Job title: Mechanical Officer
Salary: PO2 £38,626 - £41,511
Hours: 37 Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Location: Any Location within Leeds
This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding team who have responsibility for managing commercial sites and equipment across Leeds City Councils housing stock. Working as part of the second largest local authority landlord in the country, you will be involved in managing commercial heating systems, large scale renewable systems and green technology, sprinkler systems and other firefighting equipment, as well as other commercial installations across different geographical locations around the city, in-order to ensure that residents can live safely and comfortably in their homes.
Your role will be to ensure that contractors and internal service providers meet their responsibilities to repair, service and install equipment, whilst taking an active role in the ongoing management, and design of new systems as part of the Councils new build Housing Growth and Improvement programmes.
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 Mechanical Officer, you will bring to the role:
- Knowledge and experience of working on commercial heating systems, renewable technology, and firefighting equipment including sprinklers.
- A working knowledge of Building Management Systems (Interrogation & Setting)
- Ability to communicate effectively, influence stakeholders, and manage contractors.
- A Mechanical & Electrical related qualification to a minimum level of HNC / HND level, or equivalent experience.
- Ability to develop innovative solutions to varied and complex problems.
- Knowledge of current social Housing, and issues affecting the sector.
- Experience of developing effective working relationships with resident and ward members to achieve defined outcomes.
About the role
You will work predominantly on site, at various locations across the city, to ensure the optimised and efficient running of heating systems and renewable technology and making sure that fighting equipment is well maintained and ready for use in-line with industry standards and contract specifications. You will also have responsibility for ensuring the robust delivery of the Legionella testing programme, ensuring that water risk assessments, testing, and remedial works are completed in a timely manner. Making sure that completion data is accurate and properly recorded will be a key responsibility. You will work with contractors to ensure that they are working to contract specifications and industry standards. Understanding and using data from Building Management Systems will be a crucial part of your role.
You will need to display excellent communication, and resilience and have a passion for supporting staff customers and communities. Your role will require you to liaise with residents and local teams in-order to respond to problems, and hep design and implement solutions, as well as working jointly with teams across the Housing Service to facilitate joined up working.
The role is integral to our wider landlord service.
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 Simon Hemingway - Commercial Services Manager on 07891272362
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked in the top 100 of the Stonewall Equality Index 2024. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer, and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - 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 and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose:
Special Conditions this post is not subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.
Technical lead in successfully delivering safe, comprehensive, customer focused service, including direct technical support on Legionella, District Heating, automatic Sprinklers and all associated M&E commercial asset related issues and day to day contract liaison.
To ensure the effective day to day management of contractors and Internal Service Providers and appropriate maintenance of council housing commercial assets and in particular within High Rise multi occupancy buildings.
To implement and manage programmes of work in-line with available resources and to agreed timescales,
Responsibilities:
The responsibilities below are generic that would be expected of LCC employees
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
- Technical lead for the frontline delivery of commercial maintenance & services (including legionella, district heating systems, automatic sprinklers, properties and sites where we have carbon reducing technology systems installed) in-line with council and departmental performance standards, values, policies and priorities.
- Manage all activities in compliance with legal, regulatory, contract and internal requirements.
- Support the delivery of service plans in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the continuous and on-going innovation and improvement of the service in-line with council objectives in order to achieve excellence.
- Continually drive a value for money, customer focused service.
- Take ownership for and manage relationships with all stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
- Manage activities within individual delegated budgets and the management of spend in-line with agreed budget profiles, including the prioritisation and planning of work.
- Take accountability for the outputs of all duties ensuring adequate and robust audit and risk management procedures are in place.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.
Leadership Responsibilities:
- To lead, manage, motivate and develop team members in accordance with council policies and employment laws, and ensure that relevant procedures are understood and followed.
- To ensure that the team works professionally, competently, and in a forward thinking and customer focused way whilst embracing collaborative partnership working in order to achieve excellence.
- To demonstrate and embed the council Values and Manager Habits to lead, support and drive cultural change.
Qualifications:
Minimum building/construction or M&E related qualification to HNC / HND level or equivalent experience.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
- Ability to manage priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
- Developing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders.
- Ability to analyse and interpret information and report to a wide range of audiences.
- Considerable experience of using Microsoft packages and IT systems.
- Chairing meetings effectively.
- To support on driving a culture through the team that is focussed both on customers and quality.
- Completion of reports in a diligent and accurate manner.
- Considerable experience of project management.
- Support on engagement with managers and contractors in order to effectively progress change.
Knowledge Required
- A detailed knowledge of commercial asset services, installation and maintenance, including landlord’s responsibilities, inclusive of ACOP L8.
- Up to date knowledge of social housing and issues affecting the sector.
- Knowledge of Construction Health & Safety.
- Knowledge of Standard forms of building contracts.
- A detailed understanding of the key issues and challenges facing the social housing sector, particularly re: commercial assets and innovations within the sector.
Experience Required
- Managing construction contracts
- Supporting on partnership and multi-agency working
- Considerable experience of managing medium-large projects
- Managing programmes of work within defined budgets
- Considerable involvement in the procurement of works/services
- Considerable experience of working within social housing.
- Considerable experience of working within a complex political environment.
- Working with an Internal Service Provider.
- Undertaking service reviews.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
Committed to continuous improvement.
Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
Training:
The Council has a positive commitment to the training and development of employees in all areas of its activities. Similarly employees are also expected to adopt a positive attitude to any training provided and also to their own personal development.
Relationships:
The post holder will work closely with colleagues within Housing Leeds and will also be required to maintain effective relationships with staff at all levels within the Directorate, other Council departments, Elected Members, external agencies and the general public.
Physical Conditions:
The post holder may be based at any Leeds City Council or partner organisation office and may require working to the Council’s ‘changing the workplace’ working style. - Leeds City Council has a no smoking policy.
Car Use Allowances:
This post requires the holder to hold a current drivers licence and have access to a car. If this post holder or post meets the criteria for essential car user status the corresponding allowance plus mileage will be paid whilst the post holder provides and maintains a vehicle for business use. Casual car user mileage is payable in accordance with local conditions of service.
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
- Experience of negotiation on issues within a political environment
- Knowledge Required
- Membership of a professional body i.e. RICS building surveying
- Ability to develop solutions to commercial asset related problems.
- Considerable experience of problem solving involving complex issues
Experience Required
- Supporting on partnership and multi-agency working
- Considerable involvement in the procurement of works/services
- Working with and negotiating with trade unions
- Working with an Internal Service Provider.
- Undertaking service reviews.
