At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in delivering top-notch social housing repairs and maintenance services.
- Company: Join Mears Group, a leader in housing and care services with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, car allowance, and perks like discounts on groceries and holidays.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace that values social responsibility.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and leading teams in a fast-paced environment.
Annual salary: up to £70,000.00
Location: Dover
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: £70,000
Benefits: 25 days annual leave, Mears Rewards, volunteering leave, family-friendly policies + car allowance
Mears Group PLC is a leading provider of housing and care services in the UK. With a strong emphasis on social responsibility and community well-being, Mears specialises in delivering housing solutions, maintenance services, and care support to a diverse client base. The group's expertise encompasses responsive repairs, planned maintenance, and housing management, contributing to the overall improvement of living conditions for individuals and communities. Mears Group is committed to fostering a positive impact on society, making it an attractive prospect for individuals seeking a career in a socially responsible and dynamic organisation.
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced General Manager to oversee local Social Housing Repairs & Maintenance contract in Dover, ensuring the business operates on sound operational and commercial principles. This pivotal role will drive a high-performing culture, foster professional client relationships, and embed a customer-focused ethos across the team. You will provide clear leadership, mentoring, and motivation to the branch team, setting strategic targets and objectives and leading by example. Key responsibilities include developing sustainable client and stakeholder relationships, ensuring exceptional customer engagement, and maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations. You will manage performance against P&L targets, monitor KPIs, and uphold governance and risk management processes. Proficiency in business systems such as MCM, MSP, Dashboards, Workday, and compliance plans is essential. You will also embed company values and procedures through monthly Branch/Contract meetings, annual appraisals and annual staff surveys. If you are passionate about delivering efficient, high quality and high performing services, we would love to hear from you.
Essential Criteria:
- Demonstrable strong understanding of the principles of contract/project management.
- Experience of effectively leading and managing a team of Technical/Trades/Administrative staff.
- Ability to effectively manage, support and resolve personnel issues.
- Ability to work productively in a pressurised environment, acting decisively when faced with urgent issues while consistently maintaining a high level of service at all times.
- Having a genuine understanding of industry and service delivery to a range of clients.
- IT literate utilising Microsoft packages.
- Experience of managing in a Social Housing repairs and maintenance role.
- Experience of financial and commercial forecasting to include budgeting.
- Experience of working towards social value targets.
- Experience of developing sustainable client and stakeholder relationships.
- A proven track record in achieving, monitoring and managing performance targets.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and challenge internally and externally.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads to achieve targets.
- Ability to proactively manage and analyse data.
- Management of complaints which are promptly resolved and dealt with appropriately.
- Detailed and up to date knowledge of health and safety practices.
- UK full current driving licence.
Preferred Criteria:
- SMSTS qualification.
- HNC/HND Building Studies qualification or equivalent demonstrated experience.
- A level 4/5 qualification in Leadership & Management or a willingness to work towards this if required.
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
- Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
- Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more.
- Family friendly policies.
- Company Car Allowance.
- Access to EAP Counselling sessions.
All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21, have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.
At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all. We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.
In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager in Aylesham
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Mears Group PLC.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Mears Group PLC.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Mears Group PLC.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Mears Group PLC. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager in Aylesham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Mears Group PLC. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like General Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mears Group PLC
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Mears Group PLC. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
