Maintenance Helper A - Local 1 (Temp to Permanent Position)

Entry-level maintenance roles at Chicago multifamily properties tend to be either purely custodial or purely mechanical. This one sits at the intersection of both, which is exactly what makes it useful for someone building toward a Building Engineer or full Maintenance Technician position.

What the Work Actually Looks Like

Reside Living is hiring a Maintenance Helper A under Local 1 union classification, reporting directly to the Building Engineer on a Tuesday through Saturday schedule (8 AM to 4:30 PM). The position starts as temp-to-hire, with the real possibility of converting to permanent. Pay is set at the union rate of $28.23 per hour, with benefits flowing through Local 1.

Day to day, you're working alongside the Building Engineer on service requests, preventive maintenance tasks (HVAC filter replacements, sewer rodding, mechanical system checks), and apartment turns during make-ready cycles. Exterior upkeep is part of the scope too, including snow removal during Chicago winters. You'll coordinate vendor access, flag water infiltration or mold immediately, and handle custodial work when the property needs it. The role uses a mobile app for documenting completed work orders and inspections, so comfort with a smartphone matters practically, not just administratively.

You'll also be on-call for after-hours emergencies on your scheduled rotation, which is worth knowing upfront. That's standard for building maintenance in multifamily, but it's not always spelled out clearly in postings.

What Reside Is Looking For

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least one year of maintenance experience, or a related trade background
• EPA certification (or willingness to obtain it within 90 days)
• Familiarity with plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and mechanical systems is preferred
• Comfortable with hand tools, power tools, and basic mechanical equipment (voltmeters, pressure gauges, augers)
• Valid driver's license and personal vehicle required
• Personal smartphone required (iPhone or Android); a $50 monthly stipend offsets that cost

Additional perks include a student loan repayment contribution of $100 per month and a 25% apartment discount after 90 days.

Where This Role Leads

Maintenance Helper A is a recognized union classification, and that matters for career trajectory. The skills you build here, reading mechanical systems, managing preventive maintenance schedules, handling resident-facing service calls, are the same ones evaluated when engineers and supervisors move up. Working under a Building Engineer gives you direct exposure to building systems at a level most maintenance roles don't offer this early. If you're targeting a Maintenance Technician B or C classification, or eventually a Building Engineer role yourself, a stint like this inside a union shop builds credentials that transfer across Chicago's multifamily market. Candidates who get EPA certified quickly and show initiative on the punch list side of turns tend to stand out and convert to permanent faster.