Facilities Operations Assistant

Employer: ISS Facility Services UK

Location: Birmingham (Virgin Media Site)

Employment Type: Full-time (Site-based)

Working Hours: Monday–Friday, 07:00 – 17:00

Professional Job Summary

ISS is seeking a versatile Facilities Operations Assistant to serve as the operational backbone of the Virgin Media site in Birmingham. This is a highly visible, hands-on role that bridges the gap between front-of-house hospitality and back-of-house maintenance. You will be responsible for ensuring the workplace environment is not only safe and compliant but also optimized for the dynamic needs of a corporate media office. This role requires an individual who can switch seamlessly between coordinating AV equipment for high-stakes meetings and performing essential building maintenance tasks.

Key Responsibilities

Event & AV Coordination: Manage the setup and breakdown of meeting rooms and event spaces, including AV configuration, furniture arrangements, and logistical support for event organizers.
Front-of-House Excellence: Act as a primary point of contact for visitors and internal staff, maintaining high-end presentation standards across reception and communal areas.
Building Maintenance & Repairs: Execute minor repairs, including basic carpentry, joinery, and low-level electrical work, while escalating complex technical issues to specialist personnel.
Compliance & Inspection: Conduct routine building safety inspections, manage risk assessments for events, and oversee contractor activities during planned maintenance.
Health & Safety Operations: Serve as a core member of the site’s safety team, including fire warden duties, emergency response, and ensuring strict adherence to manual handling and ladder safety protocols.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Certification: Must hold a valid SIA licence, and certification in Ladder Safety, Manual Handling, and Low-Level Electrical Safety.
Preferred Training: First Aid and Fire Marshal training are highly desired.
Professional Experience: Prior experience in facilities management, corporate hospitality, or building operations.
Communication: Ability to liaise effectively with external vendors, event organizers, and high-level corporate stakeholders.
Physical Capability: Ability to perform manual handling tasks safely and confidently work at height when required.
Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to identifying building defects and technical faults before they impact site operations.

About the Company

ISS is a global leader in workplace experience and facility management, providing services that make the world work better. As the facility partner for the Virgin Media Birmingham site, ISS focuses on creating environments that drive productivity and employee engagement. Their operations are defined by high-quality service standards and a commitment to professional growth for all site-based staff.

Market & Industry Context

The modern corporate office is no longer just a place to work—it is a “facility service ecosystem.” Organizations like Virgin Media require facilities assistants who can manage the “total workplace experience,” moving away from siloed cleaning or maintenance roles into a hybrid model. This role is a prime example of the multi-skilled approach now required to maintain modern, high-tech corporate assets.

Career Growth & Progression Path

Facilities Manager: Mastery of site compliance, maintenance, and contractor management is the direct pathway to becoming a Facilities Manager or Site Operations Manager.
Health & Safety Specialist: With your certifications and experience in risk assessment, you could transition into an H&S Coordinator role within the wider ISS organization.
Account Management: Successful site management often leads to Account Manager roles, where you oversee the strategic service delivery across multiple client locations.

Interview Preparation Insights

Scenario-Based H&S: Be prepared to explain how you would handle an event setup if you noticed a safety risk (e.g., a tripping hazard or overloaded socket). Demonstrate that you prioritize safety over meeting a deadline.
Multi-Tasking: You will be juggling reception duties and maintenance tasks. How do you prioritize your time when the phone is ringing and a meeting room needs urgent AV support?
Technical Skill: Be prepared to discuss your comfort level with “low-level electrical tasks.” What does that mean to you in a practical setting?
Professionalism: You are the “face” of the office. Describe how you maintain a professional demeanor when dealing with a demanding stakeholder.

Compliance Note

This role is subject to stringent safety standards. You must be able to demonstrate valid, up-to-date certification for the mandatory safety requirements (SIA, Manual Handling, etc.) during the recruitment process.

This summary details the Facilities Operations Specialist (Assistant) position with ISS Facility Services, specifically supporting the Virgin Media contract in Birmingham. This is a multi-faceted, “boots-on-the-ground” role requiring a blend of technical maintenance, event logistics, and customer service.

Core Role Summary

Category	Details & Specifications
Employer	ISS Facility Services UK
Contract Client	Virgin Media
Location	Birmingham (Site-Based)
Hours	Monday–Friday, 07:00 – 17:00
Role Focus	Site maintenance, event support, and workplace operations.

Key Operational Responsibilities

This role serves as the primary operational support for the site, requiring agility and a broad skill set.

Event & Meeting Logistics: Handling furniture moves, AV setup/coordination, and event reinstatement. Acting as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and external vendors.
Maintenance & Repairs: Performing minor building repairs, including basic carpentry, joinery, and low-level electrical tasks. Conducting routine site inspections and reporting larger technical issues.
Front-of-House & Presentation: Maintaining high standards of site presentation, acting as a professional first point of contact, and supporting reception duties.
Compliance & Safety: Conducting risk assessments, managing manual handling tasks, ensuring ladder safety, and acting as a fire warden/emergency responder.
Contractor Management: Supervising external contractors during scheduled building works.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a “hands-on” professional who is as comfortable with a toolbox as they are with client communication.

Essential Qualifications: SIA licence, ladder safety certification, manual handling training, and low-level electrical safety training.
Preferred Experience: First aid and fire marshal training are highly desirable.
Soft Skills: A “friendly, proactive, and professional” demeanor is non-negotiable, given the high-visibility nature of working on a Virgin Media corporate site.
Physical Ability: Must be physically capable of manual handling tasks and comfortable working in a high-activity corporate environment.

Why Consider This Role?

Dynamic Environment: Working at a Virgin Media facility offers a modern, fast-paced setting where the daily workload is varied and rarely repetitive.
Reputable Employer: ISS is a global leader in facility services, providing structured training, safety standards, and clear professional expectations.
Consistent Schedule: The Monday–Friday, 07:00–17:00 schedule provides a predictable work-life balance while remaining onsite-based.

Tips for Success

Safety First: With the inclusion of ladder safety, manual handling, and electrical tasks, ensure your certifications are up to date and ready for your interview.
Highlight Versatility: Use your application to emphasize instances where you have juggled “soft” services (customer service/events) with “hard” services (maintenance/repairs).
Communication: Since you are the face of the facility, be prepared to discuss how you handle “difficult” or urgent client requests with a calm, professional attitude.

Next Steps:

Since this role requires a specific mix of maintenance and hospitality skills, would you like me to:

Create a checklist for a Daily Building Inspection to help you demonstrate your attention to detail during an interview?
Draft a template for an Event Setup Log to show how you manage the coordination between vendors and stakeholders?
Provide tips on how to prepare for a “competency-based interview” specifically tailored to facilities management?

To apply for this job please visit www.issworld.com.