Equipment and Fleet Mechanic/Technician, McDonald Observatory - Military veterans preferred

Job Posting Title:
Equipment and Fleet Mechanic/Technician, McDonald Observatory
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Hiring Department:
McDonald Observatory
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Position Open To:
All Applicants
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Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
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FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
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Earliest Start Date:
Immediately
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Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
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Location:
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY
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Job Details:
General Notes

The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from The University of Texas at Austin campus). This position is located at McDonald Observatory. This position reports to the Technical Trades Crew Leader and the Assistant Physical Plant Manager as required. The position includes variable scheduling with some holiday rotation. The position is considered an essential employee for emergency or critical response.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including:

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)
• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)
• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

For more details, please see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

Purpose

Performs journey-level maintenance and repair of university vehicles and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Performs maintenance, repair, and upkeep of the facility's fleet vehicles, including gasoline, diesel, and electric-powered trucks and carts.
• Performs maintenance, repair, and upkeep of heavy equipment such as backhoes, forklifts, generators, small engines, and miscellaneous light equipment.
• Researches, identifies, and orders parts needed for repairs of vehicles and equipment. Utilizes diagnostic equipment to aid in repairs.
• Maintains and cleans the automotive shop and tools and keeps an appropriate inventory of parts and fluids.
• Develops and maintains preventative maintenance schedules for heavy and light equipment. Keeps timely and complete records of vehicle and equipment services. Organizes state safety inspections of fleet vehicles and maintains vehicle safety equipment.
• Assists the team as needed and occasionally with mechanical troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining various commercial facilities' electrical and HVAC systems, residential structures, elevators, telescope dome systems and infrastructures, and mechanical and hydraulic systems.
• Assists the team as needed and occasionally with basic construction and maintenance tasks, including but not limited to carpentry, concrete work, metal fabricating, and plumbing.
• Helps co-workers as necessary in their various disciplines in a team-oriented environment. Performs additional tasks as assigned to meet business needs. Drives a UT vehicle. Maintain professionalism in interacting with the public, fellow workers, and our appearance. Wear protective safety equipment and follow safety guidelines or procedures. Follows UT policies and procedures.
• Performs emergency services duties as assigned, including fire department participation, response, training, and related activities.

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or GED. Five years of experience in maintaining and repairing vehicles and equipment. Three years of journey-level experience in equipment and/or vehicle maintenance and repair. Good organization, planning, and problem-solving skills. Strong communication skills about project updates and workload to supervisors and team. Assists in assuming the responsibility for the facilities at the observatory, including managing time efficiently, supporting other workers, demonstrating attention to detail, strong initiative, problem-solving skills, and a professional demeanor. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

More than three years of journey-level experience in vehicle maintenance and repair. ACE Certified. Experience troubleshooting and repairing HVAC, electrical, hydraulic, and elevator lift systems.

Driving Required

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant must provide a three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

Salary Range

$45,000 + depending on qualifications and experience

Working Conditions

• Work conditions vary according to trade assignment.
• Wear uniforms and/or personal protective safety equipment and follow safety guidelines or procedures.
• Maintain professionalism in interactions with the public and fellow workers, as well as professionalism in appearance.
• Use of tools and equipment common for the particular trades working in.
• May work around and be exposed to mechanical and electrical hazards, high-pressure and high-speed equipment, confined spaces and/or outdoor work in inclement weather.
• Alertness and careful attention are required to avoid injury to self and others.
• May work around varied conditions involving fire, mechanical and chemical hazards, and other hazardous materials.
• May work in all weather conditions and extreme temperatures.
• May work around chemical fumes, chemicals, and biohazards.
• May work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Use of manual dexterity.
• Climbing up/down stairs and ladders. Lifting and moving heavy objects.
• May require working extended hours in inclement weather with hazardous equipment or materials.
• Acts as an Observatory's Emergency Response Team member that responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other emergencies threatening and interfering with the facility's normal operations.

Work Shift

• Generally, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Compressed work week may be considered.
• Work evening, weekend, and holiday hours as needed
• Occasional after-hours work
• Occasional travel required
• Required to respond to an emergency or non-emergency situations

Required Materials

• Letter of interest
• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, and then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you can multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu, and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) noted above.

Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.