General Operative

Livin Housing Limited; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing maintenance organization in Tees Valley is seeking a skilled General Operative to join their Repairs and Maintenance team. This hands-on role involves practical tasks such as installing fixtures, performing routine maintenance, and ensuring properties are maintained to a high standard. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong customer service skills, teamwork, and a problem-solving mindset. Competitive salary and benefits available, including 25 days of annual leave and volunteering opportunities.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Mears Fun Day

Volunteering Leave

Discounts on groceries and more

Family friendly policies

Access to EAP Counselling

Qualifications

• Ability to install fixtures and perform basic maintenance tasks.
• Experience in painting, decorating, and plumbing repairs.
• Strong communication skills and a customer-focused attitude.

Responsibilities

• Install and maintain fixtures in properties.
• Carry out routine painting and decorating.
• Fix plumbing issues and checking safety standards.

Skills

Practical ability

Customer service

Teamwork

Strong organizational skills

Problem-solving mindset

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,450.27

General Operative

Location: Darlington

Salary: £28,450.26 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time Hours

42.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and dependable General Operative to join our Repairs and Maintenance team following a recent internal promotion. This is a hands‑on role requiring a mix of practical ability, customer service, and teamwork. You’ll be responsible for a wide range of tasks that help maintain our properties to a high standard.

Role Criteria

• Install fixtures such as curtains, blinds and door handles, drawing on basic maintenance experience and a keen eye for detail
• Carry out painting and decorating tasks, which require strong organisational skills and a sense of pride in presentation
• Fix leaking waste pipes and perform minor plumbing repairs, using practical know-how and a problem‑solving mindset
• Replace light bulbs and check smoke alarms, showing a proactive approach and commitment to safety standards
• Support cleaning and waste collection duties (training provided), with flexibility and a willingness to learn new skills
• Work collaboratively within the Repairs and Maintenance team, where strong teamwork and reliability are essential
• Deliver excellent customer service across all tasks, maintaining a professional and customer‑focused attitude
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and residents, using clear verbal communication and good interpersonal skills
• Make decisions and solve problems independently when needed, demonstrating confidence and initiative
• Maintain high standards of safety, quality and cost control, with a methodical and dependable approach to work

Benefits we can offer you

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day – our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank‑you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave – Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards – discounts of up to 10% on weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
• Family friendly policies
• Access to EAP Counselling sessions

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a Background, Identity, Security clearance & BPSS check. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.

Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:

Beth Dunford ([e-mail])

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.

At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.