HVAC Mechanic

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school, vocational school, or equivalent and three years of experience in the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) related work; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience.  Applicants within six months of meeting the education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status.  

A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment.   If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.

Acceptable education and experience:

• Graduation from high school, vocational school, or equivalent and three years of experience in the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work.  3 years total
• Associate degree in a HVAC Program and two years of experience in the field of  heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work.   

Position Summary

This is skilled work in one or more building/facility maintenance areas including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, electrical, refrigeration, and chillers in the Facilities Maintenance Department.

An employee assigned to this classification is responsible for supporting all levels of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning operation and maintenance.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained. 

Examples of Duties

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of  a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including: integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Operates, installs, and performs repair service and preventative maintenance on pneumatic/electric digital air conditioning (A/C) and refrigeration equipment.

Services and refurbishes all types of A/C and refrigeration equipment including controls, systems that are connected directly to, and operate field devices.

Troubleshoots field-connected devices including unitary controllers, variable air volume (VAV) controllers, electronic and pneumatic thermostats, and control programs related to field devices operating HVAC equipment such as variable frequency drives (VFD) with network computers; and shutdown/restart equipment controlled by these devices.

Repairs or replaces valves, piping, thermostats, dampers, grills, turning vanes, motors, belts, and controls.

Overhauls compressors, condensers, and other equipment.

Recharges and recovers refrigerants in refrigeration systems.

Troubleshoots equipment following the proper control sequence of operation.

Balances HVAC systems.

Performs and oversees HVAC construction projects and departmental jobs utilizing blueprints and schematics.

Initiates purchase of materials, parts, and tools.

Mentors and trains lower-level technicians.

Responsible for entering maintenance data in the work order system for work requests and time; maintains EPA Refrigeration Recovery Journal.

Performs a variety of tasks; exercises a certain degree of creativity within the scope of the position. 

Participates in a 24/7 on-call rotation. 

Drives a County and/or personal vehicle to perform required duties. 

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of the most modern and improved materials and techniques to insure the most professional and cost effective HVAC systems.

Knowledge of methods, materials, tools and practices for one or more of the following areas: air conditioning/heating systems, electrical, refrigeration, and chillers. 

Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions related to electrical and HVAC and/or Chiller systems, plumbing, carpentry and general maintenance. 

Skill in the use of tools, materials and equipment used in general maintenance. 

Skill in recovery refrigerant; skill in soldering refrigerant and water piping/tubing.

Ability to work from sketches, plans, blueprints and schematics. 

Ability to read and understand service/work requests.

Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to follow established safety practices and procedures. 

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 

Ability to troubleshoot equipment following the proper control sequence of operation.

Ability to make estimates of time and materials and prepare records of same. 

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and the public. 

Ability to perform duties under adverse conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit, and climb or balance. 

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to wet, humid conditions (non-weather); work in high, precarious places; outdoor weather conditions; extreme heat (non-weather), and risk of electrical shock. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold (non-weather); work with explosives, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. 

May work weekends and/or nights in support of mission objectives.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.