Maintenance Operative

Job description / Role

Job overview

The role
We are looking for a skilled and versatile maintenance operative to play a key part in maintaining and improving the historic buildings and grounds of Emanuel School.

This is a hands-on role where you will take responsibility for a variety of maintenance tasks and minor building projects, including carpentry, carpet laying, brickwork, plastering, glazing, plumbing, decorating, and minor electrical and lighting work.

You will be expected to monitor the condition of the school estate, identifying and reporting issues and taking swift, practical action to ensure that pupils, staff and visitors enjoy a safe and well-kept environment. The role also involves supervising contractors and ensuring that health and safety regulations are adhered to at all times.

The hours for this role are from 12.00pm to 9.00pm, including a one-hour unpaid lunch break, Monday to Friday. You will be asked to occasionally work additional hours to assist the department, for which a choice of overtime or time off in lieu will be agreed.

About you

We are looking for someone with a broad set of building and maintenance skills, along with previous experience of delivering building projects and routine maintenance.

An understanding of regulatory compliance as well as experience of supervising contractors is essential.

You will also need excellent organisational, timekeeping and problem-solving skills, along with good written and spoken English and the ability to communicate clearly in a professional manner.

Working at Emanuel

There is always a buzz at Emanuel. Colleagues enjoy their work and, like the pupils, are ambitious for the school. With a weekly staff briefing, half termly staff meetings, termly consultative group meetings and a common room committee, all of us are engaged in a lively ongoing dialogue about the school’s aims and aspirations.

Everyone works hard here, and anyone joining us should expect to do the same and share our commitment to the highest standards. At the same time our ethos remains unpretentious, kindly and practical, and there’s a strong sense of community and friendship at the school.

We aim to look after our staff well: we have an appraisal scheme with a focus on employees’ professional development; we sponsor postgraduate courses and a range of training opportunities; we offer salary sacrifice childcare vouchers; we offer a healthcare plan that includes counselling and medical support; and we’re committed to supporting staff wellbeing. Financially, all staff benefit from good pension provision and free lunches.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 14th October 2025.

Do note that interviews may be held at any stage after applications are received, so candidates are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Emanuel School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.