Building Maintenance Assistant

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Salary: $25.00 - $27.14 Commensurate with Experience

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

 

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

 

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

 

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

The Facilities Maintenance Crew Member performs routine cleaning, upkeep, and minor repair work at bus stops, rail stations, shelters, platforms, and other passenger facility locations to help ensure safe, clean, accessible, and customer-ready transit environments. Reporting to a Stops or Stations Supervisor, this role supports day-to-day field operations by maintaining passenger amenities, responding to service requests, addressing visible facility issues, and helping preserve the appearance and functionality of public-facing transit assets.

This position performs hands-on field work across a distributed set of locations and is responsible for completing assigned cleaning, maintenance, and support tasks in accordance with established procedures, safety requirements, and service standards. The Facilities Maintenance Crew Member works independently or as part of a crew and helps identify and report hazards, damage, accessibility concerns, and other issues requiring follow-up.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Cleaning and Upkeep of Passenger Facilities

• Perform routine cleaning and litter removal at bus stops, shelters, rail stations, platforms, and other passenger facility locations.
• Remove graffiti, stickers, unauthorized postings, trash, and debris from assigned facilities and surrounding areas.
• Power wash shelters, pads, station surfaces, and other public-facing elements as assigned.
• Help maintain a clean, orderly, and customer-ready environment across assigned stops and stations.

Minor Maintenance and Amenity Support

• Perform minor maintenance and repair tasks such as replacing shelter panels, hardware, fasteners, light bulbs, sign components, receptacle liners, and similar items.
• Install, repair, or replace bus stop signs, posts, schedule holders, wayfinding tools, and other assigned passenger amenities.
• Assist with basic upkeep of benches, receptacles, signage, and related stop or station features.
• Report more complex repair needs, damaged amenities, or conditions beyond assigned authority to the supervisor.

Accessibility, Safety, and Field Response

• Clear snow, ice, debris, vegetation, and obstructions from platforms, sidewalks, boarding pads, and pedestrian access areas.
• Identify and report hazards, lighting failures, accessibility barriers, vandalism, and safety concerns observed in the field.
• Respond to service requests and urgent cleaning or field support needs, including spills and other situations requiring prompt attention.
• Follow PPE, traffic-control, and safe-work practices when working in roadside, station, or other public-facing environments.

Field Operations and Documentation

• Transport materials, tools, equipment, and supplies needed for assigned field work.
• Record completed work, status updates, and observations in the work order system or other required documentation.
• Follow assigned routes, schedules, work instructions, and checklists to complete field tasks efficiently.
• Communicate with supervisors and coworkers regarding completed work, observed issues, and support needs.

Public Interaction and Team Support

• Interact respectfully and professionally with riders, community members, contractors, and transit personnel while performing work in the field.
• Work independently or as part of a crew in support of daily field operations.
• Assist with special projects, weather response, and other field assignments as directed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Field Maintenance and Upkeep – Ability to perform routine cleaning, upkeep, and minor repair work across a distributed set of public-facing transit facilities.

• Completes assigned field work reliably and efficiently.
• Helps maintain stops and stations in clean and usable condition.
• Supports consistent day-to-day facility readiness.

Safety and Work Practices – Ability to follow safety requirements and work carefully in roadside, outdoor, and public-facing environments.

• Uses PPE, tools, and equipment appropriately.
• Recognizes hazards and reports concerns promptly.
• Follows established work and safety procedures.

Attention to Condition and Detail – Ability to notice damage, dirt, obstructions, and other visible issues affecting facility appearance, accessibility, or functionality.

• Observes field conditions carefully.
• Addresses routine issues and identifies problems requiring escalation.
• Helps maintain customer-facing standards.

Reliability and Productivity – Ability to complete assigned routes, tasks, and service requests in a dependable and timely manner.

• Follows schedules and work assignments consistently.
• Works steadily and productively in the field.
• Supports the team by completing tasks with limited supervision.

Professional Public Conduct – Ability to work professionally in visible public environments and represent the agency appropriately while interacting with riders and others.

• Maintains respectful communication.
• Supports a positive customer environment.
• Demonstrates professionalism in public-facing work settings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Standard cleaning methods, tools, detergents, and power-washing equipment
• Basic maintenance and repair practices for outdoor facility components
• Safety practices for roadside work, ladders, hand tools, and PPE
• General ADA accessibility expectations at stops and stations (boarding pads, ramps, tactile panels, clear paths)

Skill in:

• Using hand tools, power tools, power washers, and light maintenance equipment safely
• Performing minor repairs and replacing shelter/amenity components
• Recording work activities and identifying issues that require escalation
• Communicating courteously with riders, co-workers, and supervisors
• Working independently in the field while following directions and checklists

Ability to:

• Perform physical outdoor work in varied weather conditions and across dispersed locations
• Safely lift, carry, dig, install, clean, and operate equipment as assigned
• Identify safety hazards, accessibility issues, and maintenance needs and report appropriately
• Follow schedules, routes, and safety procedures to complete assigned work efficiently
• Represent the agency positively through professional conduct in public settings

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One (1) year of experience in facilities maintenance, custodial work, grounds work, public-space upkeep, construction support, or a related field, or the ability to learn and perform the required duties.
• Experience using basic hand tools, cleaning equipment, or light maintenance equipment.
• Ability to perform outdoor physical work in varying weather and field conditions.
• Ability to follow work instructions, safety procedures, and basic documentation requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public transit, municipal facilities, grounds maintenance, custodial operations, or another field-based public environment.
• Experience performing minor repairs, sign installation, graffiti removal, or public amenity upkeep.
• Experience working in roadside, outdoor, or customer-facing service environments.

Working Environment and Physical Demands

• Works primarily in field-based, outdoor environments across bus stops, shelters, stations, platforms, and other passenger facility locations.
• Requires regular walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, climbing, and use of hand tools, cleaning equipment, and light maintenance equipment.
• May work in varying weather, temperatures, noise, traffic-adjacent conditions, and other outdoor physical environments.
• May require occasional availability outside normal business hours to support urgent field issues, weather events, service disruptions, or emergency response.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected]

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.