Assurance & Compliance Manager

Location - NW London

Duration - 3-6 Months initially

Ir35 - Inside IR35 (Must use an umbrella company)

We are seeking an experienced Assurance and Compliance Manager to play a pivotal leadership role within a large, complex estates and facilities environment. Reporting to the Associate Director of Estates and Facilities, the post holder will lead assurance and engineering compliance activities, ensuring the organisation's built environment is safe, legally compliant, and operationally resilient. The role is responsible for the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of statutory and regulatory compliance frameworks across mechanical, electrical, and building fabric systems. It combines strategic leadership with operational oversight of compliance, health and safety, asset management, and long-term maintenance planning. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior estates professional who thrives in a complex setting and is committed to high standards of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Person Specification

• Relevant degree in engineering, construction, or building services (or equivalent extensive experience).
• Professional Building Services Engineering qualification.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng).
• Significant experience managing statutory compliance and building services engineering across a large, complex estate (e.g. campus, healthcare, infrastructure, or similar).
• Strong working knowledge of health and safety legislation and statutory compliance requirements.
• Proven experience of leading multidisciplinary teams, managing budgets, and overseeing contracts.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong IT skills, including experience using estates or maintenance management systems.

Desirable

• Experience within a regulated, complex, or public-facing organisation.
• Experience reviewing complex engineering designs and leading organisational change.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance, Assurance and Strategy

• Lead the planning and delivery of a comprehensive compliance and assurance programme across the built estate.
• Ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and internal policies, including (but not limited to) legionella, asbestos, gas safety, electrical systems, fire safety, and mechanical infrastructure.
• Provide strategic and technical advice on building maintenance, lifecycle planning, and engineering systems performance.
• Drive continuous improvement in compliance, resilience, and assurance practices.

Health, Safety and Risk Management

• Lead health and safety responsibilities across Estates and Facilities in collaboration with other senior managers.
• Champion risk management through inspections, audits, risk assessments, and statutory compliance reviews.
• Act as a key contributor to emergency planning and incident response arrangements.

Engineering and Operational Delivery

• Oversee statutory maintenance and compliance across engineering systems, including HVAC, electrical systems (including HV), lifts, emergency lighting, drainage, and specialist systems.
• Ensure engineering works meet legal, technical, and service-level standards while minimising disruption to building users.
• Lead Long-Term Maintenance and Stock Condition programmes, supporting effective asset management and financial control.
• Advise on major plant replacement and improvement projects, including energy performance and sustainability initiatives.

Leadership and People Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the Assurance and Engineering team, promoting a culture of accountability, professionalism, and customer‑focused service.
• Oversee recruitment, performance management, training, and wider people management responsibilities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage proactively with internal stakeholders to understand service requirements and ensure clear communication on compliance and operational matters.
• Contribute to Estates and Facilities leadership forums and decision‑making processes.

Financial and Contract Management

• Manage budgets associated with compliance and assurance activities, monitoring expenditure and identifying opportunities for efficiencies.
• Support procurement and contract management to ensure value for money and service quality.

Systems, Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure accurate statutory records, asset registers, condition surveys, and compliance documentation are maintained.
• Lead the effective use and development of estates and maintenance management systems.
• Produce performance reports, KPIs, and compliance evidence.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of legislation, industry best practice, and emerging technologies, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.