Maintenance Operative

Downing; Leeds; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury student accommodation provider in Leeds is seeking an experienced Maintenance Operative to ensure a proactive and responsive repair and maintenance service in a 474-bed facility. Responsibilities include liaising with managers and contractors, undertaking inspections, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. The ideal candidate must possess relevant maintenance qualifications, have strong communication skills, and a commitment to excellent customer service. This role also offers benefits including 25 days holiday and employee support programs.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Life assurance cover

Mental health support

Company pension contribution

Qualifications

• Experience in domestic electrical/plumbing/general maintenance.
• Ability to prioritize workloads effectively.
• Take ownership and pride in tasks.

Responsibilities

• Deliver responsive repair and maintenance services.
• Liaise effectively with managers and colleagues.
• Undertake regular building patrols and inspections.

Skills

Customer service

Health & Safety knowledge

Communication

Maintenance skills

Time management

Education

Relevant qualification in plumbing, joinery, or electrical systems

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Maintenance Operative, with a solid background in general repair and maintenance, to join our 474-bed luxury student accommodation in the City Centre of Leeds.

As a Maintenance Operative, you will be responsible for delivering the best experience to our customers by providing a pro‑active and responsive repair and maintenance service, ensuring that faults and maintenance requests within the accommodation are dealt with in a timely manner.

Downing are an award‑winning leading developer, owner, and operator of bespoke, luxury student accommodation, residential and commercial property across the UK. We have been operating for over 35 years and currently have 14 operational student accommodation schemes in 10 major cities, with a further £1.6bn of upcoming developments in our pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Exercise initiative in providing excellent customer service, liaising effectively with Managers and other colleagues.
• Liaise with and monitor onsite contractors to ensure completion of work.
• Be responsible for the day to day reactive and preventative maintenance.
• Be responsible for the planned maintenance including fire alarm testing, emergency lighting testing, fire extinguisher checks water hygiene flushing / temperature monitoring, shower head descaling and health & safety checks.
• Undertake regular building patrols to identify any maintenance requirements or Health and Safety risks.
• Undertake scheduled flat inspections and complete all resultant actions in a timely manner.
• Record, log and monitor any maintenance issues that may arise within the maintenance logbook.
• Ensure that maintenance records are kept for all services, including gas safety inspections, lightening protection systems, fall arrest systems, PAT testing and fixed wiring certification.
• Ensure that all Property Documentation Files are accurately maintained and up to date.
• Adherence to H&S policy ensuring that Risk Assessments and Method Statements are obtained / maintained and that safe systems of work are followed, including Permit to Work and hot works permits.
• Always interact with students professionally, showing empathy towards any maintenance issues you may find and understanding that this is their home.
• Report any welfare issues to a manager immediately.

Key Requirements

• Take ownership of responsibilities and display pride in work carried out.
• Have a thorough understanding of Health & Safety legislation and the impact of the works being undertaken.
• Hold a relevant qualification in either plumbing, joinery, or electrical systems if possible.
• Have previous experience of domestic electrical/plumbing/general maintenance.
• Have intermediate level skills in business operating systems including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Have demonstrable experience of effective communication both orally and in writing.
• Have the ability to prioritise your own workload.
• Work within a team to cover reception / admin duties and gain a knowledge of the student booking system.

Hours of Work

• Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm or 9am to 6pm on a rota basis.
• We require you to work 1 in 4 Saturday’s 8am to 5pm on a rota’d shift basis
• During our summer turnaround period, there may be the opportunity for overtime to support student check-in / check-out.

The benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Life assurance cover
• Mental health support
• Company pension contribution

Work for us

Our people are our success and there has never been a more exciting time to join Downing as it enters the most significant expansion for three decades.

Our team is united in a mutual respect and a desire to move the business forward. Here you’ll find all our latest job vacancies. If you’re excited by opportunity and want to be valued for your contribution, take a look at what we currently have available.