Maintenance Officer

Field Studies Council; West Alvington; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Geographical allowance 5%

Life assurance 5x salary

Health & wellbeing support

Counselling / wellbeing services

Cycle to work / EV schemes

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Field Studies Council is seeking a proactive Maintenance Officer for its Slapton site. The role is permanent and full time (approx. 37.5 hours/week), with varying weekly hours in busy periods. Salary £27,365–£29,040 per year, plus benefits including life assurance and wellbeing support.

Geographical allowance adds 5% of gross basic salary for the first two years. The job involves hands-on maintenance, safety responsibilities, and liaison with contractors to ensure value and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience in interior and exterior maintenance tasks.
• Health & Safety responsibilities and checks.
• Full driving licence, aged 21+, two years’ driving experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the maintenance of Field Studies Council Slapton site, both buildings and grounds.
• Carry out internal and external repairs to fabric and fittings.
• Oversee safety monitoring, checks and record-keeping.
• Maintain and monitor facilities like heating, hot water, alarms, sewage, door locks, and portable electrical equipment.
• Coordinate with external contractors for planned and reactive work.
• Assist in maintenance planning and MOTs/servicing for site vehicles.
• Support grounds maintenance and site cleanliness; set up rooms and assist teams as needed.

Job description

Do you have the skills and confidence to take the lead in maintaining a busy learning centre in a stunning natural setting? We're looking for a proactive and capable Maintenance Officer to join our team at Field Studies Council Slapton. Permanent contract - Full time average 37.5 hours per week Weekly hours may vary, with more during busy periods and fewer in quieter weeks. £27,365 - £29,040 per annum (DOE ) + excellent benefits - including life assurance 5 x your salary and health and wellbeing support.

Geographical allowance

• This role is currently eligible for our geographical allowance incentive. This means that during your first two years of employment with us, you'll be paid an extra amount each month on top of your usual salary - this extra payment is calculated at 5% of the gross basic salary figure.

What you'll be doing

What you'll be doing You will take the lead in keeping our centre safe, compliant and running smoothly. This is a busy, active role requiring hands‑on maintenance skills and the ability to carry out manual handling tasks. As a senior member of the team, you will take responsibility for the overall maintenance and improvement of our buildings, grounds, and essential site systems. This includes:

• Carrying out internal and external repairs to fabric and fittings
• Overseeing routine Health & Safety monitoring, checks and record-keeping
• Maintaining and monitoring internal systems such as heating and hot water, alarms, sewage system, electronic door locks, portable electrical equipment and other essential equipment
• Liaising with external contractors regarding planned and reactive maintenance work to ensure quality, value for money and compliance
• Contributing to maintenance planning, including supporting the Maintenance Action Plan
• Ensuring routine checks on learning location vehicles and arranging MOTs, servicing and repairs
• Supporting grounds maintenance, waste management, and keeping the site clean and welcoming
• Setting up rooms and assisting other teams with practical tasks when needed

This role also forms part of our duty/on-call rota to support customers and respond to emergencies.

Please refer to the vacancy pack for further details on the full responsibilities of the role.

Where you'll be based

Field Studies Council Slapton sits within the South Devon National Landscape, nestled between Start Bay and the freshwater lake of Slapton Ley, with Dartmoor just beyond. This is more than a workplace. It is a chance to help care for a beautiful coastal setting that inspires thousands of young people and adults to connect with and care for the environment. If you're looking for a role where your surroundings are as rewarding as your work, this could be it.

Requirements

We're seeking someone with experience in both interior and exterior maintenance work who takes pride in delivering high-quality workmanship and understands the Health & Safety responsibilities that come with this role. You will also bring:

• Experience of the safe use and care of relevant machinery and equipment for indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks
• Experience of liaising with (and supervising if necessary) external contractors
• Good practical problem-solving skills
• Ability to effectively manage tasks on a day‑to‑day basis
• A professional manner in all that you do
• An empathy with the aims and objectives of the Field Studies Council
• Motivation to learn new skills and take on new challenges
• A full driving licence is essential, as you will be asked to drive our vehicles. To do so, you must be aged 21 years or over, have been driving for at least two years, and undertake an internal assessment on commencement in the role.

Safety and background checks

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and we expect all team members to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will only be confirmed following the successful completion of rigorous pre‑employment checks, including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Diversity and inclusion

We want to create a world where everyone feels connected to the environment so they can enjoy the benefits it gives and make choices that help protect it. As an Investors in People charity, we realise that to achieve our vision we need diverse teams of staff who have a wide range of skills, a real passion for the work of the charity and pride in their role within it. No matter what role you perform at the Field Studies Council, everyone can make a difference and every role is vital to delivering our mission and vision.

Benefits

• 28 days annual holiday entitlement plus bank holidays
• Extra loyalty days dependent on length of service
• Life assurance 5 x your actual salary
• Health and Wellbeing Support App
• Second opinions from top doctors
• 24hr Counselling Helpline Service
• Cycle to work and EV schemes
• Reward programme with discounts and cashback opportunities
• Flexible working options where roles permit
• Quality learning and development opportunities