Maintenance Operative in Gateshead

Salary Band 2, £25,146 (plus a Real Living Wage Supplement)

Location: Follingsby Park, Gateshead, plus travel to other force locations in Southern Area

Hours/Contract: Full Time, Permanent Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm

Working for #TeamNP

Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in. As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From monitoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.

As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued. Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year‑round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best. Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

As a Maintenance Operative you will provide a building and vehicle maintenance service and ad‑hoc driving duties to the force to support the needs of operational activities and ensure a safe and functional working environment for Northumbria Police staff and visitors.

What you’ll do:

• Maintain designated buildings to ensure that staff and visitors using the buildings are provided with a safe and functional environment by undertaking all related building checks.
• Carry out basic repairs and maintenance including assessments of work to be undertaken, assigned testing, and scheduled servicing of buildings and equipment.
• Undertake office furniture moves and transfers in order to help ensure that everyone has the necessary equipment and supplies for their needs.
• Collect and dispose of confidential and non‑confidential waste, unwanted furniture and equipment.
• Provide cover for other driving posts when requested to ensure driver cover is maintained.
• Arrange servicing, undertake routine vehicle checks and minor maintenance of police vehicles, reporting problems/defects to Fleet Management and arrange valeting.
• Assist contractors with repairs and provide an escort service to non‑vetted contractors.
• Undertake driving duties, taking/collecting vehicles for repair.
• Take vehicles to external garages for tyre replacements, collecting items from Stores and local trade suppliers.

What you’ll bring:

• Knowledge of general building maintenance skills and upkeep.
• A full driving licence and able to drive manual vehicles including transit sized vans.
• Being able to trouble shoot building faults, remedy basic issues, or escalate as appropriate.
• Being able to work as part of a wider team and cover other locations as required.
• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues, line managers and contractors to ensure issues are understood and appropriate action can be taken.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

What we offer:

• 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays.
• NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme.
• Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave.
• Flexi time – allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs.
• Fantastic market‑leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution.
• Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts.
• Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers.
• Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets.
• Access to gyms in some stations.
• Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Opportunity to volunteer in local community.

Just so you know, our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Maintenance Operative with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute. The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face to face interview.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, working together to improve the lives of disabled employees. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In cases of very high application volumes, we may prioritise those who most closely meet the criteria, applying the same fair approach for all candidates. If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process.

At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Northumbria Police are currently a Real Living Wage employer – this means that if the hourly rate paid to you by Northumbria Police in respect of your assigned role does not meet the Real Living Wage, then an additional payment will be made.

This is a permanent role subject to a six‑month probationary period. If you are successful in your application, you will have a six‑month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.