Lead Maintenance Operative

About the role

We are partnering with a rapidly growing childcare organisation to recruit a Lead Maintenance Operative. The successful candidate will oversee reactive and planned maintenance across a portfolio of early‑years settings in London and Essex, ensuring safe, compliant and well‑presented environments.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver reactive and preventative maintenance across multiple sites.
• Diagnose and repair electrical faults, lighting systems and perform basic fault diagnosis.
• Carry out plumbing repairs, drain maintenance and general building works.
• Maintain HVAC units, clean air‑conditioning systems and address basic faults.
• Service door access, intruder and fire alarm systems.
• Perform carpentry tasks, including fire‑door repairs and general joinery.
• Execute roofing, guttering and external building repairs.
• Install and maintain telephone lines and Wi‑Fi extenders.
• Maintain CCTV systems and troubleshoot related issues.
• Keep accurate maintenance records and compliance documentation.

Required profile

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in commercial building maintenance.
• Mechanical Qualification Level 2 or 3.
• Electrical Qualification Level 3 (City & Guilds 18th Edition).
• Carpentry Diploma (City & Guilds Level 3) or equivalent.
• Full UK driving licence and own tools.
• Proven ability to work independently across multiple sites.

Required skills

• Electrical fault finding and lighting maintenance.
• Plumbing and drain repair.
• HVAC cleaning and basic diagnosis.
• Door access, intruder and fire alarm maintenance.
• Carpentry and fire‑door repair.
• Roofing and guttering work.
• Telephone line and Wi‑Fi extender installation.
• CCTV system maintenance and troubleshooting.

What we offer

• Competitive basic salary of £45,000‑£50,000 per year.
• Performance‑based bonus scheme.
• Stable, growing organisation investing in staff development.
• Varied, hands‑on role across multiple modern childcare sites.