Estates Engineer – Plumbing General

Hours per week - 40 hours per week across 5 days, Mon-Sat, with a requirement to work one Saturday in 5 on a rotating rota

Reports to - Estates Manager

Contract type - Permanent

Join our team at Theatre Royal Plymouth as a Estates Engineer – Plumbing General and be responsible for the day-to-day plumbing or general mechanical welfare of the Theatre and the Production and Learning Centre (TR2) and be able to maintain, repair and develop the buildings facilities, provide advice and alternative solutions in an expedient and effective manner. Be able to provide support for colleagues and co-ordinate contractors and in-house projects.

Principal Responsibilities

• Responsible for all plumbing systems and fixed equipment both at the Theatre and TR2
• Shared responsibility for the maintenance and repair of all the Theatre and TR2 plumbing or mechanical equipment
• Utilise the Building Maintenance software to its full capabilities
• Play a proactive role in delivering our objective of increasing energy efficiency
• Ensure the organisation remains up to date with best practice and current legislation including Health & Safety, for use by employees and the public
• Assist the Head of Estates and Estates Manager to ensure all statutory inspection and certification are current and always updated
• Minimise response times and communicate effectively with all colleagues, contractors and internal customers
• Embrace the TRP’s values: collaboration, creativity, quality, and diversity

Principal Tasks

Building Maintenance and Repair

• Provide prompt responses to day-to-day maintenance and repair requests
• Manage contractors engaged to provide services including adherence to statutory obligations and best practice
• Diagnose faults in plumbing or mechanical engineering plant and equipment and decide on remedial works required, taking into account the required life expectancy and associated costs
• Manage the plumbing or mechanical service contracts and devise repair strategy for breakdowns ensuring that a quality service is provided
• Provide advice on plumbing or mechanical engineering matters to the Estates Manager and other colleagues and occasionally prepare written reports with feasibility and cost information
• Manage allocated projects including preparation of plans, specifications, and drawings.
• Check and certify plumbing contractor’s quotes ensuring value for money and good workmanship
• Effectively use the planned maintenance software programme and log specific requests for support, maintenance, and projects
• Ensure all equipment and plant is maintained and operated in order to comply with best practice and statutory requirements and ensure records are maintained
• Operate cooling tower systems effectively to best practice standards and statutory requirements
• Perform maintenance of the buildings fire, security, electrical, mechanical, piped and building fabric services as required
• Programme and operate the Building Energy Management System to control mechanical and electrical systems including air handling units, boilers and ventilation, effectively and efficiently
• Assist the Estates Manager with creating and managing plant equipment assets register with a view to providing clear information for expected dilapidation with plant life expectancy and capital replacement costs
• Assist the Estates Manager with developing, administering and when appropriate project managing any building refurbishment works or plant replacement to achieve best value
• Ensure maintenance, downtime and projects are planned efficiently and in conjunction with other departments

Health and Safety

• Aid in the implement of the organisation’s Health and Safety policy, best practice and current legislation to all work and to help protect themselves, other staff and customers within the current requirements
• Assist the Estates Manager to ensure all statutory inspection and certification are current and updated at all times
• Operate machinery and systems and handle chemicals safely with respect to the safety and statutory legislation
• Assist the Estates Manager to maintain and further improve fire detection and fire-fighting systems and other emergency systems and equipment.
• Undertake safety audits including risk assessments for specific jobs
• Inform the Estates Manager of any Health and Safety issues or concerns
• Undertake training and development to update skills and knowledge to ensure the effective and safe running of the building

Communication

• Report and communicate effectively with all colleagues, visitors and customers
• Update Estates Manager with daily events, incidents and operational requirements
• Compile detail and input where required into Estate’s computer software packages
• Undertake regular walk-arounds working with colleagues including other Departments to improve communications and identify maintenance issues

Policy and Planning

• Inspect and survey building and electrical equipment assisting with updating the dilapidation records, make recommendations for works to be included in the annual programme and advise priorities
• Place orders and assist in controlling the budgets
• Comply with all Company policies and procedures

Environmental

• Establish energy efficiencies wherever possible
• Ensure waste is disposed of in an environmental way in accordance with current legislation

Person specification 

We are committed to our core values of quality, diversity, creativity and collaboration.  Everyone who works here, no matter what their function in the team, is expected to deliver their job and work with colleagues bearing these values in mind.   

In addition, for this role, we hope to find someone with the following attributes: 

Quality:

Taking pride in achieving excellence.  We take responsibility for and pride in what we do, recognising each other’s good work.  We set consistently high expectations and ensure that everyone has the skills to achieve excellence.  

• Is accountable for own work ensuring it meets expectations and agreed standards
• Work with colleagues to deliver the highest possible standards
• Enjoys exceeding expectations of customers and colleagues
• Proven mix of mechanical and electrical knowledge and experience
• Passion for and practical experience of wide-ranging DIY skills

Collaboration: 

Valuing each other in the way we work, communicate and spend time together:  We communicate regularly with each other, listening to and understanding people’s needs.  We value and respect the relationships we have with colleagues and partners and we celebrate shared successes. 

• Is friendly and welcoming
• Proactively seeks information to do their job well involving others
• Works effectively with others inviting and appreciating contributions
• Contributes to own department’s achievement of objectives

Creativity:

Being imaginative in everything we do: We use our knowledge, experience and judgement to explore doing things differently.  We aim to empower everyone in the organisation to adopt a flexible, open-minded and imaginative approach.

• Adopts a flexible approach to their work taking the circumstances of others into account
• Willingly contributes ideas to team discussions, listens and ask questions to improve knowledge
• Ability to utilise the IT systems effectively
• Continually reviews own ways of working and considers where improvements can be made

Diversity:

Embracing the diversity among our people and community:  We embrace and value difference and individuality treating everyone as equally important.  Together we are stronger and more effective.

• Confidently welcomes and embraces people from all areas of the community/backgrounds
• Treats people fairly and generates an environment of trust 
• Adapts communication to suit individual needs and listens with empathy