About the role
In this role, you will lead the safe, compliant and commercially controlled delivery of hard FM services for East Slope Residences, ensuring performance against contractual SLA, KPIs and statutory obligations and you will lead, support and develop the hard FM team, including maintenance management, technical supervisors/technicians, FM co-
ordination and administrative support, creating a collaborative team culture focused on resident experience and service excellence.
You will also mobilise West Slope Residences in conjunction with the Head of Facilities Management and wider Sussex team, ensuring operational readiness across people, systems, suppliers, compliance records, spares, training, CAFM processes and phased handover activities. You will be expected to develop and maintain effective relationships with the University, RDP/client representatives, supply chain partners and internal stakeholders, promoting a proactive, can-do approach. In addition to this, you will provide clear operational, commercial and compliance reporting to senior management, the client and relevant boards, using data to identify performance trends, risk areas and improvement opportunities
What you'll be doing
- Lead the East Slope hard FM operation, including planned maintenance, reactive repairs, statutory compliance, lifecycle planning, resident-impacting defects, summer turnaround works, asset inspections and service recovery planning.
- Provide visible leadership and day-to-day direction to the hard FM team, administrative staff and technical staff, ensuring clear priorities, competent resource deployment, appropriate supervision and consistent standards of work.
- Lead and oversee mobilisation of West Slope Residences, including phased handover planning, commissioning witness activities, familiarisation, snagging support, operational readiness reviews, supplier onboarding, staff training and transition into
live operation.
- Ensure PPM schedules, reactive workflows, statutory tasks, remedials and evidence records are properly maintained in the CAFM/compliance systems and are available for audit, client review and internal governance.
- Manage specialist subcontractors and suppliers: tendering, appointment, induction, RAMS review, permits, performance monitoring, commercial challenge, value for money and escalation of underperformance.
- Maintain strong control of budgets, purchase orders, rechargeable works, damage claims, temporary repair plans, accruals and monthly finance reviews, escalating commercial risks early.
- Lead health, safety and wellbeing standards, applying Zero Harm principles, ensuring safe systems of work, risk assessments, toolbox talks, contractor control and statutory compliance are embedded across the team.
- Ensure the estate remains operationally resilient, including business continuity arrangements, emergency response, out-of- hours escalation, critical spares, plant risk reviews and lessons learnt following service failures.
- Lead preparation for peak periods including arrivals, departures, summer lets, room readiness, annual intake, defect closure and coordination of access to residences with minimum disruption to residents and the University.
- Work with project, asset and construction teams to review design, maintenance access, commissioning information, O&M documentation, asset data, warranties and handover packs to protect long-term maintainability.
- Develop, coach and performance-manage the team, ensuring role clarity, training plans, succession planning, competence records and professional standards are maintained.
- Promote continuous improvement across East Slope and West Slope by standardising working procedures, dashboards, compliance evidence, mobilisation checklists and resident-facing service standards.
Who we're looking for
- HND, degree or equivalent experience in facilities management, building services, construction, engineering, estates management or related discipline. A non-construction-related degree would also be acceptable.
- Demonstrable senior FM leadership experience in hard services, preferably within PBSA, higher education, residential, hospitality or complex occupied environments.
- Strong working knowledge of statutory compliance, health and safety, contractor management, PPM/reactive maintenance, CAFM systems, technical records and audit evidence.
- Experience of mobilisation, operational readiness, phased handover, refurbishment, lifecycle works or new build transition into live operation.
- Commercially capable, with experience of budget management, supplier procurement, contract management, client reporting, and performance improvement.
- Able to lead mixed teams including maintenance, technical, supervisory, administrative and FM co-ordination roles, with the
credibility to challenge and support at all levels.
- Visible, calm and credible leader who sets clear standards and leads by example.
- Resident-focused and client-facing, with the judgement to balance commercial, operational, compliance and service priorities.
- Confident communicator with strong report writing, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
- Able to manage multiple priorities across a live operation and mobilisation programme.
- Committed to developing others and building a high-performing team.
- Collaborative with a commitment to safety, Zero Harm, Right First Time and continuous improvement.
Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.
Why join us?
As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…
About us
Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.
Diversity and inclusion
At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion
To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [email protected]
Job Reference: BBUK20191
