The British Embassy Amman has a vacancy for a Skilled Technician (HVAC/AC/BME/Solar), job grade Administrative Assistant (AA), on a fixed term contract for two (2) years.

The Skilled Technician plays a key role in delivering Estates services, providing day-to-day management of the Technical Works Group (TWG) and will work with the Technical Works Officer (TWO) to establish the TWG as a centre of excellence serving a diverse staff base. The jobholder will manage day-to-day maintenance of estate-related assets to statutory requirements and oversee planned improvements.

The jobholder will assist and support the TWO to deliver Estates services, with a particular focus on the large and expanding office and residential estate, to customers under the One HM Government (HMG) Service Level Agreement. The role is responsible for operational delivery of maintenance services, including keeping maintenance records, organising work rotas for the skilled trades team, and assessing and improving customer satisfaction, acting on feedback on service delivery. The jobholder will also deputise for the TWO when they are on leave.

This is a busy supervisor and quality assurance role that calls for an experienced, well-organised self-starter with drive, initiative, and good technical skills. The role requires someone who can deliver customer focussed day-to-day operational requirements, confident and competent in decision-making, and able to access and influence the right support from their manager and the team.

The jobholder will work to the Embassy’s health, safety, and welfare standards for the benefit of all staff at the Embassy in a ‘zero harm’ culture. You will help reduce the Embassy’s carbon footprint through greater use of renewable energy, reduction in waste and the increase of sustainable practices. This role has been established following a major restructure to the Corporate Services and the candidate should be able to manage continued change with a positive attitude. 

Duties and responsibilities:

– The Estate comprises an office building and a compound which includes leisure facilities (swimming pool, gym, tennis/ basketball court, football pitch, children’s play area). A major part of the estate are the leased properties for UK Based staff (around Amman) and a representational Residence for the Ambassador near 4th Circle. The Embassy and associated compound require ongoing and significant maintenance after major investment in infrastructure over the last five years.

• Assist with maintenance of the estate so that it meets relevant UK Health and Safety standards. Enabling staff to operate from, and live on, a fit for purpose platform. Agree daily work schedules with TWG team, organise materials needed, and ensure tools for the job are fit for purpose and well maintained by the trades team.
• Ensure TWG have daily tasking and ‘work packages’ organised, covering planned and ad hoc maintenance requests, enhancement of the facilities and remedial or urgent works as identified by the Technical Works Officer.
• Help team to problem solve more technically difficult tasks, providing expert knowledge and guidance. Inspect work as it is done or completed, checking it meets UK safety standards and specifications. Make or direct corrective action where this is not the case.
• Ability to work on and maintain the chillers and split air conditioning systems and on the HVAC system, including AHUs and FCUs, and identifying and rectifying issues with chillers, AHUs, FCUs.
• Ability and experienced to work on the building maintenance system (BMS), identifying problems on the BMS system, and coordinating with Honeywell for periodic maintenance and ordering the necessary parts.
• Knowledge and ability to work on the boiler system, boiler pumps, solar system for the residential apartments, Embassy facilities, and HMA Residence.
• Working with the TWO and Technical Works Supervisor (UK staff), deliver planned and preventative maintenance to set deadlines covering the entire estate and triage and prioritise ad hoc or urgent requests. Recording as appropriate what was done and the outcomes.
• Lead TWG teams to work on delivery of projects which enhance or improve the office and recreational facilities to time and budget set.
• Supervise external contractors providing maintenance or works to Estate assets, ensuring technical competence, adherence to health and safety risk assessments, and safe working practices. Inspect work as it is done or completed, checking it meets UK safety standards and specifications. Reporting to TWO if this is not the case.
• Contribute to the Greening Committee with technical advice on what is possible and ideas following the Energy Audit. Learn how to maintain the new Photovoltaic System ensuring that maximum output from solar energy is achieved, the asset is maintained to specification and guidelines provided and that the supplier and fitter ‘Gazania’ are held to account for warranty items or maintenance standards where this falls to them commercially.

– Health, safety, and statutory compliance

• Ensure works completed by TWG or external contractors are compliant with H&S regulations and that FCDO guidelines are understood and followed. Ensure RAMs assessments are completed and understood by both TWG and contractors and that safe practices are followed at all times.
• To be responsible for the safe use of a range of portable tools, ladders, and equipment to enable duties of the role to be undertaken.
• Check and sign off on PAT testing of electrical equipment. Be PAT test trained.
• Working at height and outside work may be required on occasion including on high-risk plant.
• Champion a ‘zero harm’ culture at BE Amman and encourage staff to use the H&S reporting portal Evotix.
• Schedule and complete urgent H&S requests including repairs or short-term mitigations. Understand when to raise risks higher and seek guidance on best practice.

– Communication and engagement

• Working with TWO and TWG, ensure that estate works that affect colleagues are properly planned. Keeping customers up to date on progress of projects or maintenance requests and dealing with any complaints.
• Seek and act on customer feedback and use this to drive continuous improvement within the Estates team.
• Ability to deal with the computer, internet, and our internal mainframe HR and finance management system. This will include using our in-house Oracle-based system to track and record performance of the TWG team you manage.

– Staff management

• Provide supervision and quality assurance to the Technical Works Team, including performance and talent management of staff. Inspire staff to deliver to the highest standards and instil a culture of continuous improvement, customer service, and professionalism.
• Design development plans to upskill the team with the required technical skills to enable them carry out their duties as per the UK standard in a safe and professional manner. Put in place a system to allow continuing professional development (CPD) for all trades in the team.

– Continuing professional development

• In order to deliver work to the highest standards, keep and maintain a record of continuing professional development (CPD), to include upskilling where agreed. Instil a culture of continuous improvement, customer service, and professionalism.
• Focus on learning and development and being open to developing new skills, experience, and knowledge. Share lessons learned and respond positively to feedback, learning from any mistakes while wanting to improve performance.

– Other local requirements: Provide cover during absences/ annual leave as required for the Technical Works Officer (TWO).

Resources managed:

• Direct supervision and quality assurance of 2 x skilled trades (job grade S1) and 1 x Handyman (job grade S2).
• Necessary tools and equipment to successfully do your job and keeping these neat, tidy, and in good working order.
• Keep stock of HVAC/ Solar or BME items and components in TWG storeroom neat, tidy, and well organised, ensuring there is sufficient stock held always bearing, stock records and accurate and up to date and keeping in mind value for money and good stock rotation practices.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of Senior Management and agreed with the jobholder. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Managing a Quality Service – Gain a clear understanding of customers’ needs and expectations. Plan, organise and manage your own time to deliver a high-quality service which gives taxpayers a good return for their money. Act to prevent problems by identifying issues, reporting them, and providing solutions. Keep customers and all colleagues up to date with progress. Show customers where to access relevant information and support that will help them to use services more effectively.
• Delivering at Pace – Always work with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard. Follow the relevant policies, procedures and rules that apply to the job. Use own knowledge and expertise to organise work. Keep focused on delivery and take responsibility for the quality of work produced. Keep a consistent level of personal performance. Keep managers and stakeholders updated on how work is progressing.
• Developing Self and Others – Identify gaps in your skills and knowledge and make plans of how to develop these. Take time to achieve development objectives. Listen to and act on feedback from colleagues to find areas you can develop. Share knowledge and skills learnt with colleagues to contribute to the learning and development of the whole team.
• Working Together – Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team and remain open to taking on new and different roles. Get to know your colleagues and build supportive relationships. Listen to alternative perspectives and needs, responding sensitively and checking understanding where necessary. Ask for help when needed and support others when the opportunity arises. Be aware of the need to consider your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues. Understand that bullying, harassment, and discrimination are unacceptable.

Excellent interpersonal skills are essential, and you will be comfortable dealing with staff at all levels and be able to build co-operative and productive working relationships with everyone that you meet. The role requires excellent team working skills, including evidence of working collaboratively with multicultural colleagues. As such, a good working level of communication skills in English, both written and oral, is also needed.

In addition, the jobholder will need to role model the Embassy values of:

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Objectivity
• Impartiality

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as:

• You have the right to live and work in Jordan; and
• You obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance.

We are looking for a confident self-starter with proven initiative in overcoming obstacles, and someone who has the ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritise with minimal supervision. The jobholder will need to be resourceful, resilient, and have a track record of people management at supervisor level to be able to get the best of out the Technical Works Team.

As with all CS jobs, no two days are the same. This brings with it regular and unusual challenges. Being highly organised, being able to deal with challenging situations, and being confident in understanding and meeting scheduled day-to-day tasks and triaged, ad-hoc, or emergency requests are essential for this role.

Essential:

• Relevant experience in a similar estates/ trades management customer-facing role, ideally for at least five (5) years.
• Proven experience with relevant certification in one or more of the following areas: health and safety compliance, maintenance works, refurbishment projects, building works [first and second fix] or facilities management.
• Holds at least a recognised Skilled Trade qualification in any relevant field: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, solar, or HVAC systems/ air conditioning preferred. Ability to show additional training on HVAC/ BME/ AC or Solar systems with higher technical content.
• Good working level communication skills in English, both oral and written.
• Management expertise and experience of working with, motivating, and managing operational delivery teams.
• Highly organised and able to deal with challenging situations, confident in scheduling day-to-day tasks and making decisions on triaged, ad-hoc or emergency requests.
• Excellent team working skills including evidence of working collaboratively with multicultural colleagues.
• IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Able to drive and holds a clean and valid Jordanian driving license with no current points or outstanding fines