Facilities Attendant

Hostel Facilities & Safety Officer

Role Overview

This position is the day-to-day custodian of safety, order and physical condition across institutional buildings and student residences. Working largely on foot and independently, the holder moves between patrols, inspections, key control, housekeeping oversight and event logistics, acting as the first point of contact when something is unsafe, broken, unclean or missing. Success in the role protects students and their belongings, keeps facilities running without disruption, and gives the wider institution confidence that its accommodation and shared spaces meet the standards expected of them.

Key Responsibilities

• Patrol hostel buildings and grounds on a regular schedule, watching for unattended running water, displaced belongings, physical hazards and damage or wear that needs repair, and logging each finding for follow-up.
• Monitor and enforce hostel rules on visiting hours, entry and exit timing, addressing breaches politely but firmly and escalating repeated non-compliance through the correct channels.
• Check that security lighting across the premises is functioning, raise repair or replacement requests promptly, and track each request through to completion.
• Issue, record and recover keys, keeping an accurate register that shows who holds what and confirming everything is returned in good order.
• Carry out daily inspections of operational areas and shared facilities, documenting maintenance, hygiene and safety defects and reporting them to the relevant department or contractor.
• Supervise and coordinate cleaning and housekeeping teams, setting expected standards and checking that they are met across all residential areas.
• Oversee the movement, storage and correct use of furniture and equipment, including arranging meeting rooms with the tables, seating and audio-visual or other items requested.
• Support institutional events from start to finish, handling setup beforehand, on-the-day assistance and breakdown afterwards.
• Verify that emergency equipment such as first aid kits, fire extinguishers and evacuation instructions remain available, clearly located and in working condition.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A certificate in housekeeping, administration, facilities management or a closely related discipline; a diploma in one of these fields is an advantage.
• At least two years of hands-on experience in hostel, facilities or property management, ideally in a setting where residents live on site.
• Familiarity with how a university or similar large institution operates would be beneficial.
• Well-developed organisational and record-keeping ability, particularly for key registers, inspection logs and maintenance tracking.
• Working knowledge of safety and sanitation regulations and how they apply to residential buildings.
• Strong customer care orientation, with the patience and courtesy needed when dealing with students, staff and visitors.
• Clear verbal and written communication, backed by solid interpersonal skills and the confidence to raise issues with people at any level.
• A results-driven, self-motivated approach — articulate, pro-active and comfortable acting without constant direction.
• Flexibility and composure under pressure, with the ability to juggle several concurrent tasks and still work at pace.
• A quick learner who is genuinely willing to go the extra mile when the situation calls for it.