Estates Maintenance Officer

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology; Crowmarsh Gifford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking research institute as an Estates Maintenance Officer, where your hands-on skills will ensure the smooth operation of a vibrant workplace. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to vital environmental science while maintaining high safety and service standards. You will thrive in a dynamic environment, tackling diverse challenges and ensuring compliance across various facilities. With a supportive team and a commitment to your professional growth, this position is perfect for those who take pride in their work and are eager to make a difference.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

10% employer pension contribution

Flexible working arrangements

Peer reward and recognition scheme

Dental insurance

Gym/fitness discounts

Enhanced maternity leave

24-hour support for health issues

Qualifications

• Solid background in trades such as plumbing, electrical, or joinery.
• Practical experience is essential for the role.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing routine maintenance and inspections across buildings.
• Managing contractor operations and ensuring safety compliance.

Skills

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Time Management

Health & Safety Compliance

Education

Formal Qualification in Trades

Tools

CAFM System

Job description

Salary - £30,684 to £32,563
Permanent
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

Are you a hands-on problem solver with a background in maintenance, facilities, or trades, and a passion for high standards, safety, and service?

UKCEH is looking for an experienced Estates Maintenance Officer to join our friendly and fast-paced Workplace team, where no two days are the same, and your work will help support vital environmental science across the UK. This role is based at our Wallingford headquarters, a large, multi-purpose site housing laboratories, offices, and fieldwork and workshop facilities, and will play a key part in keeping it running smoothly, safely and compliantly.

We’re on the lookout for a Maintenance Officer who thrives on getting stuck in, takes pride in their work, and brings a proactive, can-do attitude to the table. This is a busy, rewarding role requiring a strong communicator who can juggle competing demands while keeping safety and service at the forefront. Full training will be provided on all our systems.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing routine scheduled inspections and maintenance across our buildings and a wide range of equipment (including specialist scientific equipment), ensuring legal compliance and exceptional service standards
• Taking the lead on contractor management: carrying out inductions, preparing permits to work, and ensuring all third parties operate safely and professionally on our sites
• Responding to reactive maintenance requests, from basic repairs and handling tasks, to supporting cleaning and equipment moves, helping us deliver a first-class workplace service
• Working closely with Workplace Managers to maintain building compliance across key areas such as: fire safety, legionella, asbestos, and mechanical and electrical regulations
• Supporting wider Workplace admin, including reception cover, post handling, and documentation to keep systems updated and customer service top-notch
• Reviewing reports and tracking remedial actions to ensure Health & Safety standards are upheld and continually improved across the UKCEH estate

For the role of Estates Maintenance Officer, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A solid background in one or more trades (e.g. plumbing, electrical, joinery) - a formal qualification is great, but practical experience is essential
• Confident use of a CAFM system (or similar ticketing software) to manage maintenance jobs and monitor performance
• Up-to-date knowledge of building compliance and a sharp focus on Health & Safety - particularly important as we operate laboratory spaces with strict procedures
• Someone who’s organised, efficient and calm under pressure, with excellent time management and communication skills
• A team player who takes pride in their work and is committed to creating safe, functional and welcoming spaces for all staff and visitor

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

Working for UKCEH is rewarding

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure

• 10% employer pension contribution

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)

• Peer reward and recognition scheme

• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...

Apply today!

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application.

At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—please don’t hesitate to reach out. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.

We welcome applications from international candidates; however, at present, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.