Head of Maintenance Operations in Coventry

About the job

We are seeking an interim/temporary Head of Maintenance Operations to oversee the day-to-day delivery of maintenance services for a large multi-building and facility university establishment in Coventry. The role will report directly to the Director of Maintenance and manage a team including Department Managers to ensure the safe, compliant, efficient operation and maintenance of all university buildings, building systems and infrastructure, and relevant external public realm.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of reactive, planned and statutory maintenance functions, including providing an emergency reactive service for all building disciplines across all university operated properties.
• Coordinating small scale improvement works through in-house labour and contractors.
• Ensuring that the campus infrastructure including roads, power, and water are safe, fit for purpose, and resilient.
• Reviewing, designing and implementing new systems and working practices to ensure a safe, cost-effective, customer-focused, operationally effective service delivery organisation.
• Taking ownership for all engineering operations, spanning mechanical, electrical and critical systems.
• Directing the delivery of all engineering operations Hard FM (Facilities Management) services to the University operated buildings.
• Leading a large in-house labour force, including recruitment, training & development, and discipline.
• Managing maintenance requirements across the University; determining annual operational plans, and securing budgets for service.
• Implementing and monitoring the delivery of the service through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Responsible for the management of the delivery of the prescribed statutory and routine, planned maintenance.
• Developing maintenance policies and systems to deliver a quality, efficient, effective service whilst ensuring value for money, and safety compliance.
• Directing the use of external contracts where required for maintenance and operational requirements.
• Compiling financial business cases in support of additional resources for Campus expansion/contraction.
• Managing the emergency response process for the department to ensure adequate cover and responsive service provision.
• Accountability for annual budgets for planned and reactive maintenance.
• Developing and implementing a sustainable, environmentally aware, low carbon and energy efficient approach to minor works and repairs.

People Management:

• Leading the team to ensure clear objectives and focus.
• Developing a culture of continuous improvement where ownership and efficient resolution of issues are expected.
• Promoting excellent customer service, team working and empowering the team to use initiative to exceed customer expectations.
• Ensuring business cases justify decisions about method of delivery to provide the best quality of service within budget.
• Having overall responsibility for compliance of building systems and buildings, H&S safety for contractors and directly employed staff.
• Ensuring that there are clear roles and responsibilities within the team for compliance, and that they have adequate training and resources.

Person Specification:

• A degree qualification in Building Services, Engineering or equivalent experience.
• National Examination Board Health and Safety Certificate (NEBOSH) or equivalent.
• Chartered & Member of a related professional body such as Chartered Institute of Building Services (CIBSE), CIOB or equivalent.
• Broad spectrum of knowledge in Building Service Management.
• Significant relevant experience at a senior level within a large complex organisation.
• Ability to design and implement significant change and reorganisation programmes in a unionised environment.
• Ability to plan, strategically manage, organise complex services operations that are performance and date critical.

This role is for an immediate start and will offer an excellent opportunity to work for a large leading one-site university.