Premises Assistant

Ark; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in London seeks a Facilities Manager to ensure a secure and pristine environment for students and staff. Responsibilities include maintenance, repairs, gardening, and building management. Candidates should have experience in maintenance tasks and a practical understanding of health and safety regulations. This role offers a salary above the main pay scale and generous benefits including training and pension scheme.

Benefits

Higher than main pay scale salaries

Training days

Generous pension scheme

Access to retail rewards

Interest-free loans

Gym discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience working in a school or maintenance environment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Practical understanding of health & safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Ensure school buildings and grounds are secure and safe.
• Carry out repairs and maintenance tasks as required.
• Assist with fire and evacuation procedures.

Skills

DIY skills

Plumbing

Electrical maintenance

Gardening

Building maintenance

Education

Right to work in the UK

Basic computer skills

Tools

Building Management Systems

CCTV system

Job description

About The Role

Reporting to: FacilitiesManager

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 36 hours, 52 weeks (the working hours for this role is in a shift rota pattern, therefore one week will be 06:00am to 14:00pm and second week will be 11:00am to 19:00pm)

The Role

You will have experience working in a school or maintenance environment, with a strong capability for high-quality DIY tasks. You will also be solution-focused, proactive, and take great pride in the appearance of the school site. In this hands‑on role, you’ll play a crucial part in ensuring that our school is a welcoming, secure, and pristine environment for students, staff, and visitors. Collaborating closely with the Facilities Manager and premises team, you will undertake a variety of responsibilities that ensure the smooth operation of our Academy. Your tasks will include site maintenance, repairs, decorating, caretaking, gardening, security, waste management, and minibus driving, as well as supporting our sister school, Ark EvelynGrace Academy.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure school buildings and grounds are secure and safe at all times.
• Escort visitors and contractors from the car park to reception, as required.
• Carry out premises daily and weekly routines consistently.
• Respond and complete all tasks requested through the helpdesk system promptly.
• Carry out repairs and maintenance tasks, as required.
• Maintain a litter free environment, ensuring that the site is always kept clean and presentable at all times.
• Undertake emergency cleaning, graffiti removal and any other ad‑hoc cleaning, including toilet and window cleaning.
• Operate the Building Management Systems (BMS), CCTV system, heating, ventilation, lighting, water supply, drainage, and sanitation systems.
• Ensure that appropriate premises related signs and notices are displayed at all times, e.g. fire exits.
• Assist with fire and other evacuation procedures and always ensure all fire exits are accessible and that fire extinguishers are correctly positioned.
• Maintain paths and roads to be free of slip hazards, removing snow and treating ice, when required.
• Notify the appropriate agencies where there is a pest or vermin problem.

Qualification Criteria

• Right to work in the UK
• Basic training in one or more of the following: plumbing, general and grounds maintenance, electrical/building maintenance, heating systems
• Ability to work on own and as part of a team
• Approachable, adaptable, flexible, and calm with a ‘can‑do’ attitude.
• Solution focused, hard working, conscientious and detail orientated.
• Organised, and able to work with minimum supervision
• Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of work and achieving excellence
• Keen to learn and develop own skills
• Able to drive and willingness to take a MIDAS test
• Practical understanding of health & safety and security procedures and practices
• Basic computer skills e.g. e‑mail, MS Word, Internet.
• Skills in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry/joinery, painting
• Able to manage several projects at once, prioritising accordingly to meet deadlines

Benefits

• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers.
• Interest‑free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

About Us

We are a mixed all‑through school that caters for children from nursery age through to sixth form. We have the highest aspirations for all our children to ensure they are prepared for university and inspired to be leaders in their community. We offer our students a first‑class education based on high quality teaching and experiences outside of the classroom.

Our school was recognised by the Government in its Parliamentary Review as an example of good practice in education and we are ranked in the top 10% of schools nationally. All of our sixth form students received a university offer with 73% of those being a top 3rd university.

We pride ourselves on the relationships our staff have with our students, caring for them throughout their education. We also work closely with families to ensure that all our students are committed to learning and develop the character necessary to take advantage of all the opportunities we provide.

Diversity and inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non‑disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, click this link.
Ark is reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.