Utilities Shift Operative

Position: Utilities Shift Operative at Discovery Park
Location: Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent
Role: Permanent

The closing date for applications of this role is Sunday 14^th September 2025. All applications will be reviewed, shortlisted, and successful applicants will be contacted for interview week commencing 15^th September 2025.

Discovery Park is a thriving life science community, a hub for visionary entrepreneurs and leaders, and the ideal environment for businesses to start, scale, and succeed. Our motto, “Space to discover, freedom to grow,” encapsulates the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines our unique ecosystem.

Discovery Park Management Ltd plays a pivotal role in nurturing this vibrant community. We are the backbone that supports all aspects of the park, from driving the parks growth or maintaining its buildings and grounds to its roads and infrastructure. Our team of specialists possesses the expertise to create and adapt almost any of our structures, ensuring that our tenants have the facilities they need to thrive.

In addition to facility support, we also provide essential utilities to all the buildings within the park. Whether it’s power, steam, gas, demineralised water, or waste management through our Waste Water Treatment Facility, we have everything covered. Our commitment to service extends beyond utilities, as we offer valuable amenities such as front-of-house services, security, cleaning and conferencing facilities, with welcoming reception teams. Supporting all of which are our vital back-office support functions.

At the heart of Discovery Park Management Ltd are our core values. These values guide every aspect of our operations, from how we engage with our customers, stakeholders, and each other to the business we aspire to be.

Our values foster a culture centred on quality and continuous improvement. We are dedicated to Inspirational Leadership and being People Focused, principles that enable us to achieve Operational Excellence and create a Community Spirit.

We are deeply committed to continuous improvement and driving efficiencies in how we operate. We recognise that innovation and optimisation are fundamental to our success in meeting the evolving needs of our stakeholders and achieving our strategic objectives.

Our diverse workforce takes on the responsibility of delivering our plans and overseeing day-to-day operations. We recognise the importance of ensuring that our people are not only engaged and supported but also provided with opportunities for development and safe deployment within the business. This commitment allows us to realise the park’s vision effectively and sustainably.

Main Purposes of the Job

The Utilities Shift Operator is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of designated utilities systems and equipment. This role involves continuous monitoring, control, and maintenance of essential infrastructure to deliver a consistent and secure utilities supply across the site, contributing to operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Safely operate, monitor and control utilities plant and equipment to maintain a safe and reliable supply across the site. This includes steam generation and distribution, cooling towers, chillers, compressed air, LTHW generation & distribution, fire protection systems, effluent collection & treatment (WWTF), and a range of building services.
Carry out routine checks, planned maintenance tasks and first-line fault finding to provide a high level of building services including heating and ventilation systems, refrigeration, steam, condensate, water systems and stability fridge/freezers.
Carry out designated corrective and preventive maintenance tasks on shift to support the overall maintenance strategy, for example planned routines such as lubrication, filter changing, some RBM related tasks, and unplanned tasks such as working on pumps, belts, drives etc.
Optimise plant operating conditions to maximise operational efficiency and always ensure continuity of utilities services to the site.
Act as first responder to alarms from critical buildings and WWTF operations following escalation procedures within agreed SLA’s and safe operating procedures to maintain appropriate standards of health, safety and environmental compliance.
Ensure that requests from customer groups for Utilities support are responded to in an effective manner in line with agreed SLA’s.
Contribute to the identification and implementation of minor improvement projects to increase operational efficiency.
Identify and report operational and maintenance problems and provide technical input and troubleshooting to effectively resolve problems.
Work flexibly with the maintenance & WWTF team to plan, schedule and continuously deliver reliable services across the site.

Additional Duties:
As required by the Business and/or directed by Management.

About Your Skills & Experience

Essential

Technical Skills

Proven practical and working knowledge of troubleshooting, maintenance, inspection, diagnosis, and repair of utilities systems, including but not limited to steam generation and distribution, cooling towers, compressed air systems, and fire main equipment.
Familiarity with HSE standards and compliance requirements relevant to utilities operations.

Behavioural Competences

Effective team player with the ability to work independently and take initiative as required.
Demonstrated ability to plan and prioritise tasks to ensure timely delivery of operational goals.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse issues, identify solutions, and implement them effectively.
High level of focus on delivery and performance, ensuring operational and safety standards are consistently met.

Flexibility

Willingness and ability to work shifts covering 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, as part of a rotating schedule.
Adaptable to changing operational demands, including response and out-of-hours support for operations.

Communication Skills

Ability to effectively communicate and follow oral and written instructions.
Capable of liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and resolution of issues.

Experience

Significant experience in an operations role, ideally within the utilities, power generation, or facilities management sectors.

Personal Attributes

Strong commitment to customer service with a flexible and proactive approach to meeting operational requirements.
Drive for results with a consistent focus on achieving high standards.
Willingness to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by supporting initiatives to enhance performance and cost-effectiveness.

Driving

A full, current, clean manual driving licence.

Desirable

Advanced troubleshooting skills for utilities systems such as boilers, chillers, pumps, and drives.
Knowledge of steam and chilled water systems and their associated concepts.
A recognised relevant engineering qualification in engineering.
Certifications such as C&G or NVQ 3 in Boiler Operations/Electrical Generation.

Remuneration and Benefits

Annual Salary: £37,808.33

Annual shift allowance: £6,288.60 (12.5% of the basic annual salary)

Our benefits include*:

10 days/8 shifts company sick pay
22 shifts annual leave (incorporated into shift rota)
Discount and recognition platform
On-site gym
10% discount at our onsite catering
Free onsite parking
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

*Benefits listed are based on working full-time and are subject to change.

The Job Description is not intended to be all inclusive. The job holder may be required to perform other related duties to meet the on-going needs of the Company