Make Ready Specialist - Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Make Ready Specialist

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs: Truck Ministry, Community First! Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

About the Role

The Make Ready Specialist plays a vital role within the Grounds & Facilities Department. This department consists of five collaborative teams-Maintenance, Janitorial, Make Ready, Facilities, and Property Beautification-that work together to keep the Village functional, clean, and beautiful, one work order at a time. As a Make Ready Specialist, you will be responsible for performing a variety of hands-on maintenance and repair tasks at Community First! Village, a 51-acre master-planned community dedicated to providing affordable, permanent housing for individuals transitioning out of chronic homelessness.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position reporting to the Maintenance Project Manager. Due to the nature and requirements of the position, hours are flexible to fit need, but typically include 8am-5pm Monday-Friday. Some nights and weekends may be required. The Make Ready Specialist will office at Community First! Village located at 9301 Hog Eye Road, Austin, TX 78724.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain home-make ready and move-in statuses of all vacant residential units with an
• emphasis on prioritizing units regarding need, scope, and timing
• Inspect each residential unit in order to create individual project scopes
• Compile, edit, and complete checklists for each unit in progress
• Coordinate with other MLF departments to schedule home walk-throughs to confirm scope of work is complete and is ready to be moved into
• Assist Maintenance Team with outstanding work orders and larger projects when applicable
• Create inventory for regularly used materials and work with Purchasing Department to stock necessary materials
• Notify the Maintenance Project Supervisor of any delays, unforeseen conditions, or subcontractor no-shows that will affect the schedule 
• Responsible for knowing and understanding all job paperwork, plans and specifications
• Perform job duties in accordance with safety policies and procedures
• Report any safety hazards or concerns to the Safety Team
• Attend daily team meetings, monthly all staff meetings, and other meetings deemed necessary
• Other duties & responsibilities as needed

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Principles

• MLF is a faith-based organization whose ideals and philosophy come directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As an organization, we strive to reflect this precept in our communications, both internally and externally.
• Commitment to serving those who have experienced homelessness and personal alignment with MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals.
• 2+ years proven experience in construction trades
• Must be skilled in the operation of various power tools and equipment 
• Experience operating aerial lift and telehandler a plus
• Must have knowledge of electrical systems
• Knowledge of maintenance procedures, including HVAC systems, plumbing preferred
• Ability to effectively communicate with a positive attitude
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, residents, and volunteers
• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite and Appfolio a plus
• OSHA 10 or 30 in General or Construction industry a plus, or can be obtained within 90 days of employment
• Effectively identifies and resolves issues
• Demonstrate integrity and strive for excellence in their work
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment  
• Ability to listen and learn from others
• Comfortable with teaching others and giving guidance
• Willingness to take ownership of projects and find creative ways to accomplish goals with limited resources    
• Dependable, consistently showing up to work and meeting deadlines
• Must have a valid driver's license

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to work in varied conditions (i.e., heat, cold, rain, ice, snow, etc.), inside and outside
• Ability to lift up to 80 lbs
• Ability to safely climb and work from a ladder for extended periods
• Ability to move about the Village
• Prolonged kneeling, standing, walking, twisting

Benefits

• Day one 100% Employer paid, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD & LTD Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Matching 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Corporate Discount Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Partnership Benefits

MLF PURPOSE & VISION

We empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

MLF MISSION

We provide food and clothing, cultivate community, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

GOALS

• Transform the way people view the stereotype of those who find themselves homeless
• Reconnect the homeless to self, family and community
• Help the chronically homeless rediscover and utilize their God-given talents to do purposeful work
• Connect human to human, heart to heart through the fellowship of food and hospitality
• Inspire people into a lifestyle of abundance by giving their best first

BELIEF STATEMENTS

The vision is supported by belief statements centered on our belief that homelessness is the result of a profound, catastrophic loss of family:

• God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life
• By virtue of being created by God in His image, we are all called to live in community and relationship with Him through each other
• The family is the original cell of social life
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself
• All members of the human family are equal in dignity
• The Lord God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it. Gen 2:15

CORE VALUES

MLF is committed to fostering a culture that prioritizes relational connection. We believe there is opportunity in every aspect of our work to be relational in a highly transactional world. In this culture, transactions are means to relational ends, not the other way around.​

​​This begins with the countercultural love poured out by Jesus Christ and grows as imperfect individuals strive to show this love to each other human-to-human, heart-to-heart.​

​​Each individual's openness to the journey of their own personal growth is essential in building our relational culture, and we believe this culture flourishes as we each continuously strive to more fully embody these four core values:

• Faith: We define Faith as the foundational belief that our world and all our work belong to God. This allows us to engage our work with joy and lightheartedness, knowing that we are not ultimately in control.
• Humility: We define Humility as rightly viewing oneself as a single piece of a grander story. This humility leads to a view of oneself that is neither too high nor too low.
• Generous Spirit: We define a Generous Spirit as a readiness to give more grace, mercy, and hospitality than is necessary or expected. This posture allows us to see others for who they are, not what they do.
• Integrity: We define Integrity as a wholehearted commitment to doing right by God, ourselves, and others. This wholeheartedness shows itself in consistently choosing honesty, responsibility and ownership in all actions and decisions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MLF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in accordance with federal and state law.