Senior Operations Manager in Belfast

ABM is currently recruiting for a Full Time Permanent, Senior Operations Manager. While primarily based in Belfast, this field-based role involves overseeing Facility Management Operations in Northern Ireland (NI).

Purpose: To support the strategic management of the organisation and to ensure the smooth running of the business on a day-to-day basis. To provide leadership, management and support to all stakeholders. To be innovative and drive forward quality in standards, by leading and developing teams in the delivery of exceptional service and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities - What you will do?

• Service Provision
• Lead the delivery of integrated Facilities Management services through Operations Managers, Site Managers and Supervisory teams.
• Ensure customers receive exceptional service and maximum value from their partnership with ABM.
• Develop strategic customer relationships to support contract retention, organic growth and service expansion opportunities.
• Monitor and drive achievement of contractual KPIs, Service Level Expectations and performance standards.
• Lead the resolution of operational issues, customer concerns and service failures.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation and service enhancement across the portfolio.
• Provide operational leadership across Cleaning, Security, Pest Control, and M&E services, ensuring statutory compliance across all building systems and life-safety infrastructure.
• Support contract mobilisations, transformations and business change initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications, service standards and contractual obligations.
• Drive operational efficiencies, productivity improvements and quality assurance programmes.
• Monitor workforce planning, recruitment, retention and succession planning across all service lines.
• Ensure service delivery aligns with customer expectations, compliance requirements and budget targets.
• Manage specialist engineering subcontractors and technical service providers.
• Review maintenance strategies, asset performance and lifecycle requirements.
• Support delivery of technical projects, asset replacement programmes and capital works.
• Ensure robust Permit-to-Work systems and contractor management processes are maintained.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to improve asset reliability, energy performance and sustainability outcomes.
• Support technical solution development, tender submissions and pricing activities for new and existing business.
• People Leadership and Development
• Build and sustain a high performing team, by providing clear direction, strong leadership and focused targets.
• Oversee the identification and development of internal talent to create a strong succession pipeline for future vacancies.
• Lead the performance cycle, ensuring team is supported, appraised and developed.
• Continually monitor, evaluate and improve team performance following relevant HR procedures.
• Develop and deliver a people strategy, taking responsibility for culture, performance management, learning and development, retention, succession planning and welfare.
• Maintain fair and inclusive working environments, free from discrimination or prejudice.
• Support other divisions in the management of disciplinary, grievance, appeal and other industrial/employee relations matters.
• Finance and Commercial Business Performance
• In conjunction with Operations Director, take ownership of financial planning and execution across budget, forecast, procurement, capital and project spends.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, procurement activities and cost control initiatives.
• Deliver agreed profit margins and financial performance targets.
• Review financial performance and implement corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure contracts operate within agreed budgets and headcount models.
• Support debt management and aged debtor reduction.
• Assist with pricing, tendering and commercial reviews for new and existing business opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for revenue growth and service expansion.
• Quality Management and Health and Safety
• Take ownership for compliance across the division, manage issues to resolution, mitigate risks.
• Take responsibility for keeping up-to-date with changes in legislation and best practice and take a partnership approach to developing improving levels of quality and safety.
• To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of Health & Safety Regulations.
• To adhere to all company process, policies and procedures and ensure excellent operating disciplines are embedded in the field at all times.
• Managing the reporting and investigation of incidents, accidents and near-misses in line with policy.
• To comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations.
• Oversee the completion of relevant audits and questionnaires, and ensure remedial actions are taken where improvement is required.
• Any other ad-hoc duties as reasonably requested by a member of the senior management team.

Skills and Experience - Apply if you have:

• Essential Criteria:
• Full clean driving licence.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout Northern Ireland.
• Ability to obtain relevant security clearance including Access NI and Garda Vetting.
• Proven experience managing a Facilities Management portfolio valued at £10 million+.
• Significant multi-site operational management experience.
• Experience managing integrated Soft Services and Technical Services.
• Strong commercial awareness with responsibility for budgets, forecasting and P&L performance.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and customer accounts.
• Desired Qualifications:
• Management qualification or equivalent operational experience.
• IWFM/BIFM qualification or equivalent.
• IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH qualification.
• Project Management qualification (PRINCE2, APM or equivalent).
• Electrical, Mechanical or Building Services qualification desirable.
• Desired Experience:
• Significant experience within Facilities Management or a similar operational environment.
• Proven leadership of Cleaning, Security and Pest Control operations.
• Experience managing Electrical and Mechanical maintenance services.
• Experience overseeing specialist subcontractors and engineering providers.
• Strong understanding of statutory compliance and building services legislation.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering operational excellence across complex multi-site portfolios.
• Experience mobilising new contracts and delivering transformational change programmes.
• Strong customer relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Desired Skills:
• IT literate including knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Proven empowerment skills; well-developed influencing skills.
• Good communicator, able to convey information in a clear, simple and warm manner.
• Excellent customer relationship management skills.
• Able to motivate teams and actively support team members through change management.
• Accomplished problem solver, able to support contract reengineering.
• Able to diffuse and handle difficult situations/people.

We at ABM, are a global team of 100,000+ dedicated professionals committed to providing safe and healthy spaces where people live, work, and travel. For over a century, we've been serving communities around the world, delivering exceptional facility solutions to businesses of all sizes.

ABM is an equal opportunities employer.