Maintenance Operative

Mears Group; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading facilities management provider is seeking a Maintenance Operative in Kent to support various NHS properties. The role involves general maintenance tasks including painting and decorating. Ideal candidates will have DIY experience, good communication skills, and a full UK driving licence. This full-time position offers a salary up to £28,000 plus benefits including a company vehicle and annual leave.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual Mears Fun Day

Volunteering Leave

Staff perks with Mears Rewards

Company Vehicle and Fuel Card

Access to EAP counselling sessions

Qualifications

• Experience providing maintenance support across various properties.
• Comfortable working in mental health units.
• Commitment to safe working practices.

Responsibilities

• Carry out painting and decorating across NHS properties.
• Assist with general DIY tasks and basic repairs.
• Support the Maintenance Services team as required.

Skills

Experience in Painting and Decorating

General DIY knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work independently

Comfortable using handheld devices

Strong attention to detail

Flexible and willing to travel

Full UK driving licence

Job description

Annual salary: up to £28,000.00

Maintenance Operative

Location: Kent

Salary: Up to £28,000 per annum plus company vehicle and fuel card

Contract Type: Full time – Permanent, 42.5 hrs per week, Monday to Friday

Our Kent Facilities Management branch supports two major NHS Trusts in the Kent region. The branch is responsible for administering all activities related to delivering facilities management services across multiple buildings. Our purpose is to ensure these buildings are safe, compliant, and fully operational for their users. Some of our core repair and maintenance functions include – Gas, Electrical, Lifts, Water and General plumbing and building works. Our clients—Kent & Medway Partnership Trust (Mental Health Services) and Kent Community Health Foundation Trust—provide care across offices, secure units, clinics, dental surgeries, and inpatient/outpatient facilities throughout Kent.

About the Role

We are looking for a Maintenance Operative to join our team here in Kent. This role involves providing reliable, hands‑on support across a range of NHS properties in Kent, including mental health units. The Maintenance Operative will carry out painting and decorating, general DIY tasks, and basic repairs, supporting the wider Maintenance Services team as needed. You will also assist MSOs with day‑to‑day duties and act as a chaperone when required, offering an additional pair of eyes to ensure safety, security, and compliance while work is being completed on site.

Key Criteria

• Experience in Painting and Decorating to a high standard
• General DIY knowledge and experience
• Comfortable working within challenging behaviour / mental health units
• Excellent communication skills with a customer‑focused approach
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Comfortable using handheld devices or digital job management systems
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to safe working practices
• Flexible and willing to travel across Kent
• Full UK driving licence

Benefits we can offer you

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day – Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave – Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards – discounts of up to 10% on weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
• Family friendly policies
• Company Vehicle and Fuel Card
• Access to EAP counselling sessions

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points.

Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.

Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:

Beth Dunford ([e-mail])

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.

At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.