Maintenance Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced, practical and solutions-focused Maintenance Manager to take overall responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of our 170 bedroom Sandman Signature Newcastle Hotel.

This is a hands-on management position and is not a purely administrative or supervisory role. The successful candidate will be expected to be actively involved in maintenance and repair work, while also managing the maintenance function, planning preventative maintenance, managing budgets and working alongside one Maintenance Assistant.

The Maintenance Manager will be responsible for ensuring the hotel, guest bedrooms, public areas, back-of-house areas, plant and equipment are maintained to a safe, operational and high standard.

You will work closely with Front Desk, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage and Hotel Management, as well as suppliers, contractors and third-party service providers. The role requires someone who is organised, practical and able to respond quickly to issues in a busy hotel environment.

We are looking for someone with a genuine can-do attitude, who is a logical thinker, confident dealing with emergencies and able to identify problems and find practical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Take overall responsibility for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the hotel property.

Manage and support one Maintenance Assistant, allocating daily tasks and prioritising workloads.

Plan and complete preventative and reactive maintenance.

Maintain and complete daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual maintenance schedules and checks.

Carry out regular inspections and identify maintenance issues before they become larger problems.

Respond promptly to maintenance requests from guests and hotel departments.

Carry out hands-on repairs across bedrooms, bathrooms, public areas, back-of-house and external areas.

Complete general repairs including basic electrical, plumbing, joinery, tiling, decorating, patching, caulking and silicone work.

Safely use hand tools and power tools.

Complete minor repairs to doors, furniture, fixtures, fittings and general building fabric.

Carry out basic plumbing repairs including taps, toilets, sinks, waste pipes and minor leaks.

Complete minor electrical maintenance within appropriate levels of competence and training.

Complete minor tiling, painting and decorating works.

Monitor heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, pumps, boilers, controls and other building services and arrange specialist support where required.

Carry out routine plant room and building inspections.

Identify health and safety risks and take appropriate action.

Maintain accurate records of maintenance works, inspections, faults and completed repairs.

Ensure required safety, compliance and statutory checks are completed and recorded.

Preventative Maintenance & Compliance

A key responsibility will be ensuring the hotel has a structured and effective preventative maintenance programme.

The Maintenance Manager will ensure all required daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual checks and tasks are scheduled, completed, recorded and followed up. This will include building inspections, plant and equipment checks, maintenance schedules, safety checks, planned preventative maintenance and actions arising from inspections.

The role requires someone who is organised and proactive, ensuring maintenance is not simply reactive but that potential issues are identified and addressed before they impact guests or hotel operations.

Team Management

Manage and support one Maintenance Assistant, allocating daily tasks and ensuring workloads are appropriately prioritised.

Ensure scheduled maintenance is completed and the quality of work is maintained.

Support and develop the Maintenance Assistant and ensure appropriate records are maintained.

Work with Hotel Management to communicate significant maintenance issues, risks, planned works and operational requirements.

Suppliers & Third-Party Contractors

Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers, contractors and third-party service providers.

Arrange specialist contractors when work falls outside the department's capabilities.

Obtain quotations where required and coordinate contractor visits.

Ensure contractors comply with site safety requirements.

Monitor contractor performance and completed works and check that work meets the required standard.

Manage supplier relationships for maintenance services, materials and equipment.

Order maintenance materials, equipment and supplies and maintain appropriate stock levels.

Budgets, Orders and supplies

The Maintenance Manager will have responsibility for managing the department's budget, purchasing, orders, stock and supplies. The successful candidate will be expected to monitor expenditure, plan maintenance requirements and source appropriate materials and services while ensuring value for money without compromising safety, quality or guest experience. Good organisational and basic IT skills are therefore essential.

Emergency & Problem Solving

The hotel operates in a fast-paced environment where maintenance issues can arise at any time. The Maintenance Manager must be able to remain calm under pressure, respond quickly to emergencies, assess problems logically, prioritise according to safety and operational impact, find practical solutions, coordinate additional support and communicate effectively during an incident.

A can-do attitude is essential. We are looking for someone who does not simply identify a problem, but looks at how the problem can be resolved.

Working Hours & Availability

This is a full-time position with a minimum of 40 hours per week, working five days over seven days based around the operational needs of the business. The role will include weekend and public holiday working where required, as the hotel operates throughout the year.

Due to the nature of the hotel operation, the successful candidate must also be willing and able to respond to emergency maintenance situations and out-of-hours call-outs when required.

Essential Requirements

Minimum 2 years' management experience in a maintenance, facilities, building services or similar operational environment.

Previous hands-on maintenance experience and good general knowledge of building maintenance and repairs.

Experience managing preventative and reactive maintenance.

Practical knowledge across multiple maintenance disciplines and ability to safely use hand tools and power tools.

Good problem-solving and diagnostic skills and a sound understanding of health and safety.

Experience managing budgets, purchasing, orders and stock, and working with suppliers and third-party contractors.

Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, including the ability to manage daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual maintenance schedules.

Ability to manage and support a small maintenance team.

Good knowledge and understanding of customer service.

Basic IT skills, including email, basic systems and digital or written maintenance records.

Good oral and written communication skills.

Ability to work independently, take ownership and manage competing priorities.

Ability to remain calm and effective during emergencies and pressure.

Willingness to undertake emergency and out-of-hours call-outs when required.

Flexible approach to weekends and public holidays.

A genuine can-do attitude and willingness to get involved.

Technical Skills

Experience or working knowledge in the following areas would be highly beneficial:

Electrical maintenance

Plumbing

Joinery / carpentry

Tiling

Painting and decorating

Heating and ventilation

Air conditioning

General building maintenance

Building plant and equipment

Planned preventative maintenance

Contractor and supplier management

Candidates do not necessarily need to be qualified tradespeople in every discipline. However, a broad practical skill set and good working knowledge across multiple maintenance areas would be highly advantageous.

Hotel & Hospitality Experience

Previous experience working in a hotel or hospitality environment would be beneficial. An understanding of guest experience, room availability, response times and the importance of working closely with Front Desk and Housekeeping is particularly valuable.

The successful candidate must understand that hotel maintenance is carried out while the property remains operational. The ability to work professionally, safely and discreetly, while minimising disruption to guests, is therefore essential.

Why you'll love working with us

• Competitive salary and pension plan
• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays) + extra days for long service
• Free parking while on shift
• Rewards, recognition, and growth opportunities
• Dedicated training programmes to support your development
• Team, Friends & Family hotel discounts
• Up to 40% off food in our restaurants
• Three complimentary stays per year across our hotels in the UK, Ireland, or North America after 12 months of continued service.

Join a company that's not just about great service - but about great people. If you take pride in creating pristine spaces and memorable moments, we'd love to hear from you.

SUMMATION:

Submission of resume does not guarantee an interview or an actual transfer. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, provided they meet the minimal requirements of the applicable skills required.

You must be legally entitled to work in UK to apply.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Career opportunities with The Sandman Hotel Group, however, only those applicants we wish to interview will receive a reply to their application.