Maintenance Manager

Fernwood Communities | Lake Meadows Apartments
Chicago, Illinois
Annual Salary: $105,000 + bonus potential

Position Summary

Fernwood Communities is seeking an experienced and hands-on Maintenance Manager to lead maintenance operations at Lake Meadows Apartments. This position is responsible for maintaining the community’s buildings, apartments, grounds, and mechanical systems while delivering a safe, functional, and positive living experience for residents.

The Maintenance Manager will lead the onsite maintenance team, coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance, oversee apartment turns, manage vendors, and ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company standards. The ideal candidate is a skilled maintenance professional who can balance team leadership, resident service, administrative responsibilities, and hands-on technical work in a fast-paced multifamily environment.

Essential Responsibilities

Maintenance Operations

• Oversee daily maintenance operations for the Lake Meadows community.

• Assign, prioritize, and monitor service requests, preventive maintenance, inspections, and apartment-turn activities.

• Ensure resident work orders are completed accurately, professionally, and within established response-time expectations.

• Inspect completed work to confirm quality and compliance with Fernwood standards.

• Perform hands-on troubleshooting and repairs when additional technical support is needed.

• Maintain community buildings, common areas, grounds, equipment, and building systems in clean, safe, and operational condition.

• Respond appropriately to maintenance emergencies and participate in the community’s on-call rotation.

Team Leadership

• Supervise, coach, train, and support maintenance technicians, grounds personnel, and other assigned team members.

• Establish daily work priorities and provide clear direction regarding assignments and performance expectations.

• Monitor employee productivity, attendance, workmanship, safety practices, and resident-service standards.

• Partner with management and Recruiting and Development to support hiring, onboarding, technical training, and employee development.

• Address performance concerns promptly and consistently in partnership with Human Resources and community leadership.

• Promote accountability, collaboration, professionalism, and a solutions-focused work environment.

Apartment Turns and Property Readiness

• Coordinate apartment inspections, make-ready assignments, repairs, vendor services, and quality-control reviews.

• Ensure vacant apartments are completed according to established timelines and move-in standards.

• Partner with Leasing and Resident Services to prioritize upcoming move-ins and communicate unit-readiness concerns.

• Identify recurring damage or maintenance issues and recommend operational improvements.

• Assist with documenting resident damages and identifying appropriate chargebacks when applicable.

Preventive Maintenance and Inspections

• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance schedules for building systems, equipment, apartments, and common areas.

• Conduct regular property, building, mechanical-room, vacant-unit, and safety inspections.

• Maintain accurate maintenance records, inspection documentation, equipment logs, and service histories.

• Identify deferred maintenance, safety risks, and capital needs and communicate recommendations to property leadership.

• Support required municipal, regulatory, insurance, and company inspections.

Vendor, Inventory, and Expense Management

• Coordinate and oversee contractors and vendors performing work at the community.

• Confirm that vendors meet insurance, safety, quality, and performance requirements.

• Review completed vendor work and supporting documentation before approving invoices.

• Maintain appropriate inventory levels for tools, equipment, parts, supplies, and frequently used materials.

• Monitor maintenance spending and support property leadership in controlling expenses and managing the maintenance budget.

• Protect company equipment and ensure tools, vehicles, shops, and storage areas are organized and properly maintained.

Safety and Compliance

• Ensure maintenance activities comply with company policies, OSHA requirements, building codes, fair housing standards, and applicable local regulations.

• Promote safe work practices and ensure employees use required personal protective equipment.

• Maintain proper documentation for safety inspections, incidents, chemicals, equipment, and required certifications.

• Report workplace injuries, property incidents, hazards, and significant building concerns immediately.

• Support emergency preparedness and response procedures for the community.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Minimum of five years of multifamily, residential, commercial, or facilities maintenance management experience.

• Previous maintenance leadership or supervisory experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated knowledge of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliances, carpentry, drywall, painting, and general building repairs.

• Ability to diagnose maintenance issues and determine the appropriate repair solution.

• Experience coordinating apartment turns, preventive maintenance, contractors, and emergency service.

• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and customer-service skills.

• Ability to prioritize competing demands and lead effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Basic computer skills and the ability to use property-management, work-order, email, and mobile communication systems.

• Ability to maintain accurate records, purchase supplies, review invoices, and monitor maintenance expenses.

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation may be required.

Preferred Certifications

• EPA Section 608 certification.

• City of Chicago Stationary Engineer

• HVAC certification or demonstrated HVAC troubleshooting experience.

• Certified Pool Operator certification, when applicable.

• OSHA, electrical, plumbing, or other relevant technical certifications.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to frequently stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, reach, and work in confined spaces.

• Ability to climb ladders and stairs and work at varying heights.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently and heavier items with assistance.

• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

• Ability to use hand tools, power tools, maintenance equipment, and required personal protective equipment.

• Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies and participate in an on-call rotation.

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an annual salary of $105,000 + bonus potential along with Fernwood Communities’ applicable employee benefits and paid-time-off programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Fernwood Communities is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.