Maintenance Craftsperson (Mechanical)

University of Essex - Estate Management

Placed On: 12th February 2026
Closes: 16th March 2026
Job Ref: REQ09789

Duties of the Role

We are looking for a Maintenance Craftsperson (Mechanical) for working on our Plumbing and HVAC systems in accordance with the University of Essex policies and procedures.

The post holder will be expected to install new plant, equipment and services, and will be responsible for carrying out the full planned and preventative maintenance (PPM) programme of works on all plumbing and HVAC systems. Additionally, the post holder will be working to manuals, instructions, drawings and specifications without direct supervision.

You will be responsible for the following:

• Diagnosing and repairing faults in complicated mechanical installations, plant and equipment.
• Undertaking inspection and testing of mechanical installations to current industry and statutory standards.
• Understanding the complete working of mechanical systems in the University Estate.
• Fault finding on all types of mechanical plant and equipment.
• Carrying out work involved in statutory and pre planned maintenance inspections, complying with the requirements of the Labour Management System.
• Carrying out duties in a manner that is safe to themselves, colleagues and the public and in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and other regulations.
• Maintaining accurate logs of all plant operations and reporting any untoward occurrences immediately to the Mechanical Supervisor.

The full list of duties can be found in the job pack.

We are seeking both Competent Persons (CP) and Authorised Persons (AP) as part of this vacancy.

Qualifications and Skills Required

The ideal candidate will have a mechanical background with experience in plumbing, drainage and HVAC maintenance and will have achieved an industry recognised qualification (NVQ Level 2 or equivalent). They will have the ability to work both individually and as part of a team and be able to deal with a variety of situations or tasks whilst under pressure. They will be comfortable in dealing with difficult situations whilst always maintaining a professional and positive attitude.

It is essential that the successful candidate can demonstrate experience in the maintenance of commercial/industrial and domestic plumbing and HVAC supplies.

The successful candidate must be able to communicate effectively, and is willing to learn new methods of working, showing flexibility where required.

The site is operational 365 days a year and the role requires the successful candidate to work on a rota basis.

Hours of work are 36 hours per week, to be worked over a shift system of 7am – 7pm. Weekend working is expected to be 1 weekend in 6 but flexibility is required. The post holder will be expected to cover the ‘on-call’ rota, responding to out of hours emergencies, which is anticipated to be 1 week in 12.

At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.