Facilities Assistant – 3 month FTC

From the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on earth, to surging shorelines and anywhere in-between, we make the impossible possible through our continuous passion for innovation.

Our people design, engineer and manufacture technologies that are enabling our customers to discover, navigate, measure, detect and communicate in the toughest environment on earth: Our oceans. We’ve been actively developing the technology to make the oceans accessible for over 50 years and we’re only just getting started… At Sonardyne, we value different ways of thinking. Whether you think in code, patterns, systems, or steps, your unique perspective is important to us.

We’re looking for a hands-on Facilities Assistant to join our team at our Blackbushe headquarters in Yateley on a fixed-term contract.

This is a varied role where no two days are likely to look quite the same. One day you could be helping with an office move or setting up a meeting space, the next you might be supporting routine site safety checks, coordinating contractors or helping with a larger Facilities project.

You’ll work with people right across Sonardyne, so we’re looking for someone who enjoys getting stuck in, takes pride in doing a job properly and delivers great service with a friendly and helpful approach.

What will you be doing?

Working as part of our Facilities team, you’ll help support the day-to-day operation of our Blackbushe site and, occasionally, our other UK locations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Keeping our coffee machines, refreshment points and canteen supplies clean, stocked and ready for use.
• Helping with office moves and relocations across our Blackbushe campus.
• Responding to tasks raised through our Facilities maintenance request system and updating jobs once work has been completed.
• Setting up meeting rooms and spaces for meetings and events around the site.
• Supporting routine Facilities maintenance and basic housekeeping tasks both inside and outside our buildings.
• Assisting with weekly fire alarm testing, water testing and emergency lighting checks.
• Supporting the management and disposal of site waste, including controlled and hazardous waste, in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Carrying out site inductions for contractors and, where required, supervising contractors while they are working on site.
• Supporting larger Facilities projects under the guidance of senior members of the team.
• Taking company pool vehicles for servicing or repairs when required.
• Occasionally travelling to other Sonardyne UK locations, including our Sparkford office, to support Facilities activities.
• Maintaining accurate records and completing the necessary Facilities documentation.
• Making sure everything you do is carried out safely and in accordance with Sonardyne’s Health & Safety, quality and administrative procedures.

What are we looking for?

You don’t necessarily need to have done exactly the same role before. We’re particularly interested in finding someone who is practical, reliable, organised and happy to turn their hand to a variety of tasks.

You’ll need:

• A proactive, hands-on approach and a willingness to get stuck in.
• Great customer service skills and a friendly, approachable manner.
• Good communication skills and the confidence to work with colleagues, contractors and stakeholders across the business.
• The ability to organise and prioritise your own workload.
• Good attention to detail and a commitment to completing tasks properly.
• Basic IT skills and the confidence to use online systems to record completed work.
• A strong awareness of Health & Safety and the importance of maintaining a safe working environment.
• The ability to carry out physical tasks and lifting in accordance with Manual Handling guidelines.
• A full UK driving licence.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English. A practical subject such as Design & Technology would also be useful.

It would be great if you also have:

Previous Facilities or general maintenance experience would be advantageous, particularly if you have experience of:

• Routine Facilities maintenance activities such as emergency lighting, water or tank testing.
• Contractor management or Control of Contractors procedures.
• Planned maintenance systems (PMS).
• SharePoint and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Maintaining Facilities or asset records.
• Health, Safety and Environmental procedures.
• Supporting internal or external audits.

Don’t worry if you don’t tick every one of these boxes. If you’re practical, dependable and willing to learn, we’d still like to hear from you.

A little more about the role

This role is primarily based at our Blackbushe site in Yateley, although there may occasionally be a requirement to travel to other Sonardyne UK locations to support the wider Facilities team.

You’ll also need to be comfortable carrying out practical and physical tasks as part of your normal working day.

Due to the nature of our business and some of the locations you may need to access, the successful candidate will also be required to meet the appropriate security requirements.

Why Sonardyne?

For more than 50 years, Sonardyne has been developing pioneering underwater technology used around the world.

From subsea navigation, positioning and communications to ocean science and marine robotics, our technology helps customers understand, navigate and operate in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Behind that technology is a huge variety of people and teams – and our Facilities team makes sure they have a safe, well-maintained and enjoyable environment in which to do their best work.

If you’re someone who notices when something needs doing, enjoys helping people and would rather have a varied working day than sit behind a desk doing the same thing every day, we’d love to hear from you.