General Operative

Mears Group; Thurrock; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Mears Fun Day

Volunteering Leave

Mears Rewards

Family friendly policies

EAP Counselling

Job summary

Mears Group is seeking a General Operative in Thurrock to join the Repairs and Maintenance team. This hands-on role involves drainage work, repairs, water mains assistance, and basic fixtures installation. You will also paint, replace lighting, support cleaning duties, and ensure safety standards across tasks.

The position emphasizes customer service, teamwork, and a proactive approach to maintenance, with full-time hours and a clear path to contribute to a national maintenance contractor.

Qualifications

• Customer service experience is desirable.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Commitment to safety standards and a proactive mindset.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out drainage, repairs and renewals.
• Assisting and managing water mains.
• Installing fixtures such as curtains, blinds and door handles.
• Carrying out painting and decorating tasks.
• Fixing leaking waste pipes and minor plumbing repairs.
• Replacing light bulbs and checking smoke alarms.
• Supporting cleaning and waste collection duties.
• Working collaboratively within the Repairs and Maintenance team.
• Delivering excellent customer service across tasks.
• Communicating effectively with residents and colleagues.
• Making decisions and solving problems independently.
• Maintaining high safety, quality and cost control.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Safety awareness

Job description

Annual salary: up to £35,385.84

General Operative

Location: Thurrock

Salary: 35,385 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time Hours

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

"A desire to make a positive difference wherever we operate has always been at the heart of our business. It was over 30 years ago when we were a small maintenance contractor with a single van; and it still is now we are a truly national company."

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and dependable General Operative to join our Repairs and Maintenance team. 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 Responsibilities & Criteria:

• Carrying out work on drainage, repairs and renewals
• Assisting and managing water mains
• Supporting aids and adaptations
• 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% 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.

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

Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.

Laura Bourne ([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.