Operations Manager in Milton Keynes

Ideal candidate locations – Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Northants, Oxon, South Birmingham, M40 corridor

Salary – Up to £45k, company vehicle/allowance

Overview

My client has been delivering facilities management services for 40+ years. They are an established, nationally operating FM provider with a strong reputation for dependable service, operational consistency and trusted client partnerships. As they continue to grow and expand their national portfolio, we are seeking an experienced senior level Operations Manager to support and deputise for their Operations Director. This is a senior leadership role focused firmly on operational delivery across a predominantly soft FM portfolio, including cleaning and security, sites include schools/colleges, medical and offices. The successful candidate will lead and optimise day-to-day operational performance across multiple national contracts. This role requires a highly organised, visible and proactive leader who understands facilities management at scale, someone comfortable managing dispersed teams, holding service performance to account and ensuring standards are delivered consistently across all sites. You will play a pivotal role in translating operational objectives into measurable results, strengthening delivery frameworks and embedding a culture of accountability, responsiveness and continuous improvement across the business. This is a key leadership position, the Senior Operations Manager will help shape the next phase of the client’s operational growth, ensuring that as they expand, they remain consistent, reliable, and operationally disciplined. They are looking for a delivery-focused leader who takes ownership, values accountability and understands that facilities management excellence is built through strong people leadership and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee operational delivery across national, multi-site facilities management contracts, ensuring services are delivered safely, consistently and in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Develop and maintain operational procedures, service standards and reporting frameworks that enhance efficiency and drive service consistency across the portfolio.
• Monitor and analyse KPIs and SLAs across contracts, identifying performance gaps and implementing corrective action plans where required.
• Support contract mobilisations and service transitions ensuring smooth implementation and operational readiness.
• Lead, coach and develop regional operational managers, supervisors and frontline teams, maintaining high levels of engagement, accountability and service ownership.
• Conduct regular site visits, quality audits and compliance reviews to ensure service standards and regulatory obligations are consistently met.
• Oversee resource allocation across contracts, including workforce planning, supplier management and cost control, working closely with commercial and finance teams.
• Collaborate with the Operations Director and senior leadership to strengthen operational resilience and scalability as the business continues to grow.
• Maintain strong, professional relationships with clients and key stakeholders, acting as a senior operational point of contact where required.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, quality assurance standards and company policies across all operational activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance productivity, service quality and client experience.
• Manage operational risk assessment processes and implement mitigation strategies proactively.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in senior operations management within facilities management, ideally across national or large multi-site contracts and used to running contracts directly and interacting with cleaners, supervisors and the end client.
• Strong background in soft FM service delivery, with experience managing cleaning and support services at scale.
• Demonstrable leadership capability, with experience managing geographically dispersed operational teams.
• Excellent organisational and operational planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing KPIs, SLAs and performance reporting frameworks.
• Confident communicator, capable of engaging with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to make decisive, practical decisions under pressure whilst maintaining operational discipline.
• Sound understanding of health and safety regulations, compliance requirements and quality assurance standards within the FM sector.
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent qualification is desirable.
• Candidates should be happy to travel.
• A recognised qualification in Facilities Management or related discipline is advantageous but not essential.