HVAC & Refrigeration Technician Lead

 Title: HVAC and Refrigeration Lead
 Classification: Exempt
Reports To: Facility Construction Project Directo

Job Description:
Position Summary: Manages a team of in-house or outside technicians to ensure optimum work conditions of all HVAC and refrigeration equipment. Assign tasks and monitors work progress of each team member. Provides recommendations to management on improving equipment operating conditions.

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Provides oversight to technicians and contractors to make sure all HVAC and refrigeration equipment in all stores, corporate office, warehouses, VTC and auxiliary buildings are operating in optimum conditions
• Responses to upset conditions of HVAC and Refrigeration equipment by assigning technician or personally involved in resolving the issue. Collaborate with technicians and management to resolve issues. Follow through until each issue has been resolved. Provides reports and recommendation to avoid similar issues to management
• Assign PTM technicians to perform quarterly, semi-annual, and annual preventative maintenance, monitors and provide guidance as needed. Track and review preventative maintenance reports
• Monitors refrigerant inventory of all stores, oversees and tracks refrigerant replacements to meet regulatory datelines
• Monitors Emerson Connect+ alerts and reacts if alerts were not acknowledged and resolved
• Tracks and manages electrical systems maintenance performed by electrical contractors
• Works with technicians to troubleshoots upset conditions such as cases condensation, high or low humidity, store and case temperatures, economizer adjustment, excessive moistures
• Maintain critical HVAC and Refrigerated systems in good working conditions
• Manage our in-house HVAC and refrigeration supervisors and techs
• Working knowledge of CARB regulations and system requirements
• Assist with new employee onboarding and training program
• Performing employee reviews and assessments
• Documenting operational tasks and reporting to upper-level managementOrganizing team roles and evaluating employee performance 

General Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies including FDA, CA FDA, OSHA, DOH, EPA, Fire Department, city audits, Health Department, etc. 
• Maintain Technical Training Profile current with no delinquent notices 
• Monitor and respond to emails, SMS and telephone calls in a timely manner
• Keep records of fuel card and company credit card and turns in all paperwork into the Office Manager in a timely manner 
• Maintain a good driving record and a valid current driver’s license 
• Operates the company vehicle safely and keeps up with the routine maintenance of the vehicle
• Managing project teams to develop, execute and complete assignments 
• Maintain accurate records keeping of equipment and systems 
• Works with Office Manager to make sure that all refrigeration leaks and repairs are reported to California Air Resource Board
• Coordinates assigned activities with his coworkers and the store directors. Assist in the selection and monitor the performance of outside contractors and vendors 

Knowledge and Skills:

• Expertise in Preventative Maintenance programs 
• Strong Technical acumen including all HVAC and Refrigeration systems as well as computer skills 
• Problem-solving skills 
• Sound Leadership skillset to ensure the team is properly supported and led 
• Ability to work safely in potentially hazardous conditions such as high and low temperature liquids, high pressure liquids and gasses, steam, and moving machinery 
• Personnel and vendors management 
• Working knowledge of HFC and natural refrigerants, CARB regulations, Emerson E-2 EMS, Refrigeration equipment and HVAC Systems, Equipment Maintenance, Basic Safety, Documentation Skills, Conceptual Skills, Power Tools 
• Attention to Detail 
• Project Management 

Required Education and Experience: 

• Certified HVAC-R Technician 
• Working knowledge of natural refrigerants 
• Minimum 10-year experience in food retail environment 
• Bilingual English and Spanish 
• Knowledgeable in Microsoft office suite and Service Now, Logile Task Management software 

Physical Demands: 

• Will be required to spend long hours sitting and using office equipment and computers. 
• May also have to do some light lifting of supplies and materials from time to time. 
• Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to team members and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other team members accurately, clearly, or quickly. 
• Manage several requests and situations at one time or simultaneously (multitask) 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: 

• This is management, exempt level position, must be able to work a flexible schedule as required by operations (any day of the week and different schedule shifts as needed). 
• Able to work after hours, weekends and holidays as needed, supports planned and unplanned power outages 
• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and employees may perform other duties as directed. 
• All employees are expected to perform any reasonable task or request that is consistent with fulfilling company goals and objective 

About Vallarta Supermarkets:

As of 2022, Vallarta counts on 53 stores throughout California (Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Orange, and Fresno counties), and more than 8,000 team members. The Gonzalez family promises to continue to strive for excellence in everything we do so that our valued customers always have a Vallarta supermarket to call their own.From one small carnicería in Van Nuys in 1985 to 53 full-service markets across California, Vallarta Supermarkets is a living, breathing tribute to the hard work and customer dedication of our founding family and all of our valued employees.Vallarta Supermarkets was founded by Enrique Gonzalez Sr., who was later joined in the business by his four brothers, his son and nephew. Their family roots and humble origins began in the tiny town of Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, Mexico, where Enrique and his brothers were raised on a meager farm. Their parents instilled in them at very young ages the importance of family and the power of a strong work ethic to overcome challenges.When the opportunity arose to immigrate in the 1960’s, the Gonzalez family was thankful to stake their claim in the “land of opportunity,” the United States of America. Right away, the five brothers got to work in restaurants, either as short-order cooks or bussing tables. Even though some of the brothers were still in school, they all worked to help the family make ends meet.In 1985, Enrique Gonzalez Sr. began his journey in the grocery business when he opened Carniceria Vallarta in a 1,000 sq. ft market in Van Nuys, CA. He focused on selling the traditional cuts of meats popular in his native Mexico with an emphasis on unequaled quality and the friendliest of customer service. He soon expanded the business to a second location and brought his four brothers into the business. From there the adventure truly began, as they worked together as a family to build both a reputation for excellence and a successful business.The Gonzalez brothers believed that the key to Vallarta’s success would be to combine elevated customer service with the highest quality products to serve the growing Hispanic community whose needs may not be addressed by big chain stores.That’s why, from the beginning, Vallarta Supermarkets offered a wider variety of the freshest, traditional foods from Mexico, and Central and South America than any other store. They offered specialty and traditional items customers couldn’t find anywhere else: cut-to-order Latin-style meats (ranchera, diesmillo, lomo de res), spices, fresh fruit and produce, delicious prepared foods, pan dulce made daily, plus everything else you would expect from a traditional grocery store. Fast forward to today where Vallarta has expanded its offerings to include a juice and aquas frescas bar, tortilleria, bakery (panaderia), a cevicheria and more.

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