About Birmingham City University
At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.
Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.
Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.
By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.
Role Summary
The Estates and Facilities department is seeking a dedicated Facilities Assistant to join our team. Based at the City Centre Campus in Birmingham City Centre, you will work closely with a Facilities Supervisor, demonstrating a professional, flexible, committed and enthusiastic approach to providing excellent customer service and facilities management support. Our goal is to uphold the university’s core values through efficient service delivery.
To excel in this role, you should have experience in a customer-focused environment. Want to be part of a collaborative team, be able to handle a diverse range of tasks, meet deadlines, and address challenges head-on. Effective communication with our customers is essential for success, we take pride in delivering outstanding service. Familiarity with general building maintenance and repairs would be advantageous, especially as you’ll be part of the first response team for reactive jobs across the campus.
Main activities and responsibilities
As a Facilities Assistant, your responsibilities will include:
Front line services:
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Responding to soft facilities service requests via the Estates and Facilities Helpdesk.
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Performing general porterage tasks, first-line repairs, and fault reporting.
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Arranging room layouts and handling light replacements.
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Managing periodic high-level activities.
Furniture Layout and Support:
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Ensuring furniture arrangements in teaching spaces, exam rooms and events meet customer requirements.
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Checking equipment, addressing maintenance issues, and providing solutions.
Frontline Repairs and Emergency Assistance:
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Handling frontline repairs (e.g. toilet blockages, water leaks, heating, ventilation and lighting failures).
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Assisting with building incidents and emergencies.
Safety and Compliance:
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Conducting weekly fire bell tests and maintaining records.
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Completing daily, weekly and monthly building inspections to ensure health & safety and environmental compliance.
Customer Interaction:
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Reporting repairs and maintenance jobs via the Estates and Facilities Helpdesk portal.
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Following up on job progress and providing timely feedback to customers.
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Supporting faculty and student events, including Open Days (some weekends).
Collaboration:
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Working closely with other operational staff within estates and Facilities, such as Security and Student Union to meet customer expectations.
Skills and Experience
To thrive in this role, you should possess the following:
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Clear communication: Ability to communicate effectively via email
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Microsoft Office Proficiency: Familiarity with tools with Outlook, Teams and Exel
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PDA Familiarity: Experience using a handheld device (PDA)
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Health and Safety Knowledge: Understanding of best practices and compliance
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Full Driving Licence: Essential for this role.
Further Information
If you are excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of the Estates and Facilities Team, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Daniel Briggs, Building Manager at [email protected]
Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University
Why work for us
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Work–life balance – Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent).
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Career development – Opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career.
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Reward and wellbeing – Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits.
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Inclusive culture – A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs.
