Hand-back & Transition Manager

Equans is looking for a Hand‑back & Transition Manager to join our team in Edinburgh on a permanent basis. This is a full‑time role working 37.5 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

Reporting to the Account Director, the Hand‑back & Transition Manager is accountable for the strategic, operational, and commercial management of the PFI contract handback and service transition at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The role has single‑point accountability for ensuring the safe, compliant, and contractually robust transfer of assets, data, services, and workforce from Equans to the client and/or successor arrangements at contract expiry. This includes managing highly sensitive commercial negotiations, cross‑business coordination, and stakeholder assurance during the most complex and exposed phase of the contract lifecycle. The role holder operates with a high degree of autonomy in a high‑risk environment, protecting Equans’ commercial position, reputation, and future client relationships while maintaining service continuity and patient safety throughout the transition period.

COMPLEXITY

This role operates in a highly exposed commercial and contractual environment as relationships transition from long‑term partnership to contract closure. The Hand‑back & Transition Manager must navigate complex legal and technical documentation, manage senior stakeholder relationships, and resolve contentious issues while balancing contractual compliance with commercial protection and service continuity.

What will you deliver?

• Strategic Handback and Transition Leadership: Develop, own, and deliver the integrated handback and transition strategy in line with the Facilities Services Contract, Supplemental Agreement requirements, and Equans governance. Act as the single point of accountability for all handback and transition activities, providing clear ownership, reporting, and escalation. Lead delivery against contractual milestones, managing priorities independently within compressed and high‑pressure timeframes.
• Asset Compliance, Condition, and Risk Management: Lead asset condition surveys, lifecycle validation, backlog and defect management, and statutory compliance assurance. Ensure assets are transitioned in the contractually required handback condition through planned remediation and governance. Maintain a live and auditable risk register covering operational, commercial, legal, safety, and reputational risks, driving early mitigation.
• Commercial, Contractual, and Financial Management: Act as the lead commercial interface for handback negotiations with NHS Lothian, Consort, and appointed advisors. Manage contract interpretation, claims, deductions, dispute resolution, and final account settlement. Protect Equans’ commercial position while maintaining a professional and collaborative client relationship.
• Operational Transition and Workforce Transfer: Lead the service transition strategy, ensuring continuity of hospital operations throughout handover. Coordinate TUPE planning and workforce transition in collaboration with HR, Operations, and successor providers. Manage knowledge transfer, asset data validation, CAFM and system decommissioning, and successor mobilisation support.
• Documentation, Governance, and Assurance: Oversee delivery of a complete and defensible handback data pack, including asset registers, O&M manuals, compliance certificates, and technical documentation. Ensure all documentation meets contractual evidential standards and is audit‑ready. Maintain governance controls and reporting dashboards to support transparency and decision‑making.
• Continuous Improvement and Portfolio Value: Capture lessons learned and contribute to best practice across Equans’ wider PFI expiry and transition portfolio.

What can we offer you?

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2× times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility, Encompass, RISE, WOMEN TOGETHER, Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are we looking for?

• Extensive experience in senior operational or commercial management within the Facilities Management, infrastructure, or construction sectors.
• Demonstrable experience in managing PFI or complex long‑term service contracts through their end‑of‑term phases.
• Proven track record in multi‑party negotiation, dispute resolution, and commercial management of large‑scale contracts.
• Deep understanding of PFI financial structures, and lifecycle asset management principles.
• Strong technical knowledge of building services, M&E infrastructure, and statutory compliance requirements in a complex environment (e.g., healthcare).
• Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to manage cross‑functional teams (legal, finance, operations, HR).
• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline (e.g., Engineering, Facilities Management, Business, Law) or equivalent professional experience.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as IWFM, RICS, or a commercial management accreditation are highly desirable.

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros. In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services – with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables. Equans’ 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live. Equans is a Bouygues group company.

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a re‑location package with this job role. Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements.