Maintenance Supervisor

At PfP Students, we create and manage places where students can feel safe, supported and ready to make the most of university life. As part of Places for People, the UK's leading Social Enterprise, we partner with universities to deliver expert facilities management and a better experience for the students who call our accommodation home.

As the UK's leading Social Enterprise, we move lives forward every day by building, managing and supporting thriving Communities.

From new homes, social housing and student accommodation to leisure, education and Community initiatives, our work makes a positive difference to millions of People across the UK.

And that takes People who care about doing the right thing. People who are ambitious, ready to grow and motivated to make a difference through the work they do.

We're looking for Colleagues who bring energy,  curiosity and ownership. People who enjoy being challenged, support those around them and want to keep raising the bar. Because when we perform at our best, we create more opportunities to invest in our Customers, our  Communities and each other.

Experience matters, but  it's only part of the story. If you share our values and want to build a career where your work has real impact,  we'd love to hear from you.

More about your role

Are you an experienced Maintenance Supervisor with a strong technical background and a passion for leading engineering teams?

We're looking for a hands-on Maintenance Supervisor to join our team at the prestigious Royal College of Art (RCA), supporting one of the most unique and exciting estates in London.

The Royal College of Art is a world-leading postgraduate university of art and design, with a diverse estate comprising specialist workshops, studios, teaching spaces, laboratories, offices, public areas and student accommodation. No two days are the same.

This role is ideal for an established Maintenance Supervisor who combines strong mechanical or building services knowledge with proven experience managing engineers, contractors, compliance activities and planned maintenance programmes.

Working closely with the Hard Services Manager, you'll play a key role in ensuring the safe, compliant and effective operation of the estate while supporting, coaching and developing the engineering team.

What You'll Be Doing

• Supervising a team of maintenance engineers and technicians,
• Leading the delivery of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance,
• Acting as a technical point of escalation for engineers and contractors,
• Supporting fault-finding and diagnosis across building services systems and plant,
• Managing contractors, permits to work and safe systems of work,
• Monitoring statutory compliance activities and maintaining associated records,
• Ensuring health, safety and environmental standards are consistently achieved,
• Maintaining and updating CAFM systems and maintenance records,
• Planning and coordinating repairs, minor works and maintenance projects,
• Coaching and developing engineers, helping to build technical capability within the team.

Essential Criteria

• Experience in a Maintenance Supervisor, Lead Engineer or similar supervisory position
• Level 3 technical qualification (NVQ, City & Guilds, BTEC or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical or Building Services Engineering
• Strong hands-on experience within building maintenance, facilities management or a similar environment
• Proven experience delivering planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance
• Experience supervising maintenance teams and specialist contractors
• Sound understanding of statutory compliance and health and safety requirements within a maintenance environment
• Experience using CAFM systems
• Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills

Desirable

• Mechanical bias with experience of HVAC systems, pumps, AHUs, LTHW systems and associated plant
• IOSH Managing Safely or similar qualification
• Experience working within a complex commercial, education, healthcare or public-sector estate
• Knowledge of SFG20 maintenance standards

More About You

• You're a leader who enjoys being visible, supporting engineers and setting high technical standards. You're comfortable balancing practical maintenance supervision with contractor management, compliance administration and planning activities.
• Most importantly, you're someone engineers respect because of your technical knowledge and willingness to support the team when challenges arise.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to work within a unique and inspiring environment where facilities management directly supports world-class education, research and creativity. You'll be part of a collaborative team, working across a varied estate while helping to shape and develop engineering standards for the future.

Benefits

We know rewarding work deserves rewarding benefits.  That's why, alongside a competitive salary,  you'll have access to a package designed to support you at work and beyond.

You'll receive:

• Competitive salary with regular annual review
• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Bonus scheme for colleagues at 2%
• 35 days holiday (including bank holiday) with option to buy or sell days
• Healthcare cashback plan for everyday medical costs - up to £500 savings per year
• Access to wellbeing support such as counselling and flu jabs
• Private GP and health support services available
• Access to a rewards platform with retail and lifestyle discounts
• Savings on groceries, travel, shopping and home products
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to professional qualifications and career progression
• Internal development programmes and learning support
• Recognition schemes such as Star Awards and Colleagues Awards
• Strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and colleague engagement
• Free membership to Places Gyms

What's next?

If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then apply following our simple 5 minute application process, upload a CV and a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the role. If you have any questions please email the recruitment team [email protected]

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a guaranteed interview to candidates who are disabled, neurodiverse, or have served in the Armed Forces, provided you meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in your application. 

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview experience, please let us know. We're happy to work with you to ensure you have the opportunity to perform at your best.

If you are a Places for People customer and you're looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on [email protected] .

Please note that we may bring the closing date forward, if we receive a large number of quality applications. If you are interested in this role we would advise applying immediately to avoid disappointment.

If you are using a mobile device such as an iPad then ensure your CV is stored in the cloud, we currently support Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox.

W e understand the importance of a supportive and inclusive work culture so please talk to us at interview about flexibility you may need. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want, but we promise not to judge you for asking. For this role we are open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours, flexible start and finish times or compressed hours.

If you are a recruitment agency please note we operate a PSL and do not take cold calls

Safeguarding

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.

We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities