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We The Curious
Location: We the Curious, 1 Millenium Square, Bristol, BS1 5DB – Based on our site on the harbourside, the Estate covers approximately 6 acres in central Bristol including We the Curious Science Centre, Millenium Square Car Park, Millenium Square, Anchor Square and several leased buildings such as Leadworks and the Aquarium
Department: Estates
Report to: Facilities Manager
Responsible for: N/A
Salary: £35,000 – 38,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working hours: Full time – due to the nature of the role you will be required to participate in our on-site support or out of hours on-call rotas (no more than one week per month including the weekend).
About We The Curious
We The Curious is an educational charity and one of the UK’s leading science centres.
We produce experiences that bring people together to play, get creative with science and explore different ideas.
We work with partners, locally and nationally, supporting people to be inquisitive, develop new skills and improve their wellbeing.
We are progressive, inquisitive, collaborative, playful and creative.
Our Why, What & How
Our vision
What if everyone is included, curious and inspired by science to build a better world together?
Our mission
To connect and empower people through sharing creative experiences which celebrate unknowns in science.
Our pledges
_Cultivate Curiosity
_Strive for Sustainable Futures
_Include Everyone
_Build Resilience
_Open Up Science
You can find out more about these in our Manifesto.
Our Values
_Inquisitive – Asking questions
_Progressive – Thinking about what’s next
_Playful - Embracing the unexpected with a sense of fun
_Creative – Generating and testing new ideas
_Collaborative – Being inclusive, connecting and valuing
Our Strategic Priorities
/ SP1 – We will deliver collaborative, curiosity-led learning projects to reduce inequality and improve life chances.
/ SP2 – Our team and those we work with will reflect the diversity of our city, delivering a more inclusive experience.
/ SP3 – We commit to decarbonisation of our own operations, and will inspire audiences to take positive action for our planet.
/ SP4 – To deliver our charitable mission, we will strengthen existing income sources and seek new opportunities to deliver long-term financial security.
/ SP5 – We will provide opportunities for people to explore new ideas, develop skills and influence scientific research.
About the role
Working as part of the Estates maintenance team to deliver an environment that is safe and presentable for members public and employees. We want to create a space and atmosphere which encourages all visitors to return in the future.
Although we promote a flexible working pattern, you will need to be able to complete several hours of work pre our 10am opening time and be available to work a full day on Mondays.
You will be responsible for minor reactive repairs as well as carrying out planned maintenance works including health and safety checks, painting and decorating, plumbing repairs, emergency lighting checks and replacement of lamps. You will also need skills and experience with groundworks, in particular laying paving.
You will use our FM System daily to record completed jobs and check for new requests. You will also play a role in escorting our external contractors.
Playing a major role in ensuring that the organisation adheres to both external and internal compliance regulations, you will be responsible for keeping up to date with the latest regulations and standards seeking and undertaking external guidance and training where necessary.
What will you do in this role?
Role specific responsibilities
You’ll assist the Maintenance Team in providing general maintenance of the building fabric and mechanical and electrical plant across the whole site including an off-site storage facility in Nailsea as part of a multi-disciplined team.
PPM tasks will include general servicing of versatemps (filters and strainers), undertaking water testing, flushing & descaling, emergency light testing, fire alarm testing.
Reactive tasks will include minor electrical repairs, plumbing repairs, door adjustments and other minor carpentry works, painting & decorating.
You will undertake external cyclical repair works including groundworks (slab or cobblestone replacements on Millenium and Anchor Square), jet washing, weeding, decoration of external timber benches and planters and external painting.
You will also undertake general weekly checks and inspections around the site to ensure a safe and compliant environment for all our staff and visitors.
You’ll manage these tasks via our FM System “IAM Compliant” where you will log feedback, reports, photos and observations, to maintain accurate record and servicing history.
Where external contractors are required, you may be asked to escort or assist and supervise these works.
You will play a key part in embedding a culture of Health and Safety at We the Curious and will ensure that you work safely and in accordance with recognised procedures & best practice and follow the internal permit to work scheme.
You will follow all company processes and procedures to ensure the site complies with the necessary regulations, laws and standards. Including but not limited to asbestos, legionella water management, fire safety management, electrical and gas safety.
What will you do in this role?
General responsibilities
Safeguarding – Responsible for carefully following safeguarding policies and procedures and raising any concerns to manager/Designated Safeguarding Officer.
Fundraising - Promote charity messaging across your area of work wherever possible, with support from the Development and Marketing teams.
Training – Take part in mandatory training and ensure you remain up to date with current legislation and regulations, undertaking CPD where necessary.
General responsibility for departmental compliance with GDPR.
Support the rest of the Estates team with projects when required.
Support our ambitious sustainability goals including being a fossil fuel site and driving improvements in building fabric and efficiencies in our mechanical & electrical equipment.
What we’re looking for from you
You’ll have a good practical knowledge of buildings operation and facilities management and able to demonstrate basic plumbing, minor electrical, and carpentry skills as well as experience working in plant rooms with HVAC systems.
Experience in various external landscaping and groundworks.
Experience working within commercial premises ideally in a similar industry sector or size of organisation and an appreciation for prioritising urgency within a visitor facing environment.
Excellent knowledge of relevant health & safety legislation, regulations and British standards. You might have a health and safety qualification i.e. IOSH although this is not mandatory
Strong knowledge of statutory legislation in building management
Proficiency in facilities management software and other relevant technologies.
Ability to work safely and responsibly within health and safety guidelines and ensure that your actions do not endanger yourself or others. Including understanding how to perform dynamic risk assessments and operate within a permit to work scheme.
A proven hands-on approach and a track record of technical fault finding and problem solving and ability to handle emergency situations.
Application process
Deadline for applications: midnight on 18th June 2025
Interview date and location: 1st July 2025 at We the Curious
Start date: 4th August 2025
Application process:
If you would like to apply, please complete the application form by clicking on the ‘Apply for this job’ link. Please upload a copy of your CV and answer the application question, which is:
‘Can you tell us a bit about why being a Maintenance Technician at We the Curious interests you? Max 150 words.’
We appreciate interviews can be stressful, so we try to make them more of a conversation and a chance for you to tell us about how your skills and interests make you the right person for the role.
If you are invited for an interview, we’ll send you the questions that you’ll be asked beforehand so that you have time to prepare.
If you have any particular needs or requirements, please do let us know so that we can make the required adjustments.
If you would like to talk about the role or the application process, please email people@wethecurious.org
Support during the process
We The Curious is a Disability Confident Employer and we welcome applications from candidates who self-assess themselves as having a disability. We will guarantee an interview to applicants who advise that they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy. To help you, under the Equality Act 2010 a person is defined as having a disability if a) they have a physical or mental impairment, and b) the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
We want to work with you to ensure the recruitment process is accessible for you.
If you are disabled, neurodivergent, or if you have a long-term health condition, we’ll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to our processes for you.
You’ll have the opportunity to let us know about any adjustments you may need throughout the application and selection process. We’ll continue this conversation if you join us as a staff member, and we’ll work with you to make sure you have the adjustments you need to succeed in your role.
Examples of adjustments could include:
_providing alternative formats at every stage
_options to apply
_extra time for tasks
_providing some extra information about what to expect
_office orientation before an in-person interview.
Including everyone
We value the positive impact greater representation will have on our organisation, programmes and culture. It’s our goal to become an inclusive place to work and for our teams to better reflect our city and the people who visit us.
We welcome applications from people of all lived experiences and particularly those that are not well represented* in the science centre sector.
*By not well represented we mean people with lived experience including but not limited to:
_African and African-Caribbean heritage
_South Asian and East Asian heritage
_Global Majority
_Disabled
_Neurodivergent
_Visually Impaired
_Deaf community
_LGBTQIA+ and/or non-binary
_Working class background
_Didn’t go to university or first in your immediate family to attend University
Working with us
We value the people that work with us. Our staff have access to the following:
Wellbeing & support
_Flexible working
_Hybrid working (if suitable and stated for role)
_Cycle to work scheme
_Free yearly flu jabs and eye tests
_Paid sick leave for physical and mental health
_Mental Health First Aiders
_Confidential advice & counselling through the Employee Support Programme
Leave
_25 days in addition to bank holidays.
_A day of extra holiday for every 5 years’ service
_An amount of paid leave for emergency dependent care, domestic emergency leave and compassionate leave
New Parent Policy
We are proud to be a family friendly organisation, which is why we work to develop our people practices in line with that value. We have recently introduced a non-gendered approach to Maternity and Paternity, re-branded as our “New Parent Policy”. There are eligibility criteria and terms and conditions, but the key take away is that anyone who is due to become a new parent, regardless of their gender, can take 1 year off work, and we’ll pay your full salary for the first five months.
Facilities & discounts
_Free tickets to the venue for you and up to four guests, plus 12 additional entry tickets per calendar year to give away.
_15% off in the We The Curious café
_20% off in our shop
_Range of discounts with local businesses and free entry to other local attractions.
_Social events
_Secure cycle storage
Pension
_We offer a pension scheme with 5% company contributions.
Death in service benefit
_Four times your annual salary.
To apply for this job please visit wethecurious.peoplehr.net.