Lead Maintenance Operative

Unite Group; Tudhoe; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

25 days leave

Pension 4-11%

Life assurance

Share save scheme

Enhanced Family Leave

Medicash

EAP

Volunteering day

Discounts

Job summary

Unite Group is seeking a Lead Maintenance Operative to deliver high-quality maintenance across our student accommodation properties, working with the Maintenance Manager and teams to keep buildings safe and well maintained.

You will lead hands-on tasks, coordinate day-to-day maintenance activities, and mentor colleagues while stepping in as needed to ensure service delivery and resident satisfaction. A hands-on, proactive mindset is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in maintenance, facilities or property maintenance.
• Confident delivering reactive repairs and planned maintenance tasks.
• Good understanding of health and safety practices.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve general building issues.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Works well in a team and can also perform independently.
• Good communication and customer-focused approach.
• Knowledge of plumbing/electrical/HVAC is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Deliver hands-on reactive and planned maintenance tasks to high standards.
• Coordinate day-to-day maintenance activities and workload management.
• Maintain safe, compliant and well-maintained buildings.
• Lead where required and mentor colleagues to ensure continuity.
• Monitor property standards and perform low-level repairs.
• Log and track maintenance and safety issues in internal systems.
• Liaise with contractors and suppliers for maintenance works.
• Support stock control and ensure materials/PPE are used efficiently.
• Respond to incidents and emergencies with first-line support.
• Contribute to a positive resident experience by handling issues promptly.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Reactive & planned repairs

Health & safety knowledge

General building maintenance

Organisational skills

Team player / independent

Communication skills

Building systems knowledge

Tools

None

Job description

Share your expertise. Support the team. Deliver great maintenance standards.

At Unite Group, we create Homes for Success through our student accommodation brands, Unite Students and Hello Student. This opportunity is with our Unite Students OR Hello Student brand.

Lead Maintenance Operative

As a Lead Maintenance Operative, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality maintenance across our student accommodation property.

Working closely with the Maintenance Manager and wider operational teams, you'll carry out hands‑on maintenance tasks while also supporting the coordination of day‑to‑day maintenance activities. You'll help ensure our buildings remain safe, compliant and well maintained, while stepping into a leadership role when required.

This is a great opportunity for someone with strong technical skills who enjoys problem‑solving, taking ownership, and supporting others to deliver consistently high standards.

Your impact

Whilst no two days are the same at Unite Group, here's a flavour of what you'll be responsible for in this role:

• Deliver hands‑on reactive and planned maintenance tasks, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently and to a high standard
• Support the day‑to‑day coordination of maintenance activities, helping manage workload, priorities and service delivery
• Maintain safe and compliant buildings, supporting health and safety checks and safe working practices
• Step into a lead role when required, providing guidance and support to colleagues and ensuring continuity in the absence of the Maintenance Manager
• Monitor and maintain property standards, carrying out low‑level repairs and general upkeep across communal areas
• Identify, log and track maintenance, safety and operational issues through internal systems
• Liaise with contractors and suppliers to support maintenance works where required
• Support stock control and ensure materials, tools and PPE are used efficiently
• Respond to incidents and emergencies, providing first‑line support where needed
• Contribute to a positive resident experience by resolving maintenance issues promptly and professionally

Your background

You don't need to follow a traditional path – what matters most is your technical ability, proactive mindset and commitment to high standards.

To be successful in this role, you will:

• Have experience in a maintenance, facilities or property maintenance role.
• Be confident delivering reactive repairs and planned maintenance tasks.
• Have a good understanding of health and safety and safe working practices.
• Be comfortable diagnosing and resolving general building maintenance issues.
• Have strong organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• Enjoy working as part of a team while also being able to work independently.
• Have good communication skills and a customer-focused approach.
• Technical knowledge of building systems such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC or general building maintenance would be beneficial.

Why it's great to work with US!

In this values‑led organisation, you'll do work that makes a difference, helping to shape welcoming, vibrant communities where students can thrive. Whether this is your first step or your next one, we'll help you build skills, confidence and a career you're proud of.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer:

• A performance‑related bonus paid twice a year
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 extra days
• A generous pension scheme where contributions range between 4% and 11% depending on how much you save
• Life assurance worth 4 times your salary
• Share save scheme giving you access to purchase Unite Group shares at a discounted rate
• Enhanced Family Leave policies
• Medicash (Health Cash Plan)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• One free volunteering day each year
• Retail and hospitality discounts

Alongside these benefits, you'll also have access to learning and development programmes designed to support your growth and career progression.

If you're expecting ordinary, think again. We're US, we're different – and we're proud of it.

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