and generally-accepted practices of the Electrical trade, as well as the National Electrical Code, to identify requirements, prepare specifications and monitor the work of contractors in installation, maintenance and repair of electrical systems, subsystems and equipment. This includes knowledge of power generation and distribution systems, transformers, motors, lighting equipment, wiring, etc.

Structural:
Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of the structural trades in combination, such as carpentry, masonry, roofing, drywall and painting, to identify requirements, prepare specifications and monitor the work of contractors in installation, maintenance and repair of structural systems and the performance of finish work. This includes knowledge of layout of footers and masonry walls, framing of main structural members, replacement of roofs, installation of siding, flooring, carpets, ceilings, doors, windows, wall treatments, and more, as well as knowledge of applicable codes.
Plumbing:
Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of the plumbing trade to identify requirements, prepare specifications and monitor the work of contractors in installation, maintenance and repair of sanitary lines, gas lines and sprinkler systems. This includes knowledge of applicable codes.

Applicable to All Trades:
Considerable knowledge of other building trades to coordinate and oversee multi-trade renovation projects.
Skill in problem solving to select, organize and logically process relevant information (verbal, numerical and, in some cases, electrical-mechanical) to solve a problem. Examples include preparing project specifications, evaluating vendor proposals, using blueprints, drawing schematics, estimating materials/labor costs, troubleshooting trade problems, and, in some instances, assessing the applicability, costs and trade-offs of new technologies.
Skill in written communication to understand written information (including instructions, descriptions and ideas) and to express such information in writing so that others will understand. Examples include using parts catalogs and regulations, preparing or reviewing such documents as work orders and specifications, and reading warranties and general administrative information.
Skill in oral communication to understand verbal information (including instructions, descriptions and ideas) and to express such information so that others will understand. Examples include exchanging information about job requirements and progress or problems on the job, and keeping the supervisor and co-workers informed.
Interpersonal skills to interact effectively with their personal contacts, including but not limited to with co-workers, suppliers, vendors, users (customers) and regulators (such as staff of the Maryland Department of the Environment) in a customer-service oriented, businesslike manner.
Skill in using a computer for Internet research, to communicate, to plan/schedule/track work, costs and funding types, to word process and to perform related functions.
Ability to acquire knowledge of purchasing procedures regarding encumbrance of funds and time and materials contracts.
Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain required license(s).
Ability and willingness to work other than regular working hours during an emergency.

LICENSE:
Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning trade area: Possession of a journey level HVAC license issued by the State of Maryland. Possession of Environmental Protection Agency Universal Certification for refrigerant recovery and recycling.
Electrical trade area: Possession of a journey level Electrician license issued by the State of Maryland.
Plumbing trade area: Possession of a journey level Plumber license issued by the State of Maryland.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
The probationary period must be 12 months for a full-time or part-time employee appointed to a merit system position, and 6 months for a promoted employee, during which time work performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Core Exam

Class Established: March, 1987
Revised: March, 1990
May, 1991(M)
May, 1992(M)
Feb, 1998
August, 2000 (M)
June, 2008(M)
April, 2010