At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the delivery of housing repairs and manage contractors to ensure top-notch service.
- Company: Join Canterbury City Council, a progressive local authority with diverse property portfolios.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Other info: Work-life balance with remote options and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while advancing your career in facilities management.
- Qualifications: Degree in construction or housing, relevant professional membership, and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 28589 - 63166 £ per year.
A fantastic opportunity in Canterbury, Kent. Canterbury City Council is a progressive local authority with an extremely varied stock of both housing properties and commercial building portfolios. This is a unique job opportunity to join Canterbury City Council’s collaborative Facilities Management team as Senior Repairs Operations Manager, taking responsibility for the service’s social housing planned, voids and reactive repair delivery.
What’s in it for you? As Senior Repairs Operations Manager for Canterbury City Council, you’ll enjoy:
- A starting salary of £55,285.89 - £63,166.90 (Plus £3,621 car allowance)
- Flexible working arrangements that support and encourage a good work-life balance.
- Coverage of your relevant Professional Registration Fee (e.g., RICS, CABE, CIOB)
- Excellent opportunities for training and development.
- Generous annual leave entitlement, starting at 26 days (increasing to 28) PLUS 3 additional days over the Christmas period whilst the Council offices are closed.
- A fantastic local government pension scheme.
- Employee perks, including multiple retailer and lifestyle discounts.
- Free use of Canterbury’s Park and Ride for an easier commute.
About this opportunity: This role will be primarily home based with site visits and meetings at the council offices/hubs and contractors' offices when required. Access to office space is available if preferred. Within the Facilities Management team, you will be the subject matter expert in relation to the delivery of the HRA repairs, voids and planned work including the contract manager for our Reactive Repairs Contractor and building procedure across our HRA estate.
You’ll manage and motivate contractors and staff to achieve performance targets. You’ll lead on the successful delivery of a compliant forward-thinking service to our tenants within their homes, ensuring a tenant-focused approach. With a focus on continuous improvement, you will have the opportunity to take responsibility for the management of the reactive repairs contractor, including budgetary control, development of delivery plans, and analysis of contract performance of several work streams (voids and capital projects).
You will ensure that the correct legal notices and payments are issued in line with the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. When required, you may act as Principal Designer. You will have a good understanding and significant experience of maintenance and asset legal requirements, obligations and regulations. You will have significant experience of building, motivating and training a team to deliver an ever-changing and increasing quality service.
Working pattern: Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. 37 hours per week. Permanent full-time contract. A full week off over Christmas! Plus 26 days of annual leave to use throughout the rest of the year, increasing to 28 days after 5 years of service.
About you, the ideal candidate: You should be a member of a relevant professional body (including CIBSE, RICS, CIOB, CABE or CIH). You’ll have successfully completed a suitable Degree in a subject that covers Construction or housing (e.g., Building Surveying or Building Service Engineering). A level 4 housing qualification or willingness to undertake one is required. A full driving licence is necessary for this job opportunity.
You’ll have a strong knowledge of:
- Housing Assets Delivery (i.e., reactive repairs, voids and capital works)
- Performance monitoring systems
- National policies and procedures relating to the council's housing stock
- Compliance regarding statutory landlord obligations
- Technical understanding of building compliance (BS 7671, Gas Safety Regulations and Control of Asbestos Regulations)
Due to the nature of this role, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a basic DBS check as part of their pre-employment clearances.
If this opportunity looks right for you, please apply today! For an informal chat about the role or to find out what it’s like to work for Canterbury City Council as part of its Facilities Management team, please call Nathan Foley on 07525237388. Nathan is our Lead Building Asset Manager and he would very much welcome your call.
Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 06 July 2026.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at Canterbury City Council: We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in everything we do. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is valued, included and respected. Our diversity strengthens our ability to serve the diverse communities we support through our work. To demonstrate this through our actions, all applications are anonymised for the shortlisting panel, allowing all applicants to be assessed on merit alone.
Senior Repairs Operations Manager in Canterbury employer: Canterbury City Council
Canterbury City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment that prioritises work-life balance and employee well-being. With generous annual leave, professional development opportunities, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, you will thrive in a collaborative Facilities Management team dedicated to delivering high-quality services to the community. Enjoy the benefits of a local government pension scheme and various employee perks while making a meaningful impact in the vibrant city of Canterbury.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Repairs Operations Manager in Canterbury
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Canterbury City Council, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior Repairs Operations Manager at Canterbury City Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Repairs Operations Manager in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Canterbury City Council
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
