Premises Officer

Harriscareers; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual loyalty bonus

Pension scheme

26 days annual leave

Wellbeing Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work

Discounts

ICT and season ticket loans

Job summary

Harris Federation seeks a proactive Premises Officer to keep our site safe, secure and well maintained for staff, pupils and visitors. You will ensure adherence to health and safety policies, manage access control, coordinate maintenance and liaise with contractors to complete work safely.

The role covers grounds, welfare facilities, events support and on-site records. A flexible approach to hours and the ability to respond to emergencies are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in school or educational premises/site management.
• Solid understanding of health and safety requirements and safe working practices.
• Practical experience in maintenance, repairs, grounds maintenance, or related trades.
• Knowledge of site security systems and premises management.
• Experience supervising contractors and monitoring on-site works.
• Strong DIY and general maintenance skills.
• Awareness of cleaning standards and site presentation.
• Ability to identify and coordinate maintenance issues and repairs.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining a safe, secure and compliant environment by following health and safety policies.
• Providing site security, including opening/closing and monitoring access.
• Carrying out maintenance, repairs and decorating to high standards.
• Liaising with and supervising contractors to ensure safe, effective work.
• Maintaining grounds, keeping external areas clean and litter-free.
• Monitoring welfare facilities and replenishing supplies.
• Conducting regular site inspections and addressing issues promptly.
• Setting up furniture/equipment for events and meetings.
• Reporting maintenance issues to the Operations Manager.
• Identifying, mitigating and escalating health and safety risks.
• Responding to accidents and site incidents and ensuring areas are safe.
• Maintaining site/compliance records using EVRY.
• Supporting wider operations and undertaking additional duties.
• Providing occasional support across other Harris sites when needed.

Skills

Premises management

Health and safety

General maintenance

Contractor supervision

Site security

Facilities coordination

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Emergency response

Job description

£30,288-£32,070 (full-time, year-round role)

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a proactive and reliable Premises Officer to help ensure our site remains safe, secure and well maintained for staff, students and visitors.

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining a safe, secure and compliant environment by adhering to health and safety policies and procedures
• Providing site security, including opening, closing and monitoring access to the building
• Carrying out general maintenance, repairs and decorating to ensure high standards across the site
• Liaising with and supervising contractors to ensure work is completed safely and effectively
• Maintaining the site grounds, keeping external areas clean, tidy and free from litter
• Monitoring and maintaining welfare facilities, including replenishing essential supplies as required
• Conducting regular site inspections and addressing maintenance or health and safety issues promptly
• Setting up and clearing furniture and equipment for events, meetings and activities
• Reporting maintenance issues, defects and repairs to the Operations Manager
• Identifying, mitigating and escalating health and safety risks as appropriate
• Responding to accidents, spillages and other site incidents, ensuring areas are cleaned and made safe
• Maintaining accurate site and compliance records using EVRY
• Supporting the wider operations team and undertaking additional duties as required
• Providing occasional support across other Harris sites when needed

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Experience working in a school, educational setting or a similar premises, facilities or site management role
• A sound understanding of health and safety requirements and safe working practices
• Practical experience in maintenance, repairs, grounds maintenance, building services or a related trade
• Knowledge of site security systems, procedures and premises management
• Experience of supervising contractors and monitoring works on site
• Strong DIY and general maintenance skills
• An understanding of cleaning standards and effective site presentation
• The ability to identify, report and coordinate the resolution of maintenance issues and structural repairs
• Experience of monitoring stock levels and ordering materials and supplies
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads effectively
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a professional and customer-focused approach
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• A flexible approach to working hours, including occasional evenings and weekends where required
• The ability to respond calmly and effectively to emergencies and urgent site issues
• The physical capability to undertake manual handling and other site-based duties appropriate to the role
• A commitment to maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment for staff, students and visitors

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that's why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.