Performance Venues - Facilities Assistant in Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do.

Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world‑class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Performance Venues curate and deliver a large and varied programme of performances and events across each year supporting our students, academics and professional services teams, as well as welcoming audiences from the city and the region to experience our cultural programmes.

Reporting to the Operations Supervisor, you will play a key role in the delivery of support operations for a wide variety of events across our three principal venues.

Offering facilities support to both internal and external contacts, you will provide a first‑class customer experience and ensure that our venues are incredibly welcoming and safe for a wide range of users.

This is a busy, active and physically demanding role, supporting a full schedule of events across locations at the University of Sheffield.

Successful candidates will work across the campus with our facilities and events teams as required.

Locations include but are not limited to the Octagon Centre, Firth Hall and the Drama Studio.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Event set up and breakdown
• Construction/deconstruction of a modular staging system, crowd barriers and performance flooring.
• Assisting technical staff with the set‑up and pack down of Audio‑Visual equipment.
• Setting up of tables, benches, platform seating and arrangement of loose floor seating.
• Setup and arrangement of masking, drapery and exhibition boards.
• Cleaning and Waste Disposal
• Carrying out post‑event cleaning of the main spaces using a variety of cleaning apparatus.
• Disposal of waste in accordance with University policies and guidelines, including general, confidential, recyclable, electrical and glass waste.
• Proactively undertake ad‑hoc housekeeping activities to a high standard such as spot cleaning toilet areas and replenishing consumables and external ground maintenance.
• Health and Safety and Security
• Undertake building specific activities to ensure the health and safety of building users.
• Respond to accidents and near misses recording them in accordance with University policy.
• Undertake activities in relation to building security such as locking/unlocking and alarm setting with regular building patrols, checking access points and ID/passes of attendees.
• Accurately reporting suspicious activity or persons to the University Emergency Control Room.
• Undertake specific activities in relation to emergency evacuation of the building, including liaising with fire marshals, University safety and security teams and emergency services.
• Customer Service and Building Operations
• Respond to face‑to‑face enquiries from students, staff, visitors, contractors and the general public, in a polite and courteous manner, ensuring an excellent service is given.
• Proactively respond and take ownership of day‑to‑day building operations issues as they arise and provide a first line response to ensure issues are resolved promptly and do not cause a safety risk or give a negative impression to building users.
• Receive and check deliveries of equipment and consumable products.
• Carry out regular inspections of buildings, reporting faults through the appropriate method.
• Assist in the development of standard operational procedures, reviewing these when required ensuring the relevant line manager is informed of any changes or improvements.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all.

We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected.

Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team to deliver operational objectives to deadlines.
• Experience of providing a high standard of customer care and a commitment to delivering excellent services to internal/external customers.
• Demonstrate effective two‑way communication skills to engage with a wide variety of customers and colleagues in a professional manner.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and be supportive of colleagues.
• Ability to effectively review work related issues and problems identifying appropriate corrective measures, referring to line manager where necessary.
• Ability to forward think and take corrective action to prevent problems and issues arising.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to organise resources, prioritise activities and own work without close supervision and to meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of health and safety at work and the ability to identify potential hazards and risks, and suggest solutions.
• Demonstrate a positive and flexible approach to work and ability to embrace change.
• Willing to attend training courses and development activities and demonstrate a genuine commitment to continued personal development and self‑improvement.
• Possession of a qualification or equivalent experience in customer services, health and safety or building maintenance.

Desirable

• Experience of working in an operational capacity within an events venue and/or theatre.
• Further Information
• Grade: 3
• Work arrangement: Part‑time
• Line manager: Deputy Head of Performance Venues
• Direct reports: N/A
• Our website

For informal enquiries about this job contact Chris Leach, Deputy Head of Performance Venues:

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 23/07/2026.

We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 30/07/2026.

If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Campus Services Administration team on

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield. ac. uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes.
• A range of generous family‑friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• access to menopause support in the workplace
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield. ac. uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window).

If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence.

Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society.

We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience.

Our University Vision ( outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.

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