Maintenance and Grounds Operative

Chappell Enterprises UK; Great Horkesley; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Term-time meals

Healthcare benefits

Overtime opportunities

Supportive Estates Team

Job summary

Chappell Enterprises UK is seeking a Maintenance & Grounds Operative for a reputable educational institution in Colchester, Essex. You will join a small Estates Team to keep school buildings and facilities safe and well-maintained, carrying out planned and reactive maintenance and coordinating contractors when needed.

The role is full-time, Monday to Friday, with a driving licence required. Salary ranges from £29,000 to £31,000, with term-time meals and healthcare benefits described in the

Qualifications

• Experience in building maintenance, facilities management or similar.
• Good practical skills across a range of maintenance disciplines (carpentry, plumbing, decorating).
• Ability to diagnose maintenance issues and propose repair solutions.
• Sound understanding of health and safety in a maintenance environment.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance across all school buildings and facilities.
• Identify maintenance requirements and propose practical solutions.
• Diagnose faults and undertake repairs in carpentry, plumbing, decorating, joinery, fixtures and fittings, doors, windows and general maintenance.
• Carry out basic electrical maintenance where competent to do so.
• Complete minor refurbishment works and improvements.
• Carry out preventative maintenance tasks to extend life of buildings and equipment.
• Conduct regular inspections to identify requirements and hazards.
• Support building services operation (heating, lighting, water).
• Assist with room set-ups and events preparations.
• Support compliance activities including fire safety and water hygiene checks.
• Maintain maintenance records and supervise external contractors.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Carpentry

Plumbing

Decoration

General repairs

Health & safety

Problem solving

Communication

Driving licence

Education

Trade qualification

Job description

At A Glance

• Job Title: Maintenance & Grounds Operative
• Location: Colchester, Essex
• Salary: £29,000 - £31,000
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, with some flexibility to start earlier if required
• Start Date: As soon as possible

Please note - A full UK Driving Licence is required for you to be considered for this position.

Are you a skilled maintenance professional with a knack for problem-solving and a passion for creating safe, well-maintained environments? Do you thrive in a role where your practical expertise can make a real difference? Our client, a reputable educational institution, is seeking a dedicated Maintenance & Grounds Operative to join their team and help ensure the school's buildings, facilities and infrastructure remain safe, secure and fit for purpose.

About Our Client:

Our client is a well-established school committed to providing a safe, secure and welcoming environment for pupils, staff and visitors. They pride themselves on maintaining high standards across their estate and ensuring that all buildings and facilities are well-maintained and fit for purpose.

About the Role:

As a Maintenance & Grounds Operative, you will play a key role in the upkeep and maintenance of the school's buildings and facilities. You will be responsible for identifying, diagnosing and resolving a wide range of maintenance issues, carrying out repairs where appropriate and helping to coordinate specialist contractors when required.

Working as part of a small Estates Team, you will provide practical expertise across the school estate while also supporting wider site operations when needed. The role offers plenty of variety and requires someone who can work both independently and collaboratively to keep the school running safely and smoothly.

Key Responsibilities:

• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance across all school buildings and facilities.
• Identify maintenance requirements and propose practical solutions.
• Diagnose faults and undertake repairs in areas including carpentry, plumbing, decorating, joinery, fixtures and fittings, doors, windows and general maintenance.
• Carry out basic electrical maintenance where competent to do so.
• Complete minor refurbishment works and improvements.
• Carry out preventative maintenance tasks to help extend the life of buildings, facilities and equipment.
• Conduct regular inspections of buildings and facilities to identify maintenance requirements and potential hazards.
• Support the operation and maintenance of building services including heating, lighting and water systems.
• Assist with room set-ups, furniture moves and preparations for school events.
• Support statutory compliance activities, including routine fire safety, emergency lighting and water hygiene checks.
• Maintain appropriate maintenance records where required.
• Liaise with and assist in supervising external contractors carrying out maintenance, servicing and repair works.
• Maintain workshops, stores, tools and equipment in a safe and organised condition.
• Support colleagues across the wider Estates Team during busy periods or where operational priorities require.
• Assist with seasonal duties including gritting, snow clearance and emergency response.

Requirements:

Essential:

• Proven experience in building maintenance, facilities management or a similar property maintenance role.
• Good practical skills across a range of maintenance disciplines, including carpentry, plumbing, decorating and general repairs.
• Ability to diagnose building maintenance issues and identify appropriate repair solutions.
• Ability to identify preventative maintenance requirements and suggest suitable solutions.
• Sound understanding of building maintenance principles and when specialist contractors should be engaged.
• Good knowledge of health and safety requirements within a maintenance environment.
• Practical problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently.
• Good organisational and communication skills.
• Flexible approach and willingness to support colleagues across the wider Estates Team.
• Willingness to work outside usual core hours when required and participate in an out-of-hours on‑call rota.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable:

• Recognised qualification in a relevant trade or maintenance discipline.
• Experience working within a school or similar multi‑building estate.
• Knowledge of statutory building compliance and planned preventative maintenance.
• Experience managing or coordinating external contractors.
• First Aid qualification.
• Experience using maintenance management systems.

Why Join our Client?

• Join a supportive and collaborative Estates Team.
• Opportunity to make a real impact on the school's environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• The school offers term‑time free meals and various healthcare benefits.
• Flexible working arrangements with overtime opportunities for relevant out‑of‑hours duties.
• A varied role where no two days are quite the same and where your practical skills will be highly valued.