Student Casual

Department: Cleaning and Waste Services within Campus Services

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Grade: Grade 2

Hourly rate: £13.06 plus holiday entitlement 

Casual Contract start: 18/12/ /12/2025

Advert closing date: Wednesday 10th December 2025, 23:59pm.

Positions available: 40

This vacancy is only open for University of Birmingham students. Please be aware that the vacancy may be taken down early dependent on the number of applications received.

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum, and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham 

Role Summary

The Cleaning Operative will provide a comprehensive service ensuring a high-quality service is delivered to the client. You will undertake cleaning tasks and create and maintain a quality standard of cleaning to the agreed specification within set time limits.

You will represent the University of Birmingham as part of an onsite team, providing cleaning services on an ad-hoc basis whilst maintaining a professional image to our customers, colleagues and visitors at all times. Although the primary focus is on cleaning, as a Cleaner you will be required to carry out any reasonable tasks for which you are deemed competent and as is reasonable.

Main Responsibilities

• Carry out cleaning and sanitising of all areas of buildings, including sweeping, mopping, damp wiping, vacuuming, using cleaning agents and cleaning equipment. 
• Empty bins and remove waste and recycling. 
• Ensure that hygiene and required standards are kept to, ensuring a consistent and quality cleaning service. 
• Replace stock items, for example, in sanitary areas. 
• Perform and document routine inspection and maintenance activities. 
• Report faults and maintenance defects, missing stock, emergencies (for example, floods, intruders, accidents) or building maintenance matters.   
• Ensure all cleaning equipment is in good order and report any defects. 
• Carry out the safe collection, use and return of keys, to ensure security of buildings and rooms. 
• Cover for absent colleagues and transfer between working areas as required. 
• Assist the Team Leaders and Assistant Managers with periodic stock takes. 
• Assist with meeting University environmental targets. For example, turning off lights as required. 
• Conform to all Health and Safety requirements, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health COSHH regulations, to ensure a safe, high-quality service. 
• Work co-operatively, helpfully, politely with customers, colleagues, and visitors, including answering queries and dealing with all situations that arise, to deliver the highest level of customer service. 
• Maintain personal hygiene standards and wear the correct protective and required corporate clothing. 
• Carry out additional tasks as required. 
• Treats everyone with dignity and respect, supporting equality and valuing diversity.

Person Specification

• Ability to follow and work in line with instructions, with good attention to detail. 
• Ability to organise and plan own work. 
• Ability to work as part of a team. 
• Ability to undertake required physical activities. 
• Ability to work with customers and colleagues from diverse backgrounds and offer a good service regardless of others' differences. 
• Ability to learn and understand how diversity considerations can affect own area (e.g., different dress code) 
• Good communication skills.
• Co-operative, helpful, flexible attitude.
• Ability to undertake training required. 

Additional Information

Required Working Dates
The working pattern for this position is as follows:

• 18 December – 09:00–15:00

• 19 December – 09:30–15:30

• 20 December – 09:30–15:30

• 22 December – 08:00–14:00

Applicants must be able to commit to at least three of the four dates, with preference given to those who can work all four. 

View our staff values and behaviours here 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g.  PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an International student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence. 

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.