Plumber and heating engineer

We are looking to appoint a fully qualified, Gas Safe registered Commercial Plumber and Heating Engineer to join the Works Department at Downside School.

The School has a large estate, with complex plumbing infrastructure and a wide range of boilers and systems. The post holder will be responsible for undertaking routine maintenance and advising on how best to improve and upgrade the infrastructure over time. They will provide an efficient and effective response to reactive works and help ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. The successful candidate may be required to work at height and in confined spaces. In addition, they may be required to respond to occasional emergency callouts, which operate on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Planned and Reactive Maintenance: Undertake routine servicing, statutory safety inspections, fault diagnosis, and reactive repairs on all gas boilers, plant rooms, and ancillary equipment across the estate.
• System Balancing and Optimisation: Manage water distribution, heating loops, and hot water storage systems.
• Water Hygiene Compliance: Maintain and monitor hot and cold water services to prevent water stagnation, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
• Contractor Liaison: Liaise with and assist in supervising external contractors during major plant overhauls or other work on site.
• Emergency Out-of-Hours: Participate in an on-call emergency response rota to address critical heating or plumbing failures on campus.

Experience & Qualifications (Plumber and Heating Engineer)

Essential

• Gas Safe Qualifications (Commercial): Valid COCN1 (or CODNC01), CIGA1, CORT1, ICPN1, and TPCP1/1A.
• Gas Safe Qualifications (Domestic): Valid CCN1 and CENWAT.
• Plumbing/Hot Water: HWSS (G3 Unvented Hot Water Systems certification).

Desirable

• Experience of working in historic or listed buildings
• Experience of working in an educational environment, preferably a boarding school
• Basic electrical competence for safe isolation and boiler control fault-finding.

We can offer the successful candidate

• A highly experienced, professional and supportive team of colleagues
• A static, single-site role on a beautiful rural campus (no commuting to different places)
• Complimentary lunches from our excellent on-site caterers
• Free uniform and safety equipment
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Complimentary access to onsite leisure facilities including indoor swimming pool, gym and squash courts.

Contractual Details

Competitive salary between £40,000 and £45,000 dependent on qualifications & experience.

Working Hours are 39 hours per week, Monday-Thursday 8:00-16:30, Friday 8:00-15:30 with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break

Permanent contract, 52 weeks per year with 28 days annual holiday (including bank holidays).

How To Apply

Application forms must be completed in full via our website and must include full employment and education history. Please include contact details of referees to cover the last 5 years, this must include your current and / or most recent employer.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 8th July 2026

This advert may close early if suitable applications are received therefore an early application is encouraged. Downside School reserve the right to make an appointment prior to the closing date.

About Us

Downside School is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 to 18, and one of England's oldest and most distinguished Catholic schools. It is situated at the foot of the Mendip Hills, twelve miles south of the city of Bath.

Downside School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be DBS checked. We strive to be an equal opportunities employer.

Registered Company No. 11751009 and Registered Charity No: 1184700