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Working Title:
Building Utilities Mechanic
Institution:
Bemidji State University
Classification Title:
Building Utilities Mechanic
Bargaining Unit / Union:
202: AFSCME - Craft, Maintenance, and Labor
City:
Bemidji
FLSA:
Non Job Exempt
Full Time / Part Time:
Full time
Employment Condition:
Classified - Unlimited
Salary Range:
$29.93 - $34.52
Job Description
Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as a Building Utilities Mechanic . The Building Utilities Mechanic will provide assistance and support all trades in the Bemidji State University Facilities Department and serve as a relief maintenance person at Northwest Technical College. Maintaining buildings and grounds to ensure a safe, comfortable and secure campus environment.
Responsibilities of the Building Utilities Mechanic include:
Assisting with the preventative maintenance, operation and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Determining efficient methods and procedures to safely and effectively assist other trades people on campus to deliver and maintain a consistent and comfortable environment to work, live and learn in. Assisting other trades in the heating plant to ensure indoor air quality by changing air handler filters and cleaning/vacuuming enclosures of the air handler cabinet. Maintaining accurate maintenance records and keeping a neat, orderly workspace. Percentage of Time: 35%
Assisting with installation, maintenance and repair of the cooling systems on campus. Working with the Refrigeration Mechanic on servicing and maintaining cooling coils, pumps, condensing units, cooling tower, mini-splits, portable a/c units, etc. Assisting with the troubleshooting and diagnosis of issues with cooling equipment. Cleaning coils on condensing units to optimize performance and efficiency. Assisting with winterizing cooling coils to prevent costly repairs. Working with Plant Maintenance Engineers with seasonal transition from heating to cooling, cooling to heating, high pressure to low pressure & low pressure to high pressure. Percentage of Time: 25%
Assisting with snow removal and grounds maintenance as needed. Assisting with other duties campus wide during regular and emergency hours when additional help is required by the maintenance department to ensure any undue hardships for students, faculty and staff are avoided whenever possible. Maintaining tools and equipment required for the position. Utilizing automated technology sufficient to fulfill assigned tasks including work order system, time management, training modules and building automation programs. Percentage of time: 25%
Serving as relief maintenance person at Northwest Technical College (NTC) to provide coverage during absence of Building Utility Maintenance person. Assisting with larger projects, emergency repairs and snow removal. Percentage of time: 15%
Salary Range:
Depends on Qualifications; current pay range is $29.93 - $34.52 per hour.
Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge and skills in the methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in trades work sufficient to assist skilled trades staff in the completion of assigned projects.
Ability to perform semi-skilled trades work sufficient to complete minor trades plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and/or electrical systems and equipment.
State of Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry issued Boiler Operator License.
Ability to perform minor repairs and adjustments to machinery and equipment including the general maintenance and minor repairs of buildings.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions sufficient to interpret and carry out assignments in a safe and efficient manner.
Skills in using hand and power tools and other trades equipment.
Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety measures related to trades work is sufficient to perform the job duties safely and efficiently.
Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualification
State of Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry issued Power Limited Electrical License or willingness to obtain one.
Universal Refrigerant Usage Certificate.
Basic understanding of centrifugal chillers and cooling towers as it relates to an institutional setting.
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
To facilitate the review, assessment, and evaluation process, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of the minimum and preferred qualifications of the position. The application materials submitted will be utilized for salary placement purposes.
Other Requirements
Environmental Conditions:
The work environmental characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of his job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees perform majority of duties in offices, conference and meeting rooms, university buildings and outdoors. This position is exposed to extreme temperatures, inclement weather, cleaning chemicals and their fumes, dust, dirt, confined areas and high places as required by maintenance tasks, and noise form air handlers, electrical switching panels, lawn mower, and snow blower. Safety precautions are to be always adhered to. Incumbents may work extended and evening hours during various days of the week.
Physical Factors:
Constant: Determine, perceive, observe, inspect, judge, assess and estimate, assess hazards. Position self to move through buildings (Traverse, ascend, descend).
Occasional: Maintain a stationary position for long periods of time, communicate effectively with customers / stakeholders. Move / Transport up to 50 pounds.
Other considerations:
All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time.
Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) bargaining unit, which can be found at: https://mn.gov/mmb/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor/afscme.jsp .
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState's vehicle use criteria and consent to motor vehicle records check annually.
BSU and NTC are tobacco free workplaces ( see policy ) .
Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)
Unlimited/ Full-time / Non-exempt
Telework (Yes/No)
No
Inquiries about the position :
Les Ball, Chief Engineer
Phone: 218-755-2061
Email: leslie.ball@bemidjistate.edu
If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application or bid, contact Mary Miller at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu .
About
UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY
WHY BEMIDJI:
It's more than a job. It's an opportunity for the extraordinary.
On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota's three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.
Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.
As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.
BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience - such as full access to BSU's library and the ability to live in BSU's on-campus resident housing.
For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.
The Nisidotaading initiative - named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning "building mutual understanding" - is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.
Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.
At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.
The City of Bemidji
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji's robust industrial district.?
The city sits between Minnesota's three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means "a lake with crossing waters" as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.
Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores - including a natural foods co-op - city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area.?The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year.?
Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes - and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU - within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of?multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.
Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota's 66 state parks:?Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji's northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and?skating, hockey, curling, and-yes-more fishing in the winter.?
Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to - and a selfie with - its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.
For further information About BSU (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/about/) visit our website at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu
Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0 (http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2017/february/bemidji-2-0)
Other Resources:
Visit Bemidji - https://www.visitbemidji.com/
218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji - https://www.218relocate.com/
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce - https://www.bemidji.org/
Explore Minnesota - https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji
Statement of Notice:
Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1 , all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.
Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator
Email: TitleIX@bemidjistate.edu or Megan.Zothman@BemidjiState.edu
Phone: (218) 755-2502
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601
Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.
Benefits Information:
At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.
Desired Start Date:
06-01-2026
Position End Date:
Open Date:
04-14-2026
Close Date:
04-14-2026
Posting Contact Name:
Mary Miller
Posting Contact Email:
mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu
