Job Description
Job Description
The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) is an internationally recognized centre for research and training funded by the Wellcome Trust. We are committed to promoting research and training led by Malawian and international scientists, with the aim of improving the health of people in Malawi and elsewhere in the Region. The programme manages over 100 grants at any given time and has over 800 research and Operations services staff.
As we grow, with an expected 30% growth in research activities, we seek four professional and experienced Building Service apprenticeships (Plumbing, Mechanical, General Fitting, Refrigeration, and Conditioning) to join our Facilities Team to support our growing operations.
The apprentice will report to the building services engineer and is responsible for facilitating operational support for MLW studies and keeping track of key indicators in all MLW. To coordinate primary operational support activities, the interns will work closely with field site administrators, project managers/coordinators, and field site focal persons. This is a six-month contract based in Blantyre.
POSITION IDENTIFICATION
Department: Facilities
Job Title: Building Services Technician
Title of Immediate Supervisor: Building Services Engineer
Location: Blantyre
POSITION FUNCTION (PURPOSE):
The Building Services technician shall support the Building Services Engineer in providing customer focused cost-effective maintenance of facilities by carrying out various building services tasks/activities.
Responsibilities
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The major duties and tasks of this job.
- Supervising contractors and subcontractors for any tasks outsourced, and providing timely written and verbal reports for such works
- Preparing scope of works, bill of quantities, designing conceptual and construction drawings for construction projects for delegated tasks on new construction projects
- Assist the Building services Engineer in the day-to-day management of the maintenance help desk and ensure that all required documentation for the maintenance master file is completed.
- Install, maintain, and repair HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other building systems.
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues arising from MLW facilities equipment and systems such as Air handling units, water Tanks, fire pumps, etc.
- Conduct routine inspections and testing of HVAC, Electrical, plumbing, and other building systems
- Perform preventative maintenance tasks, such as Air conditioners, scheduled throughout the year and proactively follow activities before, during, and after such tasks
- Innovatively propose how MLW can upgrade and modify existing systems to reduce costs, contribute to sustainability drive and enhance the pioneering spirit
- Maintain accurate records of maintenance and repairs.
- Provide excellent customer service to building occupants.
- Work collaboratively with other technicians and tradespeople to ensure maintenance tasks are closed promptly
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
DECISION MAKING: 3-5 decisions required on the job with minimum input or checking by supervisors.
- Decide on the course of action to take in the event of an emergency
- Decide on maintenance model to use when carrying out maintenance of the buildings.
- Clearly come up with daily assigned work plans and give them priority levels.
- Decide on the type of maintenance to be used
(a) Manuals, policies, procedures or guidelines that govern decision-making:
- Maintenance manual
- Generator inspections SOP’s
- UPS inspections SOP’s
- Building inspections SOP’s.
- Fuel tank inspections SOP’s.
- HVAC maintenance SOP’s
(b) Financial decisions required in this job (e.g. budgets, expenditures, petty cash etc)
- Critically analyzing quotations given by suppliers so that there is value for money and deciding on who should carry out the works based on the analysis
(c) Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- System uptime and availability.
- Customer satisfaction ratings.
- Mean time to repair (MTTR).
- Mean time between failures (MTBF).
- Compliance with HSEQ and regulatory requirements.
RESPONSIBILITY:
(a) For people (supervisory): describe the type of supervision exercised and the number of employees directly reporting and are accountable to this position.
- The Building Services Technician shall directly service handy man and all contractors
(b) For resources: describe the type, volume and value of resources/equipment, etc for which you have direct responsibility.
- The Building Services technician shall be fully responsible in managing maintenance items stock.
- The Building Services technician shall be fully responsible in managing maintenance working tools.
WORK COMPLEXITY: The degree of complexity of the job i.e. how simple, standardized or complicated the work is:
- The Building Services technician will be required to work under pressure.
- He/She will be working odd hours and that he will be required to come to work earlier sometimes
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ERRORS: The impact of errors on organizational resources, customers, processes, equipment etc.
- The Building Service 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.
(a) Uncomfortable Conditions:
- Working on risky/ hazardous systems for example electrical systems and duct systems i.e. cleaning dusty filters.
(b) Job Hazards:
- Electrical shock
- Exposure to foul.
- Falling from heights
- Confined spaces
ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS/CONTACTS: Local and international contacts, frequency, purpose and method etc.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: The minimum level of education required to perform all the duties of the job to standard.
- Diploma in Mechanical engineering/ Industrial engineering.
Experience: The minimum number of years of experience required to perform all the duties of the job to standard.
- At least 2 years’ relevant experience.
Interested applicants should apply by sending a cover letter, copies of relevant certificates, and a detailed CV with three traceable referees (at least two professional referees) to the address below or emailing it to training@mlw.mw. This should be in one PDF format and saved using file names starting with the following pattern:
“Surname_GivenNames_MLWFacilitiesApprenticeship_Application.”
MLW recognizes its responsibility in safeguarding and protecting communities, research participants and patients with whom MLW is working. Please note that successful candidates will be requested to undergo a safeguarding check prior to appointment and at regular time points during employment.
ONLY SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.