Soft Services Operative (Porter/Janitor)

• Job Title
• Soft Services Operative (Porter/Janitor)
• Post Number
• 1006139
• Closing Date
• 4 Aug 2026
• Grade
• SC9
• Starting Salary
• Salary: £24,455 - £25,000 Salary will be pro-rata, based on a full time 37 hour week

• Hours per week
• 32.5
• Months Duration
• Indefinite

Job Description Main Purpose of the Job

Provide facilities support including caretaking duties, porter services, maintenance works, cleaning, and event setups across the Norwich Research Park to ensure buildings are safe, clean and in good repair.

Key Relationships

Janitorial Services Team Leader – Line Manager Soft Services Manager Contracts Supervisor, Members of the Facilities Hard Services Team Institute personnel, heads of function, lab managers

Main Activities & Responsibilities

• Main responsibilities:• Manage hazardous waste including autoclave operation and nitrogen Dewar handling
  • Daily waste collection and coordination with contractors
  • Move furniture and equipment including large items (forklift use where required)
  • Support event setups and room reconfigurations
  • Carry out external cleaning including entrances, paths and signage
  • Complete basic maintenance tasks and support maintenance teams
  • Conduct vehicle checks, cleaning and support servicing logistics
  • Undertake gritting and seasonal site maintenance
  • Provide mail delivery and site support services
• Health, Safety & Compliance:
  • Comply with all NBIP policies and procedures, maintain safe working practices, report hazards, and support a positive safety culture
• Technical Governance:
  • Undertake tasks only within competence and under supervision where required, ensuring compliance with facilities policies and standards
• As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role.

Person Profile Education & Qualifications

• Requirement
• Importance
• GCSEs including Maths & English
• Desirable
• Manual Handling qualification
• Desirable
• NVQ/BTEC in relevant construction trades
• Desirable
• Forklift certification
• Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

• Requirement
• Importance
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• Essential
• Understanding of building repairs and maintenance/construction trades
• Desirable

Relevant Experience

• Requirement
• Importance
• Experience in supporting trades
• Essential
• Experience in porterage or caretaking; supporting trades
• Essential
• Recent experience of working in multi-functional environments
• Essential

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Requirement
• Importance
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Essential
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team
• Essential
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills
• Essential
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Essential

Additional Requirements

• Requirement
• Importance
• Attention to detail
• Essential
• Promotes equality and values diversity
• Essential
• Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Partnership, ensuring it is a great place to work
• Essential
• Able to present a positive image of self and the Partnership
• Essential
• Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
• Essential
• Manual handling of heavy loads up to 25kg (reasonable adjustments will be considered for candidates with a disability)
• Essential
• Full UK driving licence (reasonable adjustments will be considered for candidates with a disability)
• Essential
• Prepared to work on a shift system during the working day, and participate in a standby out of hours rota
• Essential
• Ability to work at height
• Essential

Who We Are NBI Partnership

The NBI Partnership provides non-scientific services to the John Innes Centre (JIC), Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Earlham Institute (EI) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). All of these organisations carry out scientific research funded by the UK Government, European Union, Charitable and Industrial Sponsors. The Partnership employs around 140 staff to cater for the needs of approximately 1100 Research Staff, Students and Visiting Scientists who are all located in close proximity on the Norwich Research Park.

The John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory are registered charities (No’s 223852, 1058499, 1136213 and 106550) and are Equal Opportunity Employers.

For more information about working at NBI Partnership, please click here.

Department

Facilities

Living in Norfolk Advertisement

The NBI Partnership (NBIP) has an exciting opportunity for a Soft Services Operative (Porter/Janitor) to join their busy Facilities department.

Background:

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes are a cluster of internationally renowned research organisations, working to tackle major challenges of the 21st Century – the sustainability of our environment, our food supplies and healthy ageing.

The NBI Partnership provides high quality, non-scientific support services for the diverse community of staff, students and visiting workers at the Institutes (the Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and Quadram Institute Bioscience) and for the NBI Partnership.

Based on the Norwich Research Park amongst 230 hectares of parkland, you will be joining a committed, professional and welcoming team. In addition, you will enjoy a competitive salary and annual leave, our defined contribution pension scheme, excellent recreational facilities and a range of other employee benefits.

The role:

Provide facilities support including caretaking duties, porter services, maintenance works, cleaning, and event setups across the Norwich Research Park to ensure buildings are safe, clean and in good repair.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £24,455 to £25,000, pro-rata, per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a part-time post for an indefinite period.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

The NBI Partnership is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and welcome all applications.

The closing date for applications will be 4 August 2026.