School Maintenance Operative

Smile Education Recruitment; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Smile Education Recruitment is recruiting for a reliable School Maintenance Operative to join a welcoming primary school in the Birmingham area. Start immediately and become a valued member of the premises team.

The role involves general maintenance, site checks, basic repairs and supporting the upkeep of classrooms, outdoor spaces and facilities. You will collaborate with staff, contractors and the wider team to keep the school safe and well presented.

Qualifications

• Experience in maintenance, caretaking or facilities management within a practical environment.
• Strong general DIY and maintenance skills.
• Good understanding of health and safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Carry out general maintenance and minor repairs across the school site.
• Complete routine checks of classrooms, buildings, and external spaces.
• Identify issues and ensure prompt reporting and resolution.
• Support upkeep of school grounds and furniture/equipment.
• Liaise with contractors and external maintenance providers.
• Maintain records of work and site checks.

Skills

Maintenance

Facilities management

Caretaking

DIY

Health & safety

Reliability

Job description

Smile Education are currently recruiting for a reliable and experienced School Maintenance Operative to join a welcoming and supportive primary school in the Birmingham area. The school is looking for someone who can start immediately and become a valued member of the premises team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a practical and hands-on individual who takes pride in maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment for pupils, staff and visitors.

The successful applicant will be responsible for carrying out a variety of general maintenance and premises duties across the school site. This will include completing routine repairs, carrying out site checks, maintaining classrooms and communal areas, supporting the upkeep of the school grounds and responding to day-to-day maintenance requests.

You will work closely with school staff, contractors and the wider premises team to ensure the school remains safe, functional and well presented.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience within school maintenance, facilities management, caretaking, building maintenance or a similar practical environment. A broad range of maintenance skills, a proactive approach and a strong understanding of health and safety are highly desirable.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a friendly and dedicated school team. The expected salary range for the role is 16 - 18 per hour, depending on experience.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Carrying out general maintenance and minor repairs across the school site
• Completing routine checks of classrooms, buildings, communal areas and external spaces
• Identifying maintenance issues and ensuring they are reported and dealt with promptly
• Carrying out basic plumbing, carpentry, decorating and general DIY tasks
• Supporting the maintenance and upkeep of school grounds
• Setting up, moving and maintaining furniture and equipment
• Ensuring classrooms and school facilities are safe and fit for purpose
• Carrying out routine health and safety checks
• Supporting fire safety procedures and emergency arrangements
• Monitoring and reporting issues relating to heating, lighting, water and other site systems
• Maintaining accurate records of maintenance work and site checks
• Liaising with contractors and external maintenance providers
• Supporting contractors and visitors while they are on site
• Receiving deliveries and ensuring equipment and materials are stored appropriately
• Maintaining a clean, tidy and safe working environment
• Responding to urgent maintenance issues when required
• Supporting the school with general premises and facilities requirements
• Working in accordance with school policies, safeguarding requirements and health and safety procedures

The Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have previous experience in maintenance, caretaking, facilities management or a similar practical role
• Ideally have experience working within a school or educational environment
• Have strong general DIY and maintenance skills
• Be confident carrying out basic repairs and practical tasks
• Have a good understanding of health and safety procedures
• Be reliable, punctual and well organised
• Be proactive and able to use their own initiative
• Be confident working independently as well as part of a wider team
• Have excellent attention to detail
• Be able to prioritise tasks and respond effectively to changing requirements
• Have good communication and interpersonal skills
• Be confident liaising with school staff, contractors and external agencies
• Take pride in maintaining a safe, clean and welcoming environment
• Be professional and approachable when working around children and young people

What to Expect from Applicants:

We are looking for applicants with previous experience in maintenance, caretaking, facilities management, building maintenance or a similar hands‑on role.

Candidates with experience working within a school, college or other educational environment will be highly desirable, although relevant experience from other sectors will also be considered.

Applicants should be confident undertaking general repairs and maintenance and have a practical, problem‑solving approach. You should be comfortable working independently, managing your workload and responding to maintenance requests throughout the school day.

A strong understanding of health and safety and safeguarding within an educational environment is essential.

Why work with Smile Education?

Smile Education are an agency with a difference. We are education specialists with a proven track record of supporting both experienced education professionals and those beginning their careers.

We provide access to training and CPD opportunities and proudly work alongside a number of well‑established schools and academy trusts across the local area. We are passionate about finding the right role for every candidate and

SM1LES

We are committed to safeguarding children. Each applicant will be expected to undertake compliance checks including Prohibited list, Barred list, DBS and Qualifications.