Maintenance Technician (Jessie Street Terrace)

Maintenance Technicians at affordable housing communities carry a different kind of weight than their market-rate counterparts. The residents at Jessie Street Terrace in Santa Cruz aren't choosing between properties based on amenity packages. Consistent, safe, well-maintained housing is foundational to their stability. That context shapes everything about this role.

What the Work Actually Looks Like

MidPen Housing has managed affordable communities across Northern California since 1970, and their maintenance standards reflect that depth of experience. At Jessie Street Terrace, you'll report to the Community Manager and handle a broad technical scope: electrical repairs across appliances, fixtures, and circuits; plumbing work on water and sewage systems; rough and finish carpentry; and landscaping and irrigation upkeep. Unit turns are part of the rhythm here. When a resident vacates, you're responsible for getting that unit back to move-in ready condition within established timeframes, which means painting, flooring, fixture installation, and whatever punch list the unit demands.

You'll also carry oversight responsibilities for Maintenance Groundskeeper staff, which means coaching and training junior team members, not just completing your own task list. On the contractor side, you'll assist with bidding, scheduling, and monitoring outside vendors, so basic project coordination skills matter. Preventive maintenance schedules, work order documentation, and inventory management round out the administrative side of the position.

On-call rotation is a real part of this job. You'll cover seven consecutive days of 24/7 emergency availability on a rotating basis, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Anyone considering this role should factor that into the decision.

Qualifications That Actually Matter Here

• High school diploma or GED plus at least three years of maintenance experience, ideally in property management settings
• Strong plumbing knowledge and hands-on electrical repair experience across appliances, circuits, and fixtures
• Rough and finish carpentry skills with the ability to handle both structural and cosmetic repairs
• Landscaping and irrigation system experience
• Comfort with basic computer tools for work order tracking and documentation
• Basic OSHA safety knowledge
• Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs regularly, work in all weather conditions, and handle tasks that involve climbing, bending, and confined spaces

Compensation and a Useful Detail

Pay runs from $22.50 to $25.32 per hour, based on experience. One thing worth noting: MidPen offers company-provided on-site housing availability at this property, which is rare and can be a meaningful part of total compensation in a high-cost market like Santa Cruz. Benefits include health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, FSA options, an employee assistance program, pet insurance, and paid time off including wellness days and company holidays.

Technicians who do well in affordable housing maintenance often develop a well-rounded skill set faster than peers working specialized roles at larger market-rate communities. The scope here, technical repairs, unit turns, contractor coordination, and staff mentorship, covers ground that typically takes years to accumulate at properties with deeper crew structures. That breadth tends to open doors to lead maintenance or facilities management roles over time.