The Opportunity Thistle is a mission-based, affordable housing Real Estate company in Boulder, CO.  Boulder faces a critical shortage of affordable housing and Thistle is in a unique position to create and preserve the quality and quantity of housing for working families and economically disadvantaged people. The Company We’re a business-oriented, private non-profit and earn most our operating income from the ownership and management of 19 apartment complexes.  We’ve been in business for nearly 35 years and enjoy strong community support. To learn more about Thistle, visit: www.thistle.us How Thistle Operates We work in a well-established collaborative environment of about 40 people where you’ll have significant responsibility and the opportunity to engage with professional resources to amplify your experience.  Work is accomplished independently and within your property(s) specific team; you will be accountable for goals and performance of your team that support the overall direction of the company.  We are dedicated to making the work experience meaningful and productive.  Position Description:  Schedule: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  Days to work under 4-Day Work Week Policy to be determined with Supervisor. This position is responsible for maintaining and repairing physical components within and structures of buildings at assigned properties (19 scattered sites) by performing the following duties.

• Maintains essential functions of apartment communities, including plumbing, HVAC, electrical, appliances and safety systems in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Takes responsibility for the appearance of each community, including regular duties from groundskeeping to turns (all aspects of property appearance).
• Interacts with residents using clear, professional, positive, and effective communication, problem solving, and great customer relations skills.
• Completes unit turns on time and to Thistle quality standards.
• Completes work orders on time and to Thistle’s quality standards.
• Maintains accurate record keeping related to physical and operational aspects of apartment communities and delivers reports and information on time without reminder.
• Participates in the Thistle emergency maintenance program, which includes being on-call after hours to respond to assigned properties in a timely and professional manner. On-call is done in rotation with all members of the maintenance technician staff.

Supervisor:  Community Manager  Direct Reports:  None.  Requirements for all applicants:

• Ability to perform basic maintenance and repair functions related to apartment residence and common areas within a multifamily housing community.
• Must be willing and able to paint interiors.
• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• A valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and a reliable vehicle and are willing and able to drive to the Gunbarrel neighborhood of Boulder every workday and to drive between properties as needed.
• Candidates must be able to meet a 45 minute response time for on call and/or emergencies.
• You have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19.

For top hourly pay:  Ten years of multi-family or multi-unit apartment maintenance experience for top hourly rate; can demonstrate adherence to a corporate schedule; or has recent and relevant certifications in related field of maintenance (CAMT, CBO, CMRT) Starting hourly rate requires: One-year experience in property maintenance, preferably with apartment communities Physical Demands: The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The Job: Hourly, full-time (work weeks average 36 hours on average, however this may vary depending on responsibilities).  Benefits include medical insurance, vacation, sick leave, 401k with employer match & more. The Pay: $27-29 depending on experience/qualification Apply NOW to join our team! Submit your résumé with a cover letter explaining why you’re the right person for this position. maintenance@thistle.us Qualified candidates will be contacted soon for an interview. EOE  

Several non–profits have come together to host a series of virtual sessions on affordable housing in Boulder County.  The hosts are:  Together Colorado, NAACP Boulder County, the Boulder Valley Labor Council and the East Community Housing Opportunity Coalition.  I attended the first session in January and it was interesting and informative.  They had two speakers that discussed historical housing policies that have led to some of our land use patterns of today.  They specifically highlighted the practice of red lining.  If you are not familiar with the term, redlining is the practice of refusing to offer credit or insurance in a particular community on a discriminatory basis (as because of the race or ethnicity of its residents).   This practice is illegal today but has had a lasting impact.  After the speaker, you are virtually broken into small groups for a discussion.  The sessions last from 6:30pm  – 8:00pm and anyone interested in housing is welcome to come.   In case you are interested, below are the dates and times of  upcoming sessions:

• Feb 8, 2021 06:30 PM   Topic:  What’s the Local Reality?
• Mar 8, 2021 06:30 PM   Topic:  Why is Affordable Housing so Hard to Accomplish?
• Apr 12, 2021 06:30 PM  Topic:  How do we take Action?

For information about signing up contact Meghan Carrier at Together Colorado for the zoom link  meghan@togetherco.org   There is no charge for the sessions.