Maintenance Worker - The Night Ministry

The Night Ministry is a Chicago based organization whose mission is to provide human connection, housing support, and health care to members of our community who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. We've successfully provided these lifesaving services for 45 plus years, everyday providing a lifeline to our most vulnerable neighbors. We serve everyone without concern for race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. With an open heart, we compassionately accept each individual as they are and work alongside them to advocate for their immediate physical, emotional, and social needs while affirming our shared humanity.

As a member of The Night Ministry team, you can look forward to engaging and compelling work, building dynamic professional relationships with staff, volunteers, and our broad base of supporters. While also knowing you are making a meaningful impact on those who we serve. Employees of The Night Ministry come from a wide variety of backgrounds, representing different ethnicities, educational levels, skills, religious affiliations, spiritual traditions, and sexual orientations. Their commonality is their dedication to improving the lives of those who are homeless, at-risk for homelessness, or otherwise under-served. Although not all employees are involved in direct services, everyone is dedicated to the mission of The Night Ministry, believes in its core values, and knows that their work is highly valued.

Position Summary:

Under general supervision, perform basic maintenance, custodial tasks, and upkeep of the Open Door Shelter/West Town, ensuring the building, operating systems, and vehicles remain functional and the premises are clean and well-maintained.

Key Responsibilities:

Cleaning and Sanitation

• Keep the facility clean, sanitary, and organized.
• Clean and sanitize bathrooms, kitchens, offices, hallways, and meeting rooms.
• Perform pest control, trash removal, and bathroom supply replenishment.
• Regularly vacuum, sweep, mop, strip, and wax floors; occasional window and wall cleaning.
• Organize storage and maintenance areas.

General Maintenance and Repairs

• Perform minor carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical work.
• Maintain vehicles (oil, tire pressure, air filters, cleaning).
• Handle outdoor tasks like snow shoveling, mowing, and litter removal.
• Conduct minor equipment and roof maintenance.

Systems Upkeep

• Schedule and implement preventative maintenance for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
• Notify management of major repair needs and process repairs.
• Recommend cost-saving and efficiency improvements.
• Liaise with supervisors, inspectors, and vendors.
• Maintain clean vents, check fire alarm batteries, and inspect boilers.

Other

• Inspect premises and systems regularly, including sump pumps and grease traps.
• Wash and maintain chutes and compactors.
• Drive a 15-passenger van for supply runs and maintenance needs.
• Track vehicle usage and findings in logs.
• Follow agency policies, safety rules, and complete tasks on schedule.
• Participate in training, meetings, and events.
• Perform miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications:

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Responsive to on-call maintenance emergencies with proper follow-up to supervisors.
• Physically capable of lifting heavy objects and performing related tasks.
• Proficient with hand and power tools.
• Familiarity with compliance audits.
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record and proof of insurability.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Reliable with excellent attendance.
• Strong interpersonal skills; comfortable with diverse populations and staff.
• Willingness to work occasional overtime.
• Spanish language skills preferred.
• Ability to read blueprints/profiles.
• First Aid/CPR certification required.

Additional Information:

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee must occasionally drive an automobile and the outreach bus; and lift and/or move 20 pounds.

Benefits: Full-time staff are entitled to full benefits after 30 days of employment, including medical, dental, vision, 401k, and more, starting 30 days after their employment commences.

Our Anti-Racist Organization Statement

The Night Ministry is committed to racial equity in its services, its organizational structure, and its policies and procedures. Given that the majority of those whom The Night Ministry serves and most of our staff are people of color, we must center racial equity in our day-to-day operations as well as in our strategic planning and take deliberate and thoughtful action to become an anti-racist organization.

Through this work, we will identify and dismantle institutional racism that exists within our organization. We will empower staff, clients, and partners with the tools and support to disrupt white supremacy within the confines of the agency and within the spheres in which we operate. We commit to the ongoing, collective assessment of where we are as an organization and where we want to be while formulating and taking the necessary steps to get there. We call upon all members of our community, from staff, volunteers, and supporters to our clients, to engage with us on our commitment to anti-racism.