Senior Mechanical Building Services Project Engineer

Job Title\: Senior Mechanical Building Services Project Engineer

Department Estates and Facilities Directorate

Projects and Infrastructure

Grade\: Grade 8

Salary range\: £47,389-£56,535

Working arrangements\: Full time (nominal 35 hours)

There may be a requirement to work evenings and weekends, depending on business needs

Permanent

Hybrid working(minimum of four days per week onsite, depending on business need, following the initial induction/ training period, which will be full time onsite)

There may be a requirement for the post-holder to participate in local on-call arrangements, as relevant to this role

Closing date\: Thursday 24th September 2026

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

The Role and Department

As Senior Mechanical Building Services Project Engineer, you will play a key role in ensuring the University’s mechanical infrastructure is safe, compliant, resilient and fit for purpose across a complex and diverse estate. You will provide expert mechanical engineering leadership and management to deliver a high‑quality, customer‑focused service that underpins teaching, research and residential activity. Your role will combines hands‑on technical expertise with strategic oversight, supporting major capital and infrastructure projects.

As Senior Engineer you will lead and develop a team of mechanical engineering professionals, and be responsible for service performance, people management, budgets and stakeholder engagement. You will drive continuous improvement, sustainability and value for money while ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and University requirements. Working closely with internal colleagues, consultants and contractors, you will influence service standards, contribute to long‑term estates planning and help shape a reliable and future‑ready mechanical services function for the University.

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses.

The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage\: Boldon House – Durham University.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University\:

· You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.

· The University closes between Christmas and New Year.

· The University operates a hybrid work scheme subject to the demands of the role (as this is a senior position it is expected that a minimum of 4 days onsite will be required due to role demands).

· We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

· No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.

· We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.

· We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.

· Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.

· Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).

· We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.

· You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.

· Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.

· If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.