Building Supervisor (No Supervision)

Role overview

The Education Authority in Northern Ireland is seeking a Building Supervisor to carry out cleaning and non-cleaning duties at a school site in Belfast, under the direction of the designated line manager or another authorised person and in line with the organisation’s procedures. This role is based on-site and reports to the School Principal.

Important application guidance

Applicants must show clearly on the application form, under each question, how they meet the required criteria and to what extent. If this is not explained properly, the application may not be shortlisted. Evidence must be provided by the closing date unless a criterion states otherwise.

Shortlisting will initially be based on the essential criteria in Section 1 using the application form. The panel may decide to shortlist only the candidates it considers strongest for the role. If there are too many applicants, desirable criteria from Section 3 may also be used at shortlisting, in the order listed, so these should also be addressed in full.

Essential criteria for shortlisting

Candidates must have at least six months of proven experience working as an assistant building supervisor, building supervisor, caretaker, or cleaner in a school setting. As this post involves key holding responsibilities, applicants must also be prepared to respond at short notice, including outside normal hours.

Essential criteria assessed at interview

At interview, candidates must show practical knowledge of the responsibilities of a school building supervisor with no supervision, along with understanding of health and safety rules, manual handling requirements, and security systems. They should also demonstrate the ability to work well as part of a team, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and sound administrative, planning, and decision-making abilities to meet deadlines. In addition, candidates should be able to explain how their experience and working style align with the school’s values and ethos.

Desirable criteria

Preference may be given to applicants who can show one or more of the following: a NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work qualification or an equivalent/higher qualification; experience using industrial cleaning equipment; and experience carrying out key-holding duties such as opening and closing premises and setting alarm systems.

Job purpose

The post holder will provide both cleaning and non-cleaning services to help maintain the school premises, grounds, and related facilities to the required standard.

Main duties and responsibilities

Security and site safety: The building supervisor is responsible for protecting the premises and contents, opening and securing the school and grounds, controlling keys, operating and monitoring security cameras and alarm systems, responding to break-ins or vandalism after hours, reporting suspicious activity or security breaches immediately, and applying grit or rock salt during snow and frost to keep access routes safe.

Mechanical and electrical services: Duties include operating the boiler and heating system efficiently, managing lighting and heating, arranging fuel in advance, monitoring fuel, water, and electricity usage, replacing lamps, tubes, and plugs up to 3.35 metres using suitable equipment, checking firefighting equipment for faults, and chemically dosing, cleaning, and maintaining water levels in any swimming or hydrotherapy pools.

Cleaning: The post holder will clean the premises, including carrying out daily and periodic cleaning, organising cleaning work where applicable, planning periodic tasks with service users, suggesting improvements to work methods, checking the suitability of cleaning materials and equipment, keeping hard surfaces and outdoor areas free from litter, ensuring drains, gullies, and grease traps are clear, washing and emptying bins, dealing with spills, flooding, toilet cleaning, and weather-related cleaning needs, replenishing consumables such as toilet rolls and soap, inspecting and cleaning sandpits and paddling pools, cleaning external signs and light covers up to 3.35 metres, maintaining portable heating and ventilation equipment exteriors, ensuring stock and equipment levels remain adequate, reporting defects in cleaning equipment, preparing areas for after-school use, cleaning internal fixed glass surfaces up to 3.35 metres, ensuring PPE and workwear are used where provided, and maintaining cleaning standards in line with board requirements.

Porterage: Responsibilities include receiving and moving deliveries, school meals and milk materials, distributing goods to storage areas and other points, sending laundry and other items out from the building, assisting with the set-up and removal of tables and chairs where rooms are shared for meals and educational use, moving refuse bins to collection points, and preparing rooms for examinations and other activities.

Administration: The building supervisor will prepare reports on cleaning and building defects, arrange outside contractors or workmen when authorised, complete relevant paperwork and written reports, keep records of consumables and equipment inventories, report electrical floor equipment faults immediately and record repairs, and maintain staff attendance, holiday, and absence records for return to the board on time.

Handyperson work: The role includes handyperson tasks that fall within the post holder’s competence.

Training: The post holder must accept training needed for duties up to and including their own grade, and may also be trained for higher-grade duties where required by the authority and where payment is appropriate. The building supervisor will also deliver induction and refresher training to cleaning staff, if relevant, and keep records of that training.

Elections: If the school is used for election purposes, the building supervisor will be required to carry out election-related duties as determined by the joint negotiating committee.

General conditions

All duties must be performed in line with the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978, other Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments, regulations, legal requirements, COSHH regulations, and applicable codes of practice.

Disclosure and safeguarding

The role may involve regulated activity under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007. If appointed to a post involving regulated activity, the Education Authority will require an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. The candidate will be expected to pay the cost of the Enhanced Disclosure Certificate, and payment details will be provided at the pre-employment stage. Further information is available from NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

Equality and applicant information

The Education Authority states that it is an equal opportunities employer. Applicant guidance notes and information on the benefits of working for the Education Authority are also available.