Water Center Facilities Assistant

Salary Range 3,937.00 - 5,033.00 Job Summary As one of the fastest growing cities in the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver is building a city of the future through innovation, sustainable development, great leadership and working with an engaged community. Our growth is guided by our core values of livability, sustainability and resiliency, innovation, and equity and inclusion, and we accomplish our work through collaboration, innovation, compassion and empowerment. If who we are speaks to you, and if you're the type of person who is interested in joining a team invested in ensuring the community receive meaningful, excellent services then the City of Vancouver may be for you. We're currently recruiting for a Water Center Facilities Assistant. The primary responsibilities for the job are to support room rentals, front desk operations, and indoor and outdoor exhibits. The ideal candidate has experience delivering excellent customer service, supporting facility and exhibit maintenance (including aquarium care and groundskeeping), coordinating room rentals, and sharing information with the public. Candidates should be flexible, willing to work as part of a team, an effective communicator, and excited about working in an education center serving all members of our community. This is a full-time, regular, non-exempt union position. This position is covered under the provisions of an agreement between the City and the OPIEU union. The typical work schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. The Facilities Assistant is expected to assume a flexible schedule, as needed, to support building operations, rentals, education programs and activities. Job Details Essential Functions: Facility Maintenance and Groundskeeping - Perform a variety of duties to ensure the maintenance, neatness, cleanliness, function, and safety of facility and adjacent grounds and parking lots, rental spaces, aquariums, exhibits, and outdoor classrooms, minor building and exhibit repairs, janitorial maintenance and hazardous material cleaning, and disposal. Conduct daily indoor and outdoor inspections; record and submit facility maintenance and grounds work requests, as needed. Keep supervisor informed of building and grounds conditions, safety hazards, and security concerns through the use of reports and inspection forms communicated orally and in writing. Maintain outdoor gardens, classrooms and native plant demonstration areas. Using a variety of small hand tools and power equipment, weed, rake, plant and trim vegetation. Request and schedule work from other departments and contract vendors. Repair and clean outdoor signage and educational exhibits. Support and lead volunteer groups, interns and part-time staff in supporting education program and outdoor maintenance. Monitor, maintain and ensure good working condition of temporary and permanent exhibits, including aquariums and live animal care. Troubleshoot a wide variety of mechanical problems, including computer and projector malfunctions, aquarium pumps, filters and coolers and exhibit interactives. Perform exhibit installations, minor repairs, or determine alternative repair solutions. Working with education staff, lead volunteer groups, mentor workforce development volunteers, and interns to support education programs and outdoor maintenance. Work to decrease liability and risk by conducting regular facility, grounds and safety inspections, supporting ongoing staff training, and serve as facility safety coordinator. Support ongoing staff safety training and serve as facility safety officer for building. Inventory, track, and update first aid, CPR and AED and other safety supplies and equipment. Customer Service - Support front desk operations including answering phones and visitor questions, welcome and orient visitors and rental groups to the Center, and cover staff breaks. Provide information and assistance to users and visitors of the facility and provide quality customer service to the public in person, by phone, and/or through email communications. Provide effective customer service including responding to inquiries and resolving concerns regarding facility use, room rental fees, facility and rental policies. Market rental space for ongoing use and ensure rental fees and policies reflect current needs. Regularly assess and make recommendations for changes in rental policies and fees. Provide tours of community room and catering kitchen to prospective renters, assist with room set-up and take down, and assist with operation and maintenance of A/V equipment. Address customer concerns, complaints, or requests in line with city values and effective problem-solving techniques. Administrative Tasks - Handle room rental reservation systems, availability and calendars by accurately processing and completing rental reservations, rental contracts, deposits, payments, and refunds. Enter room rental information in reservation software system, accept payments of cash, checks and credit cards, and process payments and refunds, as needed. Make recommendations for room rental fees, fee increases and policy changes. Oversee and process rental/event contracts applying applicable rental fees and policies including deposits and refunds. Assist in scheduling use of community room. Support rental users with room set-up and take down including tables, chairs and A/V equipment. Monitor, track and report on rental attendance and revenue by event type. Track and dispose of surplus property. Monitor a small budget. Order, purchase and maintain supplies, tools, and materials for community room, grounds maintenance, outdoor garden and exhibit repairs within procurement guidelines. Update facility maintenance, front desk and community room manuals, and public marketing materials including fee changes, in line with current practices. Qualifications Experience and Education Experience: Two (2) years including administrative support, customer service and light maintenance experience Education: Equivalent to a HS Diploma/GED Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. Computer Skills Intermediate skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook. Ability to use reservation/facility booking software, as trained. Required Licenses and/or Certifications Possession of: Valid Driver's License Ability to obtain: CPR/First Aid/AED certification within three (3) months of hire Knowledge Intermediate customer service techiques Methods of problem solving, conflict management, and enforcing rules and policies Pertinent federal, state, and local laws that pertain to: the City of Vancouver The safety work practices, policies, and procedures relevant to the facility to which assigned Basic methods, materials and equipment used in facility maintenance work Use of personal computers and basic software, including reservation systems and calendars Knowledge of property disposal requirements Abilities Operate a personal computer and appropriate software Work in a manner consistent with the City of Vancouver's Operating Principles and Values Work and act as a team player in all interactions with other City employees and volunteers Provide a high level of customer service at all times Project and maintain a positive image with those contacted in the course of work Develop and maintain collaborative and respectful working relationships with team members, volunteers, and others Understand and follow oral and written directions and work independently in the absence of supervision Consistently provide quality service internally and externally Maintain regular and dependable attendance, regularly working weekends and attending staff meetings, as scheduled. Manage complicated customer service transactions and interactions Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with City staff, volunteers, and the general public Work outside in a variety of conditions (i.e. rain, cold, heat, full sun, wind, etc.) Safely operate a variety of outdoor hand tools and power equipment Basic math skills to handle cash transactions Demonstrate a commitment to valuing differences among people and to being inclusive Show the utmost respect for others, and act as a team player Promote safety as a guiding principle and a regular practice in accomplishing work by focusing on safe practices and complying with safety and health policies and procedures. Recognize unsafe conditions which may be hazardous to an employee or to the public. Works in safe and responsible manner; not putting self or others at risk. Complies with applicable policies and procedures including but not limited to using personal protective equipment, observing warning signs, learning about potential hazards, and reporting all unsafe conditions. This position is subject to successful completion of a pre-employment reference check, a basic criminal background check, and a driving abstract. The City of Vancouver is committed to advancing equity and creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We recognize that progress depends on more than just a verbal commitment; it depends on making meaningful organizational change. We developed and continue to develop strategies to enhance employee-centered programs, eliminate recruitment and advancement barriers, elevate employee understanding of DEI and cultural competency and build an inclusive and welcoming place to call work. We hope you'll consider joining us on the journey Diversity and Inclusion: At the City of Vancouver, we value and foster a workplace comprised of people with a range of different backgrounds, experiences and cultures. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is key to innovation, effectiveness and a positive culture. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The City of Vancouver is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability sexual orientation or gender identity. Employment decisions will be made to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of equity and nondiscrimination. Veterans' Preference: Under Washington law, qualified veterans may be eligible for Veterans' preference when applying for City of Vancouver positions. Honorably discharged Veterans, their surviving spouses or spouses of honorably discharged Veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability who would like to be considered for a Veterans' preference for this job should provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process. ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the City can reasonably provide them without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources. Job Posting End Date May 4, 2025

Location: Salmon Creek, WA, US

Posted Date: 4/29/2025