Site Assistant in Southampton

Welcome to St. Mark's CE School. We are a vibrant faith-based learning community dedicated to enabling every child to thrive through exceptional educational opportunities. We are currently looking for two passionate and proactive individuals to join our expanding team as Site Assistants. Our school premises and extensive landscapes form the very foundation of our daily operations and community identity. Due to expansion, we have two positions available. The role supports the Site Manager and Deputy Site Manager with the security, cleanliness, landscape maintenance, and comprehensive environmental upkeep of the school site. A primary differentiator for this specific position is our emphasis on premium grounds maintenance. St. Mark's boasts an extensive landscape and exterior ecosystem. The successful candidate will ensure that our outdoor learning spaces, playing fields, borders, and main entrances are kept in top‑tier condition year‑round.

Core Focus: Landscape and Grounds

With an extensive landscape profile, our outdoor areas require steady, high‑quality attention to keep them looking pristine and inspiring. Key responsibilities include:

• Horticulture and Aesthetics: Maintaining high‑standard lawn care, hedge rows, decorative borders, and planting beds across the property.
• Machinery Operations: Operating and executing safe daily maintenance on commercial grade lawnmowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, and leaf blowers.
• Seasonal Stewardship: Leading winter gritting, snow clearing, leaf management, and storm remediation to ensure absolute safety for pupils and staff on entry lines.
• Environmental Cleansing: Clearing outside drains, gullies, and pathways daily to eliminate blockages and maintain crisp site presentation.

Core Focus: Buildings and Safety

Beyond the landscape, the assistant site team ensures the absolute structural integrity, security, and day‑to‑day functional operations of the main school estate.

• Site Security and Locks: Act as an authorized primary key holder. Responsibilities include executing precise shift‑based opening and lock‑up routines, conducting comprehensive security sweeps, checking for vandalism, and addressing out‑of‑hours emergency alarm calls.
• Repairs and Decoration: Execute planned minor DIY repairs, carpentry, fixtures installation, and routine painting/redecoration projects during holiday down‑times to ensure all interior classrooms stay fresh and safe.
• Utilities and Operations: Assist with monitoring major utilities (heating, lighting, ventilation, filtration). Conduct daily checks to confirm operational efficiency and report complex maintenance requirements promptly.
• Logistics and Functions: Support the physical configuration of the school for large‑scale events, parent evenings, performances, and physical relocations of classrooms or heavy furniture assets.

Why Join St. Mark's?

A Unique Workplace Culture: We believe that a well‑cared‑for environment creates a peaceful, productive workspace for everyone. By joining our operations team, you become a cornerstone of our school community.

Strong Christian Ethos: Love, service, and belonging are lived daily across our whole school. We treat each other with respect and take collective pride in our surroundings.

Investment in People: This is a busy job, but it comes with structured training, trade development, and an explicit pathway toward full Site Manager positions in the future.

A Welcoming Community: Our pupils are polite, engaged, and highly appreciative of the site team. You will see the direct impact of your hard work on their smiles every single day.

Employee Rewards and Benefits

• Pension Scheme: Secure membership within the highly sought‑after Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Employee Assistance: 24/7 access to free, completely confidential counselling and occupational health support.
• Secure Parking: Convenient, dedicated, and complimentary on‑site parking spaces for all staff.
• Generous Leave: Full‑year holiday allocations with flexible booking windows during school closures.
• Modern Machinery: Access to high‑specification, professionally maintained landscaping tools and facilities.
• Staff Dining Hub: Freshly cooked school lunches and catering options available on‑site at subsidised rates.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training: Good standard of literacy and numeracy (GCSE English and Mathematics Grade C equivalent preferred). Willingness to complete all mandatory health, safety, and trade certifications listed in the training pathway.

Required Experience: Demonstrable experience in grounds maintenance, landscape upkeep, horticulture, or agricultural labour. Proven background in practical hands‑on DIY work, carpentry, painting, or building maintenance tasks. Confident operator of tools and maintenance machinery with explicit attention to safety guidelines.

Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to support sponsorship. St Mark's Church of England School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role requires an enhanced DBS.