Building Services Technician (Mechanical) at Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust

The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) (http://www.mlw.mw) is an internationally recognised centre for research and research training, affiliated to the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS). MLW has 2 aims, to conduct excellent research to benefit health and train the next generation of researchers and leaders. Our Blantyre-based offices located within the vicinity of the largest hospital in Malawi, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) provide for the optimum research environment.

POSITION FUNCTION (PURPOSE): 

The Building Services technician shall support the maintenance officer in providing customer-focused cost-effective maintenance of facilities by carrying out various maintenance tasks/activities. The main duty of the  Building Services(mechanical) is to carry out general maintenance of all mechanical systems for the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme. The role includes designing, installing, and maintaining of mechanical systems within the buildings at the main campus and field sites.

The systems include the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing systems, and building Elevators, fire protection systems. They will work hand in hand with other technicians within the section.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The major duties and tasks of this job.

1. Developing scope of works, bills of quantities (BOQs), and detailed drawings for mechanical systems installation (HVAC, plumbing, and building elevators, fire protection systems).
2. Take a leading role in the commissioning of the mechanical systems. This includes supervising and testing the installation to ensure specifications are met and it has been installed following all necessary standards.
3. Carrying out preventive, corrective, routine, and planned maintenance on all building mechanical systems for example maintaining and repairing
5. Carrying maintenance inspections and checklists for the mechanical systems in all the buildings and documenting accordingly.
6. Producing maintenance accurate records and documentation reports on all mechanical systems, which includes equipment manuals, maintenance schedules, and as-per-built drawings.
7. Assist the Maintenance Officer in the day-to-day management of the maintenance help desk and ensure that the documentation required for the maintenance master file is filled.
8. Ensure health and safety compliance when mechanical works are being carried on the buildings.

Recommend building management systems that will ensure that the Mechanical systems are working efficiently and effectively

DECISION MAKING: 3-5 decisions are required on the job with minimum input or checking by supervisors.

• Decide on the appropriate maintenance strategy for all mechanical systems.
• Decide on the course of action to take in the event of an emergency or breakdown of the major mechanical systems.
• Come up with mechanical maintenance work plans and give them priority levels.

  Manuals, policies, procedures, or guidelines that govern decision-making:

• Maintenance Manual
• Generator inspections SOPs
• UPS inspections SOPs
• Building inspections SOP’s.
• Fuel tank inspections SOP’s.
• HVAC systems SOP’s (to be developed)
• Plumbing systems management SOP (to be developed)
• Building Elevators SOP’s

Financial decisions required in this job (e.g. budgets, expenditures, petty cash, etc.)

• Critically analyzing quotations given by suppliers for all mechanical systems so that there is value for money and deciding on who should carry out the work based on the analysis.

RESPONSIBILITY: 

   For people (supervisory):  describe the type of supervision exercised and the number of employees directly reporting and are accountable to this position.

• The GMT shall directly supervise the handyman and all mechanical contractors.

For resources: describe the type, volume, and value of resources/equipment, etc. for which you have direct responsibility.

• The General maintenance technician shall be fully responsible for managing all mechanical parts items in stock.
• General Maintenance technician shall be fully responsible for managing all mechanical works tools.

 WORK COMPLEXITY: The degree of complexity of the job i.e. how simple, standardized, or complicated the work is:

• The general maintenance technician (Mechanical) will be required to work under pressure.
• He will be working odd hours, and he will be required to come to work.

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ERRORS:  The impact of errors on organizational resources, customers, processes, equipment, etc.

• The general maintenance technician shall be required to work with extreme care as his work is delicate since it involves business continuity of the organization.

 WORKING CONDITIONS:  Inconvenient or disagreeable aspects of the job e.g. exposure to heat, dirt, outside work, constant interruptions, hazards, uncomfortable situations, etc.

  Uncomfortable Conditions: 

• Working on risky/ hazardous systems for example electrical systems and plumbing systems i.e. flushing blocked plumbing systems.

   Job Hazards:

• Electrical shock
• Exposure to foul.
• Falling from heights
• Exposure to moving parts of the mechanical systems.

ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS/CONTACTS: Local and international contacts, frequency, purpose and method etc.

 Education: The minimum level of education required to perform all the duties of the job to standard.

• Diploma in Mechanical engineering/ Diploma in construction engineering.
• Those will a degree in mechanical engineering will have an added advantage.

Experience:  The minimum number of years of experience required to perform all the duties of the job to standard.

• At least 5 years’ relevant experience.

KEY COMPETENCIES/ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS (e.g. IT Skills, Personality, Communication, Teamwork, etc.)

• Troubleshooting and repairing skills
• Numerical and analytical skills
• Innovative and creative
• Written and speaking report writing skills.
• Team player