Desktop Supervisor – Ex Trade

Gilmartins; Houghton Regis; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilmartins is seeking a Repairs Controller to coordinate a team of operatives delivering reactive repairs in occupied homes. This office-based role emphasizes day-to-day repairs understanding, access issues, and strong admin/IT skills.

You will be the main point of contact for plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and plasterers, helping jobs stay on track, resolving issues, and reducing repeat visits.

Qualifications

• Trade background essential, with experience in reactive domestic repairs.
• Looking to move into a permanent, office-based role.
• Strong administration and organisational skills.
• Excellent IT skills – updating repair systems, emails, and working across multiple screens.
• Clear and professional communication with operatives, residents, and clients.
• Ability to manage multiple live jobs in a fast-paced environment.
• Calm, solutions-focused approach under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Taking calls from residents reporting repairs, creating the repair on the system and scheduling the jobs.
• Running and managing daily reactive repair schedules for a team of operatives.
• Acting as the main point of contact for operatives throughout the day.
• Liaising with residents and clients (local authorities and housing associations) by phone, email, and live chat.
• Providing technical guidance to operatives to help complete jobs right first time.
• Reacting quickly to access issues, variations, and unforeseen problems.
• Arranging parts and materials, including click & collect where required.
• Accurately logging, updating, and tracking reactive repair jobs on the job management system.
• Ensuring all job notes, updates, outcomes, and follow-on actions are properly recorded.
• Monitoring job progress and escalating issues where required.

Skills

Trade background

Office-based role

Administration

IT skills

Communication

Multi-tasking

Calm under pressure

Job description

Are you a tradesperson working in reactive domestic repairs who’s ready to come off the tools — but still use your trade knowledge every day?

We’re looking for a Repairs Controller to coordinate and support a team of operatives delivering reactive repairs in occupied homes.

This is a fully office-based role where your understanding of day-to-day repairs, access issues, and right-first-time working is just as important as strong admin and IT skills.

You’ll be the main point of contact for a team of trade operatives (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, plasterers), helping jobs stay on track, resolving issues as they arise, and reducing repeat visits.

The Role

The purpose of the role is to keep reactive repairs moving efficiently from first visit through to completion. You’ll support operatives in real time, deal with issues as they occur, keep systems accurate and up to date, and ensure residents and clients are kept informed.

This role suits someone who understands the pressures of reactive repairs — last-minute changes, access problems, parts shortages, and resident expectations — and can manage these effectively from an office environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Taking calls from residents who are reporting repairs, creating the repair on the system and scheduling the jobs
• Running and managing daily reactive repair schedules for a team of operatives
• Acting as the main point of contact for operatives throughout the day
• Liaising with residents and clients (local authorities and housing associations) by phone, email, and live chat
• Providing technical guidance to operatives to help complete jobs right first time
• Reacting quickly to access issues, variations, and unforeseen problems
• Arranging parts and materials, including click & collect where required
• Accurately logging, updating, and tracking reactive repair jobs on the job management system
• Ensuring all job notes, updates, outcomes, and follow-on actions are properly recorded
• Monitoring job progress and escalating issues where required

Essential Skills & Experience

• Trade background essential, with experience in reactive domestic repairs
• A tradesperson looking to move into a permanent, office-based role
• Strong administration and organisational skills
• Excellent IT skills – confident updating repair systems, emails, and working across multiple screens
• Clear and professional communication skills with operatives, residents, and clients
• Ability to manage multiple live jobs in a fast-paced environment
• Calm, solutions-focused approach under pressure

Why This Role?

• A genuine opportunity to come off the tools without losing your trade knowledge
• Office-based role using real-world repairs experience
• Direct impact on repair performance, resident satisfaction, and right-first-time outcomes
• Clear progression into senior scheduling, operations, or management roles