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POSITION DETAILS

Employment based visa sponsorship will NOT be considered for this position.

Position Number:  130500
Classification Title:  Maintenance Specialist
Working Title:  Lead Plumber

Department:  Facility Maintenance
FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt
Salary Range:  $41,514
Pay Basis:  Annually

POSITION OVERVIEW

JOB SUMMARY:

Serves as the primary field authority and operational anchor for all campus plumbing, piping, and water distribution systems. Working under the direct supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor, this position combines journeyman level technical mastery with daily crew coordination, field mentorship, and flexible cross-trade support.
Operating in a dynamic facilities environment where interruptions continuously influence priorities and work volume shifts rapidly, the Lead Plumber sets the benchmark for hard work, resilience, and personal drive. This role demands exceptional operational flexibility and an unshakeable positive attitude empowering field technicians, adapting seamlessly to changing priorities, and looking beyond immediate repair tickets to implement long-term improvements across the campus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Completion of an approved apprenticeship program for multiple trades; or a high school diploma and four years of appropriate experience. Appropriate vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Must possess the knowledge and ability to read and understand mechanical construction drawings, blueprints, specifications, and local, state, and national plumbing codes and regulations. Understand and consistently apply internal department standard operating procedures and University polices.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Five (5) years or more of professional journeyman level plumbing experience in commercial, municipal, or institutional facility maintenance, with demonstrated lead or team coordination experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/JOB DUTIES:

• 80% - Directs and executes complex plumbing repairs, installations, and maintenance across all university potable water, wastewater, storm, natural gas, compressed air, and vacuum piping systems. Safely cuts and threads pipe using pipe cutters and threading machines. Installs valves, faucets, traps, wash bowls, sewers, and vents. Clears clogged mainlines using heavy-duty roto-rooter and diagnostic equipment. Assembles, installs, and services routine and specialized fixtures including sinks, commodes, water fountains, flushometers, pistons, vacuum breakers, ball cocks, strainers, and seals as well as complex commercial kitchen machinery (garbage disposal hogs, dishwashers, tray conveyors, and steamers). Approaches hard physical work and challenging plumbing failures with and optimistic, energetic, and solution-driven mindset. Continuously evaluates piping infrastructure to identify proactive opportunities-such as water conservation upgrades, fixture modernizations, and backflow prevention-that elevate campus sustainability and improve facilities for students, faculty, and staff. Designated as Essential and Emergency Personnel required to report during university closings, severe weather events, unscheduled closures, campus emergencies, and as needed by leadership. Participates in scheduled on-call rotations and maintains rapid-response readiness for after-hours operational failures and critical facility emergencies. Demonstrates composure, a positive can-do attitude, and decisive leadership under high-pressure crisis conditions—directing emergency trade repairs, restoring critical systems, and executing all urgent operational duties as assigned to safeguard university personnel, property, and infrastructure. Functions as the Supervisor's primary field extension-organizing daily work schedules, guiding field crews, and reprioritizing work orders on the fly as urgent campus calls emerge. Drives team productivity through personal work ethic, leading by example on though assignments. Fosters a positive, constructive, and supportive team culture that keeps morale high during complex infrastructure repairs. Maintains open communication with the Supervisor, reporting field conditions, recommending long-term facility repairs, and ensuring daily crew output aligns with broader university operational goals. Serves as a dependable, highly adaptable leader who maintains a positive, enthusiastic attitude when stepping into special projects, emergency response deployments, event setups, or other operational duties as assigned by leadership. Consistently seeks ways to streamline administrative workflows, tool storage, and shop safety practices to ensure the facility department operates at peak efficiency. - (Essential)
• 10% - Demonstrates complete willingness and operational flexibility to assist other trade specialists (electricians, HVAC technicians, carpenters, painters, and locksmiths) during major renovation projects, emergency responses, or peak workload periods. Hands-on participation in cross-disciplinary work, including assisting with building envelope and roof leaks, minor electrical disconnections, mechanical air handler/boiler piping connections, structural door/hardware repairs, and grounds maintenance. Brings an enthusiastic, "one-team" attitude to every cross-trade assignment, breaking down shop silos and utilizing broad trade exposure to spot overall campus facilities issues (e.g., identifying structural or electrical risks while accessing plumbing chases) to ensure complete campus reliability. - (Essential)
• 10% - Conducts comprehensive preventive maintenance inspections across mechanical rooms, underground utility vaults, restrooms, and building piping grids to identify early signs of leaks, corrosion, or code non-compliance. Tackles preventative maintenance with a keen, inquisitive attitude focused on solving root causes rather than temporary fixes. Meticulously logs inspection findings and presents forward-thinking recommendations to leadership for modernizing aging piping systems, reducing utility waste, and continuously improving the campus infrastructure. Prepares accurate material and labor estimates from sketches, blueprints, or verbal instructions. Manages digital work orders. Maintains an organized, fully stocked service vehicle Keeps shop areas safe and clean. Demonstrates relentless dedication and flexibility by eagerly stepping into special administrative assignments, campus event support, severe weather prep/cleanup, or any additional duties as assigned by leadership. Embraces unexpected operational shifts with a flexible, can-do attitude that ensures overall department success regardless of changing directives. - (Essential)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Physical Requirements: Frequent heavy or intense physical requirements. May be combined with exposure to a number of disagreeable environmental elements, such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc. Injury may require professional treatment or hospitalization.
• Impact of Deadlines: Externally imposed deadlines set and revised beyond one’s control. Interruptions influence priorities. Difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days.
• Standing: Daily
• Walking: Daily
• Sitting: Daily
• Reaching with hands and arms: Daily
• Climbing or balancing: Daily
• Stooping: Daily
• Use of hands to handle objects: Daily
• Lifting up to 10lbs: Daily
• Lifting up to 25lbs: Daily
• Lifting over 25lbs: Daily
• Talking as express or exchange of ideas verbally: Daily
• Hearing as perceive sound by ear: Daily
• Vision as distinguish colors & depth: Daily

Special Requirements or Considerations of the Job:  

• This position requires a criminal background screening.
• This position requires fingerprinting.
• This position is eligible for veterans’ preference.
• This position requires a valid driver's license.

Special Instructions to Applicants:  Candidates must apply online through the University of West Florida website: https://careers.uwf.edu.

Applicants are required to attach a resume, cover letter and contact information for three references.

An opportunity to upload these documents will be provided during the application process. For assistance, please contact Human Resources at 850.474.2694 or email jobs@uwf.edu.

This position allows eligible veterans and their spouses to claim Veterans’ Preference pursuant to Section 295.07, F.S.; applicants claiming preference are responsible for providing required documentation on or before the posting deadline date as such documentation is required for eligibility determination. Supporting documentation, in addition to the DD214, may be required based on eligibility criteria. For information on obtaining a DD214, visit http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ or call 1.866.272.6272.

At the conclusion of this search, if a non-preference eligible applicant is appointed to the position and you are a preference-eligible applicant and believe that you were not afforded employment preference in accordance with applicable Florida law and regulation, a written complaint requesting an investigation may be submitted to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Division of Benefits and Assistance, 9500 Bay Pines Blvd., Room 214, St. Petersburg, Florida 33708. Such a complaint should be filed within 60 calendar days from the date that the notice the position has been filled is received by the applicant pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S.

Prior to filing a complaint, it is the responsibility of the preference-eligible applicant to contact the designated Human Resources or other contact person at least one time after 45 days have passed from the final date for submitting an application or the interview date, whichever is later in time, if the applicant has not received notice of a hiring decision.

ADDITIONAL POSTING DETAILS

Number of Vacancies: 1
Work Hours:  7:00 - 3:30
FTE:  1.0
Closing Date:  11/29/2026