Maintenance Technician II

It's 7:45 AM on a Tuesday and a resident just submitted a work order for a tripped breaker and a running toilet. By 9:00, you've knocked out both, logged them, and you're already pulling a punch list on a vacant unit that needs to be make-ready before Friday's move-in. That's the rhythm of this role at Hawthorne Residential Partners' Oak Island community, Hawthorne at Pine Forest.

What the Work Actually Looks Like

As a Maintenance Technician II, you'll carry your own work order queue and handle repairs independently. That means diagnosing HVAC issues, plumbing repairs, appliance fixes, and general unit maintenance without needing a supervisor walking you through every step. Make-ready turns are a core part of the job. When a resident vacates, you're restoring that unit to Hawthorne's standards so it's ready for the next resident on time. That work directly connects to occupancy, and occupancy drives everything.

Day-to-day responsibilities also include preventative maintenance on schedule, building and common area upkeep, grounds cleanliness, and pool maintenance. You'll keep the shop organized well enough that anyone can do a quick inventory scan without digging through boxes. On-call emergency rotation is part of the deal, which is honest work but worth knowing upfront before you apply.

What Hawthorne Is Looking for

• High school diploma or GED
• Two years of apartment maintenance experience (preferred)
• Valid driver's license
• EPA/HVAC certification (required)
• CPO certification is a plus

The technical baseline matters, but so does reliability. A technician who shows up, closes work orders clean, and treats residents with genuine professionalism will outperform someone with more credentials but spotty follow-through. Hawthorne tracks resident satisfaction, and your work feeds directly into those scores.

Strong candidates at this level already know the difference between a warranty repair and a deferred maintenance item, and they don't wait to be told which is which. If you've worked at a garden-style or coastal property before, you'll recognize the grind of keeping exterior common areas and pool equipment in shape through a humid Carolina summer. That experience translates here.

Compensation includes hourly pay plus a monthly renewal bonus, quarterly performance bonuses, and quarterly resident satisfaction bonuses. Benefits include free dental, medical and vision coverage, 401k match, paid time off (including your birthday), pet insurance, paid parental and adoption leave, telehealth access, and company-paid life insurance. Hawthorne also offers a formal career path program with a clear progression from Technician II to Technician III, plus education reimbursement for maintenance-related training.

Standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with on-call rotation for after-hours emergencies.