General Maintenance Employee - Electrical team

Gentoo Group Limited; Sunderland; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Health Cash Plan

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Hybrid working

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice

Car mileage allowance

Training & development

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Gentoo Group Limited in Sunderland is seeking a General Maintenance Employee (GME) – Electrical to join the Property Safety team. You will inspect and test fire safety systems, assist electricians, and help maintain safe, reliable homes for customers.

A full UK driving licence and DBS-funded checks are required, with a 36-hour week and occasional overtime. You will work with experienced colleagues, receive training, and benefit from flexible/hybrid working, generous leave, private health care,

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence.
• Clear and effective communication with a focus on customer service.
• Strong understanding of health and safety requirements.
• Ability to work safely at height, in confined spaces and external environments.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills; comfortable with mobile/handheld devices.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, taking responsibility.
• Good organisation and time management; able to meet targets and deadlines.
• Willingness to learn and develop skills.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine inspections and testing of fire safety systems such as alarms, sprinklers and emergency lighting.
• Test smoke alarms in customers' homes and carry out basic maintenance.
• Complete basic maintenance including relamping and report defects.
• Check safety-related boxes and roof access equipment for safety and security.
• Keep compliance records, logbooks and paperwork up to date.
• Follow procedures and complete work to safety and quality standards.
• Support electricians with first‑fix electrical installation work.
• Collect and deliver materials as required.
• Provide a friendly, customer‑focused service when working with customers and colleagues.

Skills

Driving licence

Customer service

Health & safety

Safety procedures

Teamwork

Time management

IT skills

Independent work

Job description

We’re a values-driven, charitable organisation on a mission to make a real difference in Sunderland. Every day, we provide more than 60,000 people with a place they’re proud to call home. Our vision is clear: everyone deserves a good-quality home they can afford. We invest millions of pounds each year to keep our homes safe and decent, while also playing a part in tackling the UK housing crisis by building hundreds of modern, energy-efficient homes for rent right here in Sunderland. If you share our passion for creating thriving communities and want to be part of something that truly matters, we’d love for you to join us and help achieve our vision. If you have any accessibility needs or require adjustments, please let us know—we’re here to support you. We may close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Salary : £28,590.00

Role Overview

At Gentoo, keeping our customers safe in their homes is at the heart of what we do. We’re looking for a General Maintenance Employee (GME) Electrical to join our Property Safety team and help us deliver this important work across Sunderland. You’ll work alongside experienced colleagues, supporting routine inspections and checks on essential safety systems and equipment. Your contribution will help us meet our fire and electrical safety responsibilities and provide a safe, reliable service for our customers. We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their work, communicates clearly and respectfully, and enjoys working as part of a team to deliver a great service. This role is based on a 36‑hour working week, with flexibility to support occasional overtime. We also offer training and development opportunities to help you build your skills and progress your career with us. A full UK driving licence is required. A basic DBS check will be arranged and funded by Gentoo.

What you’ll be doing

• Carry out routine inspections and functional testing of fire alarms, sprinkler systems, smoke control systems, automatic doors, emergency lighting and other essential fire safety equipment.
• Test smoke alarms in customers’ homes, carry out basic maintenance and identify any work requiring an electrician.
• Complete basic maintenance, including relamping, and promptly report defects or further repairs required.
• Check premises information boxes, building key boxes and roof access equipment to ensure they are safe, secure and in good working order.
• Keep accurate compliance records, logbooks and paperwork, ensuring required timescales and standards are met.
• Follow relevant procedures and complete work to the required technical, safety and quality standards.
• Support electricians with first‑fix electrical installation work.
• Collect and deliver materials as required.
• Provide a friendly, respectful and customer‑focused service when working with customers, colleagues and other stakeholders.

What you’ll bring

• A full UK driving licence.
• Clear and effective communication skills, with a strong focus on delivering great customer service.
• A good understanding of relevant health and safety requirements.
• The ability to work safely at height, in confined spaces and in external environments.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills, with confidence using mobile or handheld devices.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team, taking responsibility for your work.
• Good organisation and time management skills, with the ability to meet agreed targets and deadlines.
• A positive approach to learning and developing your skills.

It would be great if you also had

• Experience in basic electrical or facilities maintenance.
• Electrical Safety Competence Training.

Benefits

• 31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with an option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year.
• Early finish on Fridays Flexible and hybrid working.
• Free Health Cash Plan, with cashback for dental, optical, physio, wellbeing therapies and more, with some free child cover.
• Access to private healthcare through the Health Cash Plan.
• Competitive Aviva pension scheme - Gentoo will contribute up to 10% based on your personal contribution.
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme Enhanced family-friendly leave Car mileage allowance if you use your personal vehicle for business purposes.
• Life assurance cover to the value of 3 times your annual salary

We are one of the largest employers in Sunderland and a leading provider of social housing in the North East. We are officially a Great Place to Work and employ more than 1,100 people in more than 200 different job roles. We are proud of every colleague who helps make a difference in our communities and our customers’ lives.

Our Values, made by colleagues for colleagues

• We care about people.
• We take accountability.
• We shape the future.
• We bring leadership.
• We deliver.

If you have any accessibility needs or require adjustments, please let us know—we’re here to support you.