Job title: Specialist Cleaning Operative
Salary: B1 £25,185 - £25,989
Hours: 37 hours
Contract: Temporary until 30 June 2026
Location: Mobile Leeds City Council District.

As a Specialist Cleaning Operative youμ thrive on having a positive can do attitude approach to work and focus your effort on what will make the biggest difference to people lives.

This role is about having numerous transferrable skills making a real difference in the community and working with housing stock and void properties ensuring people can have a home which supports good health, wellbeing and educational outcomes.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Specialist Cleaning Operative, you will bring to the role:

The ability to carry out cleaning tasks on council buildings/council Property and assets including void. Work includes deep cleaning of vulnerable properties and housing stock.
The ability to work across various duties ranging from gardening, removal work, cleaning, clearing and refuse loading- all of which could be in the Leeds area or wider districts.
Good communication skills with the client officer/customer.
To carry out general duties of a basic trade. Such as painting and decorating duties, installing notice boards, Building Furniture (Handy man Duties).
Carrying out general maintenance of external areas and land such as Children Centres grounds or LCC Land including housing stock and Void. Duties include clearing leaves and moss from Paths etc.

About the role

As our next Specialist Cleaning Operative youμ contribute to delivering a safe and welcoming city for all people of all ages and from all communities in which Leeds residents feel more secure, safe and take pride in their community.

The role is integral to our cleaning and facilities management team striving to deliver high standards of work across Leeds in an array of different roles that includes but is not limited to gardening works, property clearances, removal services and fly tip / waste collections.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Paul Sutcliffe, Assistant Area Building Manager, Call 07891 278333 or email paul.sutcliffe@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To provide various services in an efficient and effective manner for a multi-client base as directed by the Service Manager/ Assistant

Responsibilities

Carry out cleaning tasks on council buildings / council property and assets including void. Work includes deep cleaning of vulnerable properties, Housing stock.
Carry out cleaning of a hazardous substance and work of unpleasant nature (Pigeon guano, human faeces, blood, fleas, stagnate water).
Clearing items of a hazardous nature (needles, waste, emptying of buildings, animals).
Ability to work across various duties ranging from gardening, removal work, cleaning, clearing and refuse loading, all of which could be in the Leeds area or wider districts.
Communicating with the client officer / customer.
Carry out general duties of a basic trade, such as painting and decorating duties, installing notice boards, building furniture (handy man duties).
Ability to use / drive up to a 7.5-ton vehicle (tipper / box wagon).
Carrying out general maintenance of external areas and land such as Children Centres grounds or LCC land including housing stock and void. Duties include clearing leaves and moss from paths etc.
Complying with transport use of vehicle “clean, reporting defects” carrying out a prestart check.
Adhere to the Health and Safety regulations and LCC policies on safe working practice and correct use of P.P.E.
Ability to carry out a working risk assessment before work starts.
Ability to complete effective paperwork (HAV’S reporting, work / job sheets, method statements, dynamic risk assessments on site).
Be able to work as part of a team, act on instruction from senior staff.
Attend appropriate training course, meetings as requested and communication events.
Ability to attend and complete machine training (Stihl) Gardening.
The ability to complete working at heights and scaffold training / ladder training.
To wear and keep clean all P.P.E and corporate uniform including the safe storage of PPE within kit bags provided.

It should be noted that this job description is subject to occasional changes to incorporate other commensurate duties and responsibilities in response to the organisational changes/review and to assists flexibility, the duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirt of the post as specified by the cleaning section.

Qualifications

Hold BICS Level 1 and 2 Certificate.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Ability to use a variety of cleaning equipment.
Able to work at low and high levels for cleaning “skirting, walls and ceilings”.
Able to use toxic materials in the process of general cleaning.
Able to operate mechanised cleaning equipment.
Able to carry out lifting.
Able to operate mechanised garden equipment.
Able to follow instruction and work unsupervised when necessary.
Knowledge of toxic cleaning material and hazardous substances.
Knowledge of Risk assessments and method statements.
Knowledge of Hand arm vibration and recording.
Able to complete work under pressure to a specific time constraint.
Able to communicate both verbally and written.
Wiliness to work with management in resolving issue / task.
Hold a full UK diving license.
Ability to drive a vehicle and above (Up to Class 2).
Overall good standard of health and fitness.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Experience of using mechanical cleaning equipment.
Working and cleaning within a large premises at all levels.
Knowledge of mechanical equipment used.
Experience of using garden cutting equipment.
Knowledge of clearing chute stacks within multi storey tower blocks.
Knowledge of driving a 7.5-ton vehicle and hold relevant licence.
Knowledge of conducting a removal service of household / office furniture.
Experience in identifying hazards.
Experience in written risk assessments and method statements.
Ability to use a boom of cherry picker.
Ability to use a mechanical digger.

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