Facilities Operative

The Post

Estates & Commercial Services, Property Management Division is seeking to fill the position of Facilities Operative. This role sits within the Operations and Maintenance team who have responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the University Estate, including building fabric, electrical and mechanical building services, hard landscaping such as roads and footpaths and portering/facilities services.

The Facilities Operative will play a key role within the Operations and Maintenance team, working in a fast paced and dynamic environment that goes with a broad customer base, round the year business and a large estate. The team’s remit is broad and varied undertaking planned preventative and reactive work across the University estate on and off campus. This includes attending to over 20,000 requests for work from students and staff each year.

Reporting to the Facilities Supervisor, the role holder will undertake basic repairs, maintenance, legislative compliance activities and deliver Portering services. The Facilities Operatives are responsible for delivering a responsive and efficient service to all customers.

The in-house maintenance team is supplemented by external term and service contractors as required. Contractors are also employed to undertake specific pieces of large-scale maintenance work and projects.

Special Conditions

• This post will require the post holder to work across the University Estate, accessing all areas which may include working at height or in cramped/awkward spaces
• The hours for this post are 36 hours per week, primarily Monday to Friday, however flexibility is required to work 5 days over 7 as operational needs dictate.
• Participate in a backshift rota
• Working outside in periods of inclement weather

Description of Duties

The following duties are not intended to be exhaustive but highlight a number of tasks and accountabilities which the post holder will be expected to fulfil. The post holder will be expected to undertake basic maintenance repairs, legislative compliance activities and deliver Portering services across the University estate in the most cost effective and efficient manner supporting the University core services and ensuring that value for money is achieved overall.

The main duties and responsibilities of the post are:

• Undertake basic legislative compliance duties such as filter cleaning/replacement, meter readings, water temperature checks, flushing of low use outlets, RCD testing as advised by Supervisor
• Undertake basic minor repairs (display boards and tables tightening loose screws and clips and other non-technical tasks that may require the use of hand tools) as advised by Supervisor
• Responding quickly to priority tasks and ensuring that all work is completed to a high standard in a timely manner
• Undertaking any duties as necessary to support key University events i.e. Graduation/ Open Days
• Assisting in the operation of the maintenance stores
• Ensuring that the workshops and work areas are kept clean, tidy and free from hazards at all times
• Ensuring that all work carried out complies with relevant risk assessments, safety legislation, University safety policies and procedures and all applicable regulations, Approved Code of Practices and good practice guidelines
• Ensuring that all appropriate documentation is completed correctly, on time and in a tidy manner and recommending any changes to risk assessments as necessary within the specific field of knowledge
• Assisting in site consolidation for new members of staff including agency or contractors and sharing local knowledge
• Identifying proactively and reporting to Supervisors/management any potential areas for improvement within their knowledge base that could benefit from upgrading
• Identifying and immediately reporting any issues relating to Health & Safety or security to the supervisors and managers
• Assisting other in-house staff as required
• Undertaking any training or any other duty as deemed necessary by supervisors/management
• Assisting in emergency reactive works including snow clearing and flood & drainage clearance
• General Portering duties including assembly/disassembly of bespoke furniture
• Attending to facilities requests i.e. arranging equipment and furniture in response to requests from Departments, setting up rooms for meetings, teaching and events, including Graduations and University Open Days
• Interpret room and event setups from plans received from Supervisor and adapt spaces as necessary
• Re-securing of rooms as required. Collection and disposal of waste and recyclable materials from various locations on campus to centralised holding areas
• Monitor the levels of all skips and containers at the holding area and inform Supervisor when emptying is required

Essential Criteria

• The successful candidate will be highly motivated, forward looking and thinking with extensive knowledge and experience of working within a dynamic and fast paced Operations/maintenance and repairs environment
• Be strongly focussed on customer service delivery always aiming to exceed expectations and deliver a positive customer experience
• Good written skills including the ability to produce written reports
• The ability to interact with customers in a courteous and efficient manner
• Ability to work well as part of a team or on own initiative
• Understand personal and team responsibility under Health & Safety legislation and undertake risk assessments for daily tasks
• The ability to quickly develop and learn new skills
• Contributing as appropriate to ensure a positive safety culture within the team
• Basic knowledge and understanding of Outlook, Word and Excel and other IT based packages including the ability to adapt these as required into new working processes or procedures to ensure overall efficiency of the team
• Hold a current driving licence

Desirable Criteria

• Be able to demonstrate a flexible and positive approach, finding innovative solutions to challenges
• Recognised working safely training

Additional Information

Open Ended
Full Time

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 18 October 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing Monday 26 October 2026.

The University will pay a supplement per annum pro rata with effect from 01 November 2025, to align with the Real Living Wage (RLW) which equates to £25,178 p.a. This RLW supplement will be reviewed annually to take account of future increases and RLW rates.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This role will require a Level 1 Disclosure check. An offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of this process.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

About Us

Estates & Commercial Services has responsibility for the longer-term development, maintenance, and day to day operation of the buildings and grounds which support and add value to the core activities of the University. This involves providing professional, customer-focused services spanning the following activities with a view to maximising value and efficiency and ensuring that the quality of the estate contributes to the University’s overall reputation:

• Development of the estate in line with the strategic priorities of the University
• Maintenance of the building fabric, services and grounds
• All legislative requirements
• Energy management
• Grounds and sports facilities maintenance
• Provision of reception and lost property services
• environmental sustainability

The University

The University of Stirling is Scottish University of the Year 2027 and UK Sports University of the Year 2027 (Daily Mail University Guide).

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe. Driven by our mission to be the difference, we are addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society.

The University has more than 17,500 students globally and employs 1,500 staff, with more than 140 nationalities represented within our community. Our campus environment is ranked first in the UK and top 10 in the world, and our sports facilities rank first in the UK and second in the world (International Student Barometer 2024, wave two), reflecting our long-standing designation as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

We are proud holders of a Silver institutional award from the Athena Swan Charter, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings and, in recognition of our excellence in business education, we are accredited by AACSB International.

Eighty-seven per cent of our research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society, with more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021), and we are ranked among the top 200 institutions in the world for our contribution to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have twice been recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize; for our Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and our Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

Alongside partners, the University spearheads the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – which will deliver major University-led projects, the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub and Scotland’s International Environment Centre. We are also a central partner in the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.

www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni