Senior MEP Operations Manager in Edinburgh

Region: Based in the Edinburgh office, covering Scotland, Northern England and Ireland.

Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, 08:00–17:00, and Friday, 08:00–15:30.

As Senior MEP Operations Manager, you will lead the delivery of mechanical, electrical and public health projects across key client accounts within the Frameworks division.

Working closely with Operations Directors, Senior Operations Managers and client representatives, you will ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, to agreed margins and to the required quality standards.

You will build, develop and lead a team of Project Managers, coordinating internal resources, specialist contractors and suppliers to deliver a varied portfolio of building services projects, including critical plant replacements within live operational environments.

The role includes:

• Taking operational responsibility for MEP project delivery across multiple client accounts and locations.

• Understanding client requirements and translating them into clear scopes of work, programmes, budgets and delivery plans.

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants and professional teams.

• Identifying and developing project opportunities within existing frameworks and key accounts.

• Leading tender clarifications and negotiations to secure commercially viable project work.

• Overseeing pre-construction activities, including surveys, technical reviews, design coordination, cost planning and procurement.

• Managing external consultants to develop coordinated, compliant and practical MEP solutions.

• Leading, mentoring and supporting Project Managers, ensuring delivery targets and project KPIs are achieved.

• Planning resources across the project portfolio, balancing workload, skills and delivery priorities.

• Overseeing mechanical, electrical and public health installations, ensuring effective coordination between disciplines.

• Ensuring critical plant replacements and associated shutdowns are planned to minimise disruption to live building operations.

• Reviewing project performance across safety, design, procurement, quality, labour, commissioning and handover.

• Taking accountability for portfolio financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, costs and agreed profit margins.

• Working with commercial teams and project surveyors to manage valuations, variations, compensation events and contractual obligations.

• Developing the commercial awareness of Project Managers and identifying opportunities to improve project value.

• Selecting and managing a capable supply chain and direct labour resource to meet delivery requirements.

• Maintaining effective risk management, escalation and recovery plans across the project portfolio.

• Driving continuous improvement in safety, quality, productivity and client satisfaction.

• Producing monthly operational and financial reports and presenting performance updates to senior management.

• Working closely with internal legal, commercial, procurement and SHEQ teams.

• Ensuring compliance with applicable health and safety legislation, technical standards and company procedures.

• Ensuring project teams have the competence, training and support needed to fulfil their responsibilities.

• Promoting a collaborative team culture with clear expectations and accountability.

Experience & Skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A minimum of five years’ experience in senior MEP project management or operational leadership within building services.

• A relevant mechanical, electrical or building services qualification, supported by strong practical delivery experience.

• Experience leading multiple Project Managers and delivering a portfolio of MEP projects across geographically dispersed sites.

• Experience managing key client account project budgets of up to £8m.

• Experience delivering projects through client frameworks, ideally within government, commercial property, utilities or financial services environments.

• An understanding of the requirements of clients such as DWP, GPA, NatWest, Scottish Power and Scottish Water, or comparable organisations.

• Proven experience delivering critical plant replacement and building services upgrades within live operational buildings.

• Strong technical knowledge of MEP systems, design coordination, installation, commissioning and handover.

• Experience managing external consultants and specialist contractors through pre-construction and delivery.

• Strong commercial acumen, including budget management, forecasting, cost control and margin improvement.

• The ability to prepare and review contractor proposals, methodologies, programmes, cost plans, risk registers and project execution plans.

• Experience identifying and developing commercially viable project opportunities.

• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage, develop and motivate multidisciplinary delivery teams.

• Confident presentation skills and experience presenting proposals and performance reports to clients and senior stakeholders.

• A working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Project and PowerPoint.

• A sound understanding of relevant health and safety legislation, CDM Regulations and building services compliance requirements.

Personal Qualities

• Client focused and professional, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Self-motivated, organised and comfortable taking responsibility for operational and commercial performance.

• Able to make sound decisions and work calmly under pressure.

• A collaborative leader who supports team development and shared success.

• An excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing.

• Confident, approachable and reliable.

• Able to manage competing priorities while maintaining safety, quality and service standards.

• Flexible and willing to travel across Scotland, Northern England and Ireland, including regional offices and client sites.

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

✅Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

🚀Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

🙂 Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

📝Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

💰Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

If you are interested in joining a business that encourages professional development, career progression and the chance to work with inspirational people then please click apply and register your interest! You can also sign up to our job alerts when registering which will notify you when other suitable vacancies are available.

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.