Facilities Maintenance Technician

Location

Kenora, ON | Canada

Job description

Facilities Maintenance Technician

About Us

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is one of the world’s most influential freshwater research facilities. It features a collection of 58 small lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada. For over 50 years, scientists at IISD-ELA have conducted whole-ecosystem experiments and made significant scientific discoveries related to issues such as acid rain, mercury from air pollution, algal blooms, and pharmaceutical chemicals in water. The facility is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development—an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional land of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and homeland of the Métis Nation.

IISD-ELA acknowledges that its research facility is located on Treaty 3 lands, and the care of these lands during experimentation and restoration to their original state is implicit in its mission. Many regional schools come to the facility to learn more about the science of aquatic ecosystems and how humans serve a role in sharing and working with one another to protect these resources.

We are seeking a skilled and dedicated facilities maintenance technician to join our team and contribute to the success of our mission.

Position Overview

As a facilities maintenance technician at IISD-ELA, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the operational efficiency, security, and functionality of our facility. Working closely with the facilities manager, you will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure, equipment, and access roads, supporting various research projects. This role requires a versatile individual with a strong mechanical aptitude who can tackle a range of responsibilities, from troubleshooting equipment issues to performing facility maintenance.

Location

The IISD Experimental Lakes Area research facility is situated in a beautiful and secluded setting on the shores of two lakes, approximately 90 km east of Kenora or 300 km east of Winnipeg. The facilities maintenance technician operates on a rotational shift, spending a designated number of days each week residing and working on site. We provide on-site living accommodation, food, and transportation for the duration of the on-site shift. Outside of working hours, our community of staff and their families enjoy the picturesque surroundings, unwinding and enjoying outdoor activities or community events. For a deeper insight into the unique experience of visiting the ELA, please explore our website: 

Responsibilities

• Provide technical services for maintenance, repair, procurement, and life-cycle management of infrastructure and mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and security systems and equipment.
• Conduct regular maintenance and monitoring of fuel and propane storage facilities, recording and reporting fuel usage and making fuel orders as required.
• Troubleshoot, perform preventative maintenance, and make upgrades to equipment, including operating automated building control systems.
• Manage utilities maintenance, including HVAC, structural/roof, roads/grounds, water supply, power supply, and plumbing.
• Maintain field equipment (boats, motors, snowmobiles, ATVs) and off-site facilities (trails, boat landings, docks) year-round.
• Perform year-round maintenance on access roads, including winter plowing, washout repair, ditching, brushing, culvert replacement, and ongoing damage control.
• Assist in collecting data from the IISD-ELA Meteorological Facility and other research projects.
• Keep records for reporting purposes, including maintenance of water treatment equipment, water pumping data, sewage lift station pump hours, and other reporting streams.
• Supervise staff and contractors as required.
• Adhere to safety protocols.

Qualifications

• Background in maintenance and repair with proficiency in handling mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Skilled in troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, repairs, and upgrades of various equipment; may include vehicles or field equipment such as outboard motors, boats, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
• Knowledge of some or all of the following: HVAC, roads/grounds maintenance, water supply, power supply, and plumbing.
• Ability to perform year-round maintenance on access roads, including winter plowing, washout repair, ditching, brushing, culvert replacement, and damage control.
• Ability to collect data and keep records related to water treatment, fuel usage, hours of operation, regulatory compliance, etc.
• Ability to supervise junior staff and contractors as required.
• Strong interpersonal skills; collegial and community minded.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting aptitude.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions, involving exposure to sun, rain, snow, and cold temperatures.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy objects, equipment, and tools, potentially exceeding 50 pounds, as part of maintenance and repair tasks.
• Capability to bend, stoop, and kneel while performing maintenance tasks, especially in confined or low-clearance spaces.
• Comfort with climbing ladders, stairs, or other structures as necessary.
• Endurance, mental alertness, and sensory awareness to perform physically demanding tasks for extended periods, especially during maintenance of access roads, grounds, and equipment.

Join us in making a meaningful impact on freshwater ecosystem research at IISD-ELA. Apply now to be part of our dedicated team, contributing to the sustainable management of our planet’s vital water resources.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with skills and experience.

Application deadline: Open until filled.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR, link  here . Please include the following:

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (one page)
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional; right-click to download)

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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