Estates Technician

Uppingham School; Oakham; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent boarding school in the UK is seeking a dedicated operational support staff member to ensure the smooth running of its facilities. The role includes various maintenance activities, moving equipment, supporting events, and reporting safety issues. Candidates should possess a trade background with good IT skills and be able to work independently. This position offers a salary of £25,000 with comprehensive benefits including a generous holiday entitlement, pension scheme, and support for health and wellbeing.

Benefits

25 holiday days

50% contribution to health scheme

Free staff lunches

Cycle to work scheme

Death in service cover

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar porterage role is desirable.
• Understanding of COSHH and Health and Safety at work is desirable.
• Full clean driving licence preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support maintenance activities across the estate.
• Assist with moving furniture and appliances.
• Set up and break down school events and functions.
• Report maintenance or safety issues.
• Manage waste transportation and collections.

Skills

Multi skilled/trade background

Manual Handling

Confident IT skills

Excellent timekeeping

Ability to work with minimum supervision

Polite communication

Education

Trade background (NVQ/City & Guilds)

Tools

Driving vehicles

Job description

Uppingham School, founded in 1584, is a leading co-educational independent boarding school which runs 24/7 in term-time. It has a strong academic profile and excellent pastoral care with an international reputation, and state-of-the-art science, sports and music facilities. Its 830 pupils, aged 13-18, are accommodated in 15 boarding houses, taught by over 20 academic departments, and participate in numerous extra-curricular activities such as sports, music, and drama. The academic programme is supported by business units responsible for marketing, estates, finance, HR, IT, operations (catering, cleaning, and procurement), health and safety, and the Schools trading subsidiary. The School employs c. 550 staff.

The estate covers 125 non-contiguous acres, almost one mile apart at its extremities and interspersed by town housing and retail properties. It includes 59 acres of playing fields, 14 acres of gardens, and a built estate of 80 buildings with an insurance replacement value of £200 million, whose combined external footprint is 775,000 sq ft, and of which 23 are listed (Grades I II). Buildings include teaching blocks, assembly buildings, boarding houses, staff housing, administrative and technical accommodation, and sports facilities. A programme of new buildings followed full co-education in 2001, including boarding houses, a Music School, sports pavilions, a dual-use Sports Centre and an RIBA national-award winning Science Centre completed in 2014.

Uppingham is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcomes applications from anyone who feels they could fulfil the role.

Job Purpose

The role is vital in ensuring the smooth running of our thriving school, and you will play a key role carrying out a variety of duties within our historic and varied range of buildings. This will include moving & maintaining equipment, facilities and ensuring the security of buildings.

Responsibilities

To support the School and Estates team by providing operational support which will include, Maintenance activities, Planned Preventative Maintenance, Porterage, Gardens Team, Sports Turf Team, Staff Housing, Equipment and Furniture movement.

To undertake planned work assisting with the moving of furniture and appliances across the estate including academic buildings, boarding housing and staff housing.

To support in the set up and breakdown of school events and functions, including open days, sports and exams.

Engage in the delivery and collection of cleaning equipment and bedding around the school as directed.

To support with the maintenance and upkeep of the estate by completing varied maintenance tasks such as decorating, furniture building, and general repairs. Replacing of blinds and curtain rails and other fixtures and fittings.

To support with the management of waste i.e. transportation of large items to the designated waste area, assist with collections, tidying bin compounds and waste areas.

To undertake external duties such as gritting, road maintenance and pothole repairs.

To assess and report maintenance or safety issues to the correct estates function and make safe until an appropriate person is in attendance.

To support the Estates team in completing planned compliance checks.

To support with the outgoing and incoming mail within the central School, along with the movement of internal mail. All outgoing mail is franked and collected by royal mail at timed intervals.

To undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Head of Estates Services or member of the Estates Services Team.

Qualifications:

Qualifications, skills and experience, personal qualities required

A trade background is desirable (NVQ/City & Guilds)

Skills And Experience:

Multi skilled/trade background (desirable)

Manual Handling

Confident IT skills

Working in an 24/7 estates environment with a focus on customer service

Excellent timekeeping

Ability to work with minimum supervision, and as part of a team.

Ability to deal with students, staff and members of public in polite and helpful manner.

Previous porterage experience/experience in a similar role (desirable)

Previous cleaning experience (desirable)

An understanding of COSHH and Health and Safety at work (desirable)

Full driving licence* (desirable)

• A full clean driving licence is preferred. This position involves driving vehicles around the schools.
  
  

Estate and is subject to the successful candidates being accepted for insurance cover by the schools insurance provider.

Whilst every application will be considered on its own merits, successful applicants should note that if they have six or more penalty points on their driving licence, or a previous drink-driving conviction, they may not be accepted for cover by the schools insurers, in which case any offer of employment would be withdrawn.

Terms and conditions

Working hours: 39 hours

Salary: £25,000

Probation period: 6 months

Benefits:

Holidays:

The annual holiday entitlement is 25 working days, of which up to 5 days must be taken over the Christmas period. Public holidays in term time are normal working days; a day off in lieu is given at another time.

Pension Scheme:

Defined contribution scheme: employee contribution matched by School by factor of two, up to 10% maximum.

Benefits:

50% contribution to premiums for Schools private health scheme

Death in service cover with a lump sum of twice annual salary

Free membership of dual-use Sports Centre (£25 annual admin fee)

Free staff lunches in term-time

School fee day place discount for children of staff

Retail and restaurant discounts, via Sodexo platform

Cycle to work scheme

Free annual flu jabs

Westfield health care package

Recognised as a Disability Confident employer

Recognised as a Mindful employer

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