Maintenance Operative

Serco Limited; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully equipped van with tools

Training and career progression

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Employee discounts

Wellbeing and health support

Job summary

Serco Limited is seeking a Maintenance Operative to maintain safe, secure homes for asylum seekers in the Rochdale area. You will perform planned, preventative and reactive maintenance, and collaborate with housing officers and contractors to meet Home Office standards.

The role requires practical DIY skills, a full UK driving licence, and willingness to travel regionally. On-call duties and a full-time 37.5-hour week are included with competitive pay and benefits.

Qualifications

• BPSS clearance is required and will involve identity verification, employment history and criminal record checks.
• Occupational Health Questionnaire will be required to ensure wellbeing and performance.
• Desirable: trades qualifications in joinery, plumbing, painting/decorating or general building maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned, preventative and reactive maintenance across a portfolio of properties, ensuring work is completed safely, to a high standard and within timescales.
• Perform a range of property repairs including joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating, fitting and general maintenance.
• Collaborate with Housing Officers, contractors and colleagues to maintain safe, compliant homes that meet Home Office standards.
• Record maintenance activities, manage jobs through our systems and help coordinate contractors and specialist repairs.
• Carry out property compliance activities, including planned maintenance and PAT while maintaining safe working practices.
• Manage materials, tools and your company vehicle responsibly, ensuring everything is maintained to a professional standard.
• Build positive relationships with residents, landlords and partner organisations, delivering a professional and customer-focused service.
• Take part in the out-of-hours on-call rota to provide a 24-hour emergency maintenance service.

Skills

Practical skills

DIY skills

Driving licence

Region travel

Trades exp

Job description

Location:Rochdale, Bury and Middleton Salary: Up to £30,000 depending on experience and skills, plus excellent benefits, Vehicle and Tools also provided Schedule: Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Monday-Friday, 7.5 hours per day between 08:00 and 18:00 to meet operational requirements. Participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota (approximately once every 8-10 weeks) is required to provide 24-hour emergency cover.

Ready to make a difference?

As a Maintenance Operative in our Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) team, you'll help provide safe, secure and well-maintained accommodation for people seeking asylum on behalf of the Home Office. Whether you're bringing years of trade experience or you've developed practical DIY skills and are ready to build a career in maintenance, we'll support you to grow.

Every repair you complete has a positive impact. You'll receive the tools, training and opportunities to develop your skills, gain recognised qualifications and progress into more senior roles, all while helping create safe homes and delivering vital public services.

Company: Serco Limited Salary: £27500-33500 per annum Hours: Full-time Location: Rochdale, OL11 3JA Job type: Permanent Posting date: 23 Oct 2026 Closing date: 22 Nov 2026

What you'll do as a Maintenance Operative

• Carry out planned, preventative and reactive maintenance across a portfolio of properties, ensuring work is completed safely, to a high standard and within agreed timescales.
• Complete a range of property repairs, including joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating, fitting and general maintenance.
• Work closely with Housing Officers, contractors and other colleagues to maintain safe, compliant homes that meet Home Office standards.
• Record maintenance activities, manage jobs through our systems and help coordinate contractors and specialist repairs where needed.
• Carry out property compliance activities, including planned maintenance and Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), while maintaining safe working practices.
• Manage materials, tools and your company vehicle responsibly, ensuring everything is maintained to a professional standard.
• Build positive relationships with residents, landlords and partner organisations, delivering a professional and customer-focused service.
• Take part in the out-of-hours on-call rota to help provide a 24-hour emergency maintenance service.

Does this sound like you?

• You're practical, enjoy solving problems and take pride in a job well done.
• You might already have maintenance experience, or you may simply have strong DIY skills and be keen to build a long-term career – we'll help you develop.
• You're willing and able to travel throughout the region and occasionally elsewhere in the UK. A full UK driving licence is essential.
• Desirable: Experience or qualifications in one or more trades (e.g. joinery, plumbing, painting, decorating, building maintenance), experience working in residential properties or social housing, knowledge of health and safety requirements and safe working practices, experience using digital systems to manage maintenance jobs.

What we offer

• A fully equipped company van (with fuel card), tools and uniform, with personal use of the van included
• Full training, mentoring and opportunities to gain new skills and qualifications
• Clear career progression, with opportunities to move into specialist and management roles
• Salary progression based on your skills, experience and development
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting and checks

This role requires BPSS clearance, which involves identity verification, employment history, and criminal record checks to meet government security standards. An Occupational Health Questionnaire will also be required to ensure we can offer appropriate support for your wellbeing and performance.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.