Maintenance Operative

deverellsmith; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Monday to Friday

Career development

Supportive team environment

Job summary

Deverell Smith is recruiting a Maintenance Operative for a Build to Rent community in Cambridge. You will handle planned and reactive maintenance, prepare apartments for new residents, and support safety compliance while delivering a high standard of service.

The role requires hands-on, multi-skilled trades experience, good English, and the ability to manage workloads independently within a 40-hour week. A discretionary bonus and clear career development paths accompany the position.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as Maintenance Operative or similar role.
• Multi-skilled across trades: painting, plumbing, joinery, plastering.
• Knowledge of planned preventative maintenance and Health & Safety legislation.
• Strong communication and customer service skills; able to work independently.
• Proficient in using maintenance management / CAFM systems.
• Good written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned and reactive maintenance to ensure high standards.
• Perform PPM in line with statutory requirements and safety checks.
• Prepare apartments for new residents and support turnarounds.
• Assist with furniture assembly, movement and inventory where required.
• Maintain accurate maintenance and compliance records using CAFM systems.
• Build positive working relationships with contractors and suppliers.

Skills

Multi-skilled

Painting & decorating

Plumbing

Joinery

Plastering

Safety compliance

Customer service

English proficiency

Education

NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent

Tools

CAFM systems

Yardi

FixFlo

Job description

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £32,000 + 20% Bonus

Hours: Full-time | 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday (with flexibility to support business needs)

The Opportunity

We are recruiting on behalf of a leading Build to Rent (BTR) operator for a Maintenance Operative to join a thriving residential community in Cambridge.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a multi-skilled maintenance professional who enjoys working in a customer-focused environment and takes pride in delivering high standards. You'll play a key role in ensuring residents enjoy a safe, well-maintained and welcoming place to call home.

Working closely with the Facilities Manager and wider site team, you'll be responsible for planned and reactive maintenance, preparing apartments for new residents, supporting statutory compliance and helping maintain exceptional communal spaces.

No two days are the same, making this an ideal role for someone who enjoys variety, problem-solving and providing excellent customer service alongside their technical skills.

Key Responsibilities

Planned & Reactive Maintenance

• Complete planned preventative maintenance (PPM) in line with statutory requirements.
• Carry out compliance checks including fire safety, water hygiene, electrical and other building systems.
• Respond promptly to reactive maintenance requests, aiming for first-time fixes wherever possible.
• Undertake a range of maintenance works including:
  • Painting & decorating
  • Basic plumbing
  • Minor joinery
  • Plastering
  • General building repairs
• Conduct routine inspections of apartments, communal areas and resident amenities, identifying issues before they become problems.

Apartment Turnarounds

• Prepare apartments to an exceptional standard for new residents.
• Complete make-ready works between tenancies within agreed turnaround times.
• Assist with furniture assembly, movement and inventory where required.

Health & Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance activities are completed safely and in accordance with current legislation.
• Maintain accurate maintenance and compliance records using CAFM/property management systems.
• Support the Facilities Manager with risk assessments, statutory compliance and site inspections.
• Report hazards and ensure remedial works are completed promptly.

Resident Experience

• Deliver a professional, friendly and customer-focused service during every resident interaction.
• Communicate clearly with residents regarding maintenance appointments and ongoing works.
• Take ownership of maintenance issues through to completion, ensuring residents remain informed throughout.

Site Presentation

• Help maintain high presentation standards across all communal areas and resident amenities.
• Support with the setup and maintenance of amenity spaces for resident events.
• Identify and report cleanliness or maintenance issues across the development.

Stock & Contractor Management

• Assist in managing maintenance stock, tools and consumables.
• Accurately record completed works and materials used.
• Build positive working relationships with contractors and suppliers while ensuring work is completed to a high standard.

General Duties

• Provide clear handovers between colleagues where required.
• Support additional maintenance projects across the development.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the development and contribute to creating an outstanding resident experience.

About You

We're looking for someone who is practical, proactive and passionate about delivering exceptional standards.

Essential

• Previous experience as a Maintenance Operative, Fabric Technician, Handyperson or Multi-Trader.
• Multi-skilled experience across several trades, including painting & decorating, plumbing, joinery, plastering or general maintenance.
• Good understanding of planned preventative maintenance and Health & Safety legislation.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Able to work independently and manage your own workload.
• Strong attention to detail with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Comfortable using maintenance management or CAFM systems.
• Good written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Experience within Build to Rent (BTR), PBSA, residential property, hotels or hospitality.
• Relevant trade qualification (NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent).
• Experience using systems such as Yardi, FixFlo or other CAFM/property management platforms.

What's on Offer

• Salary of £32,000
• Discretionary bonus
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• Opportunity to join a growing Build to Rent operator
• Supportive team environment
• Ongoing training and career development
• The chance to work within one of the UK's fastest-growing residential sectors