Maintenance Engineer, Electrical

Estates and Facilities

Grade 7: - £34,304-£40,927 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 13-Jun-2022, 6:59:00 AM

Department: Estates and Facilities Directorate, Estates Operations
Responsible to: Head of Engineering Maintenance
Grade: Grade 7
Contract type: Permanent
Working arrangements:  Full-time, Nominal 35 hours

Hybrid Working Arrangements

At Durham, we recognise that our staff and students are our greatest asset and we want to support the health and wellbeing of all.  Hybrid working supports this ethos and provides many benefits to our colleagues, including empowering people, where their role allows, to work in a manner which is more suitable for them, whilst encouraging our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Depending on the needs of the business and the job role, Durham University is piloting hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2021/2022, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours. If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you. Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change within the pilot and when the pilot ends.

Reward and Benefits

To support the delivery of the University's People Strategy to attract, retain and reward the very best, we offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits  to our staff, including:

• 30 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) and the option to purchase additional leave
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme
• Corporate and local discounts
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre
• Reward and Recognition Schemes
• Personal and career development
• And SO much more, with further information available here .

The Department and role purpose

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides a number of essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses, including:

• maintaining and regularly reviewing a maintenance programme which takes account of short, medium and long term needs of all buildings and University grounds;
• implementing the works identified and funded within the various maintenance programmes and operating a system for dealing with day-to-day requirements, including the provision of an out-of-hours emergency service;
• providing a professional, technical service to the University for the design, construction and procurement of new buildings and adaptation works to existing buildings;
• identifying and recording the use of space and advising on ways of increasing space utilisation;
• property and asset management;
• acquisition and disposal of built environment related assets;
• procuring and managing utilities and services;
• providing postal, delivery and security arrangements and advice to the University; and
• delivering a wide-range of customer-facing services, including: contract management; estates and facilities relationships management; housekeeping and cleaning, business resilience, event management; reception helpdesk; university retail; business support; health and safety; and management information.

The Maintenance Engineer (Electrical) will be responsible for providing a highly effective, efficient and customer focused electrical engineering maintenance and minor works service to the University.
The post-holder will be responsible for managing compliance assurance on a range of statutory inspections of engineering assets and systems.

Core responsibilities

• Recognised professional practitioner and service specialist in relation to electrical engineering maintenance services.
• Implement changes to the design and development of service processes, techniques and deliverables for one or more service strands or project streams.
• Provide specialist expertise and support with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis.
• Contribute to development of operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Collect and analyse stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements and the design and planning of services.
• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
• Identify and design activities to meet learning objectives and outcomes.
• Deliver training, teaching and/or development delivery for stakeholders.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for university business goals such as widening participation and access, and provision of advice using specialist knowledge.
• Contribute to and lead business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Responsible for managing planned preventative maintenance, reactive and minor works revenue as well as some capital works budgets, keeping records and processing invoices..

Role responsibilities

• Provide management for the delivery of high-quality estates and infrastructure support services across the University, setting and maintaining quality and performance standards ensuring reliability, longevity and safe, efficient operation of equipment and systems.
• Management and control of a range of specialist contractors delivering electrical engineering maintenance and minor works services.
• Lead on the development of service specifications for contracted service provision ensuring compliance with appropriate regulatory requirements, recognised industry standards, health and safety legislation and delivering value for money.
• Ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities and manage risks to health and safety for areas of responsibility; maintaining appropriate records as required.
• Ensuring the University asset schedules are kept up to date, maintenance plans are in place and records retained to inform future planning and budgeting.
• Promote and foster positive and highly collaborative approaches to problem solving and project implementation, helping to motivate, mentor and coach project team members.
• Act as a point of contact for service colleagues and stakeholders to interpret and resolve complex infrastructure and technical problems.
• Make decisions about the nature and level of problem solving, physical and analytical tools, techniques and protocols to deliver project and service objectives, providing advice and making recommendations for resolution as appropriate.
• Collaborate with other specialists within the Service and across the University, regarding the use of modelling and analytical tools, methods and standards to deliver integrity and consistency with service delivery.
• Schedule, manage and monitor maintenance and installation works, projects and work streams across the University, liaising and communicating with customers and key contacts to plan works to minimise disruption to operational activity..
• Provide regular status reports and identify risk management and contingency planning to other service staff, specialists, users and managers.
• Liaise with internal and external agencies, local authorities, industries and visitors where appropriate.
• Take responsibility for monitoring and updating risk assessments and safety procedures, providing guidance to others where necessary.
• Develop, modify and optimise protocols and methodologies in line with changes in legislation, codes of practice, practices, techniques, products etc., to ensure compliance and delivery of best practice in the area of engineering maintenance.
• Develop, implement and monitor service level agreements, key performance indicators and benchmarks to monitor and manage contractor performance.
• Undertake the role of an Authorised Person Electrical Low Voltage (APLV) and effectively manage the continuous development, improvement and implementation of Durham University’s Electrical Safety Rules and Procedures - appropriate training to be provided where necessary.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

• Participate in an out-of-hours management on-call rota.
• Work evenings and weekends, as business needs.
• Undertake all training and development, as required.

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification below.

In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application.

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

A CV.

A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in all of the requirements set out in the Person Specification.

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application will not be considered.

Contact details

For further information please contact Paul Hammond, [email protected]

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can global community in which we work. We welcome and encourage applications from reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the members of groups who are under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria

Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.

Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.

HNC/D in a building services/engineering-related discipline (or equivalent) along with demonstrable experience of working in an electrical engineering maintenance role.

Sound technical knowledge in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of electrical engineering building services.

Experience of working in an electrical engineering maintenance role in highly serviced buildings, providing a customer focused service.

A good understanding and working knowledge of high voltage distribution / networks

Experience of managing either direct employed maintenance staff or specialist contractors.

Experience of managing maintenance or minor works project budgets.

Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships.

Ability to solve problems and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.

Experience of delivering and developing specialist services for buildings, estates, services, or IT provision. 

Ability to deliver minor works projects including preparation of specifications and costs estimations.

Health and safety compliance and management knowledge.

Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines, particularly building services related statutory compliance.

Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.

Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.

Experience of the procurement and management of facilities or other service related contracts.

Collation of information and production of clear and effective management reports

Desirable Criteria

Qualified to current BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations

Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

Hold or working towards full membership of a relevant professional institute i.e. CIBSE, IET

Knowledge and experience of computer aided facilities management (CAFM) systems

Knowledge of AutoCAD.

Health and safety related qualification

Experience of working in a mechanical discipline.

Realising Your Potential Approach

Providing Excellent Student Services and Professional Support: providing the best quality service to all our students, customers and stakeholders. Building genuine and long-term relationships, through every day interactions, in order to drive up service standards and to enhance their experience.

Establishing challenging standards to develop services and advance the reputation of the University.

Interpreting rules and regulations flexibly to balance customer and University needs.

Consistently giving positive messages about the University.

Providing Leadership and Direction: seeing the work that you do in the context of the bigger picture and taking a long-term view. Communicating vision clearly and enthusiastically to inspire and motivate others.

Ensuring plans are consistent with the objectives of the University.

Not losing sight of the vision in dealing with day-to-day pressures.

Breaking down ‘silo’ thinking and encouraging a University-wide perspective.

Embracing Change: adjusting to unfamiliar situations, demands and changing roles. Seeing change as an opportunity and being receptive to new ideas.

Creating a climate that encourages innovation and receptivity to change.

Leading by example in supporting the University to break with traditional methods.

Communicating upwards to influence policy formulation.

Proactively scanning the wider external environment to seek opportunities to develop the University.

Adapting departmental plans to reflect changes in the wider environment.

Finding Solutions: taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically and with creativity to analyse problems and develop innovative and workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

Being open to, and applying, good practice and fresh ideas from inside and outside the University.

Exercising judgement in line with University strategy and priorities.

Actively seeking new ideas and approaches from outside the University.

Identifying and pursuing opportunities to work in partnership with external organisations to generate and develop ideas.

Working Together: working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Applying a wide range of interpersonal skills.

Working across boundaries to develop relationships with other teams.

Reflecting the principles of a responsible University and the University values in dealing with people and conducting business.

Using Resources Effectively: making effective use of available resources including people, information, networks and budgets. Being aware of the financial and commercial aspects of the University.

Sharing good practice with other parts of the University.

Being mindful of responsibility to the University and funders in using resources.

Developing cross-service collaboration and being willing to share resources.

Identifying ways in which resources can be used flexibly and imaginatively for the benefit of the whole University, within agreed limits.

Achieving Results: planning and organising workloads to ensure that deadlines are met within resource constraints. Consistently meeting objectives and success criteria.

Confidently saying ‘no’ to activities that are less important or do not fit with University priorities.

Critically evaluating the success of projects; disseminating lessons that can be learned.

Being effective in gaining buy-in without direct authority.

Being knowledgeable about key stakeholders and how they may influence the work of your department.

Developing Myself and Others: showing commitment to own development and supporting and encouraging others to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential for the wider benefit of the University.

Supporting others to undertake alternative duties, such as short-term secondments.

Encouraging others to contribute to University level activity.

Showing awareness of the changing needs of the University; incorporating these into own and others’ development plans.

Keeping up-to-date with what is happening in the wider HE environment; communicating this to your team, where appropriate.

Respecting others: embracing diversity by promoting and maintaining an inclusive and supportive work and study environment that enables all members of our University community to achieve their full potential.

Leading on relevant Equality and Diversity Charter recognition/award attainment.

Proactively monitoring data regarding the protected characteristics, recognising trends and putting in place appropriate action.

Actively promoting family friendly/flexible working policies.

Proactively mentoring and sponsoring under-represented groups, to encourage progression.

Communicating effectively by developing networking activities across departments.

Valuing the contributions of all by publicising success stories, for example: achievements, awards and prizes, role models from under-represented groups, etc.

Actively working in partnership with diverse groups.

Promoting an open and fair culture throughout the University.

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.