University jobs in United Kingdom

Closing date: 24th August 2025 at 23:59 (BST)

Role type: Full time

Contract type: Permanent

Candidates who do not already have permission to work in the UK should note that by reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship will not be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

Occupying three beautiful campuses (Whiteknights, with its early 19th century planned landscape, London Road with its formal gardens and ceremonial Great Hall, and Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames, with its riverside garden landscape) the unique “University within a Park” setting of the University of Reading is an inspiring place to come to work.

With such a varied portfolio, there is never a dull day in the Estates Team here at Reading. As well as being responsible for the management and maintenance of the University’s academic teaching and research buildings, we also care for a significant collection of Champion Trees, an expansive lake, and the university SportsPark.

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and flexible Maintenance Carpenter to join the Campus Operations team, within Estates, offering a reactive maintenance service maintaining all aspects of the building fabric in university owned properties

You will need the confidence and ability to carry out reactive and planned maintenance on the university’s building stock, investigating, fault finding and seeking solutions to building fabric faults and failures. Carry out routine inspections and the planned maintenance schedules of the University's access control systems.
The post holder will provide an effective and prompt customer focussed, professional and efficient service to the University in accordance with its requirements, aims, objectives and Service Level Agreements using prior knowledge and experience.
You will be expected to manage and prioritise your own workload; updating the CAFM system and customers as required and carry out all work in a safe manner in accordance with university policies and procedures, safe systems of work, and current legislation.

Our team operate a 36 hour working week and the successful candidates will have the opportunity to join our on-call rota offering a 24/7 service to the University. The call out duty attracts a generous stand by allowance and overtime payments for all call outs.
Please apply via the Jobtrain site, and clearly demonstrate how you meet the key recruiting criteria:

1. Recognised time served apprenticeship, and NVQ Level 3 qualifications or equivalent in carpentry or joinery.

2. Experienced and competent in all aspects of planned, preventative and day to day reactive maintenance issues relating to the building fabric.

3. Awareness of current statutory requirements, including a broad knowledge H&S and the risk assessment process.

4. Good communicator with client- facing attitude and demonstrable customer care

5. Flexible, well organised, able to project a professional image and demonstrate proactive attitude in work related issues.

6. Participate in the Maintenance Team Call-out rota.

When completing the application you should match your qualifications, training, skills and experience to the job description key recruiting criteria giving full details and filling in all sections.
The University of Reading aims to create a fair and transparent reward strategy; ensuring staff are paid a competitive salary and are recognised and rewarded for their contribution.
Members of staff have the opportunity to join a pension scheme sponsored by the University. The University has a range of family friendly policies, including a childcare voucher scheme to help you save money on childcare costs.
We have a strong commitment to health and well-being and staff can benefit from discounted membership at the SportsPark, an Employee Assistance Programme and a Health Cash Plan. The University offers generous holiday entitlements which include public holidays and paid closure days.

Salary Package in region of £39.5k based on a basic salary G4 up to £32.5k plus call out standby on average £2.75k and overtime average £2.75k plus potential additional responsibility payments for specific qualifications, skills and /or experience up to £1.5k.

Interview and practical assessment date: TBC

Contact:

Contact Name: Andy Malin

Contact Job Title: Reactive Maintenance Manager

Contact Email address: a.t.malin@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Guneet Bhatti

Alternative Contact Job Title: Deputy Head of Reactive Maintenance

Alternative Contact Email address: g.k.bhatti@reading.ac.uk

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.