About this role
Water Restoration Technician (Apprentice / Future Lead)
Job Description: About Us RestoPros of Ann Arbor - Detroit is expanding across the southern metro Detroit area. We deliver 'white glove', immediate service to homeowners and businesses facing catastrophic water, mold, smoke, or fire damage. We are specifically looking to hire transitioning military members to help build our operational culture from the ground up. The Mission We are looking for a highly disciplined, mission-focused Water Restoration Technician who wants to learn a trade and build a career. You do not need to be an industry expert yet; we will train you. We are currently laying the groundwork to become an official Department of Defense (DOD) SkillBridge and Veterans Affairs (VA) On-the-Job Training (OJT) provider, and we want to build our founding cadre of leaders the right way. Your goal in year one is to master water mitigation, pass your evaluations, and earn your place as a Team Lead. If you rise to the occasion, you will join our core leadership team. As we scale, there will be distinct opportunities to step out of the field and take on greater operational management responsibilities within the organization. Helping us lay this foundation and eventually mentoring future transitioning veterans will be your mission and your legacy. Your Career Progression Track: We offer a clear advancement structure based on your performance and acquiring your Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) credentials (which we sponsor):
• Phase 1 (90-Day Training Phase): $22.00–$24.00/hr. For your first 90 days, you will team up with senior staff in a shared response vehicle. Your sole focus is mastering our equipment, safety standards, and operational culture to pass your initial evaluation. • Phase 2 (Lead Water Tech): $24.00–$30.00/hr. Unlocked upon earning your IICRC Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT) and Applied Structural Drying (ASD) certifications. You will become a Team Chief, running your own jobs, executing estimates, and taking on greater operational responsibility. (Note: Once in Phase 2, it is mandatory to complete your Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT) certification within 6 months). • Phase 3 (Lead Mold and Water Tech): $25.00–$32.00/hr. Unlocked upon earning your IICRC Master Water Restorer (MWR) and Mold Remediation Specialist (MRS) certifications. Mold certification does not replace your water mitigation duties—it adds to them. You will utilize your accumulated skills to oversee our most complex biohazard operations alongside advanced water mitigation. Military Backgrounds Highly Encouraged: While all honorably discharged veterans from any branch (including Space Force and non-technical roles) are encouraged to apply if they have a strong work ethic, this role is a direct civilian translation for:
• Navy & Coast Guard (CG): Damage Controlman (DC) or Marine Science Technician (MST) • Army & United States Marine Corps (USMC): Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialists (74D/5711) or Engineers (12-series/1371) • Air Force: Emergency Management / Civil Engineering (3E-series) What You Will Do:
• Execute emergency water mitigation, structural drying, and demolition following strict IICRC S500 standards. • Document the mitigation process using industry-standard software, 3D scanning tools, moisture maps, and drying logs. • Work as a team to maintain a pristine, properly stocked response truck and company equipment. • Serve as a calm, empathetic, and highly professional presence for property owners experiencing a chaotic loss. Qualifications:
• High School diploma or GED; clean driving record and reliable transportation required. • Willingness to work rotating on-call shifts and overtime as needed. Physical Requirements:
• Ability to frequently transport and position water and mold restoration equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. independently and up to 150 lbs. with team-lift assistance or through the use of mechanical aids (e.g., dollies, hand trucks) as required by site conditions. • Ability to perform technical restoration tasks in restricted-access environments, including crawl spaces, attics, and elevated surfaces, like working at ceiling height on a ladder. Must be physically capable of ascending/descending ladders and working in areas with limited clearance while utilizing required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). • Ability to maintain physical activity and stamina throughout the duration of an emergency response shift (typically 8–12 hours), including the frequent use of hand tools, and the manual manipulation of structural materials and contents. Total Compensation & Benefits:
• Pay: $22.00 - $28.00 per hour (scales dynamically with certifications). • Overtime & Holidays: Time-and-a-half for OT; Double-time for working company holidays. As an emergency response team, we must maintain readiness year-round. Holiday coverage is managed via a fair, shared team rotation (along with volunteer opportunities) to ensure we are always prepared to answer the call. • Paid Time Off: 13 Paid Holidays (11 fixed + 2 highly flexible floating holidays you can use to extend weekends or vacations), PLUS Paid Vacation that accrues at a rate of 5 days per year. We expect you to advance out of the training phase quickly. As soon as you earn your IICRC WRT and ASD certifications and promote to Phase 2, your vacation accrual rate immediately doubles to 10 days per year. • Health: Access to medical benefit options (employee-funded). • Retirement & Profit Sharing: Performance-based profit sharing tied directly to the volume of business and the profitability of your specific projects. Efficient, clean jobs equal higher payouts. This profit sharing is invested directly into your 401(k) fund. You are not required to contribute your own money to the 401(k) to receive this company contribution, but doing so will significantly accelerate your retirement growth. • Continuing Education: Company-paid continuing education credits required to retain your professional certifications. Note to Applicants and Employees: Under the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act (PWDCRA), any individual with a disability who requires an accommodation for employment must notify the employer in writing of the need for that accommodation within 182 days after the date the individual knew or reasonably should have known that an accommodation was needed. Failure to provide such written notice within this timeframe may result in the loss of rights to allege a failure-to-accommodate claim under Michigan law.
Required Experience: Willingness to learn emergency water mitigation and structural drying.
Preferred Experience: Military background (Navy DC, Coast Guard MST, Army/USMC CBRN or Engineer, Air Force Emergency Management).
Required Skills: • Clean Driving Record • Ability to frequently transport and position water and mold restoration equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. independently and up to 150 lbs. with team-lift assistance or through the use of mechanical aids (e.g., dollies, hand trucks) as required by site conditions. • Ability to perform technical restoration tasks in restricted-access environments, including crawl spaces, attics, and elevated surfaces, like working at ceiling height on a ladder. Must be physically capable of ascending/descending ladders and working in areas with limited clearance while utilizing required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). • Ability to maintain physical activity and stamina throughout the duration of an emergency response shift (typically 8–12 hours), including the frequent use of hand tools, and the manual manipulation of structural materials and contents.
Preferred Skills: Strong communication and leadership capability.