Service Manager

We are seeking an experienced Service Manager to oversee the safe, efficient and commercially successful delivery of vegetation-management services across National Grid and associated utility contracts.

Reporting directly to the Regional Operations Manager, you will lead a dispersed team of Line Clearance Managers and take full operational, financial and health and safety responsibility for your designated area.

You will ensure all works are completed safely, to specification and in accordance with contractual requirements. You will also be responsible for achieving agreed production volumes, maintaining strong client relationships and delivering the area’s financial targets.

This is a senior operational role requiring an autonomous, commercially focused and highly visible leader who can manage performance across multiple counties.

Key Responsibilities

Operational and Contract Management

• Take full responsibility for operational delivery across the designated area or workstream.

• Ensure vegetation-management works are completed safely, efficiently, to specification and right first time.

• Deliver contractual and operational objectives, including agreed production volumes.

• Monitor availability, utilisation, effectiveness and productivity across the team.

• Plan, price and deliver works within agreed company authority limits.

• Produce accurate internal and external operational reports.

• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements, company procedures and current legislation.

• Complete audit actions within agreed timescales.

• Identify operational risks and implement appropriate corrective or preventative actions.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Take full P&L responsibility for the designated area or workstream.

• Monitor expenditure, labour, overheads and operational costs.

• Review and adjust monthly forecasts in consultation with Line Clearance Managers.

• Report forecast changes promptly to the Commercial Manager and Regional Operations Manager.

• Support monthly and annual contract-budget planning.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and commercial performance.

• Protect contract profitability while maintaining safety, quality and service standards.

Leadership and People Management

• Lead, support and develop a team of Line Clearance Managers and their operational teams.

• Set clear objectives and hold managers accountable for delivery.

• Build a culture based on trust, competence, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Support succession planning, colleague development and employee retention.

• Regularly review individual and team performance.

• Encourage shared learning from good practice, incidents, near misses and operational challenges.

• Take ownership of personal development and promote continuous professional development throughout the team.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Act as a visible and passionate safety leader.

• Promote proactive health and safety practices throughout the contract.

• Ensure compliance with legislation, client requirements and internal company standards.

• Investigate incidents and near misses thoroughly.

• Identify root causes and ensure corrective and preventative actions are implemented.

• Check and challenge Line Clearance Managers to maintain safe working practices and consistently high standards.

• Ensure lessons learned are communicated across affected teams and workstreams.

• Maintain full accountability for health, safety and environmental performance within the designated area.

Client and Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with National Grid, utility clients and other key stakeholders.

• Act as a senior point of contact for operational and service-delivery matters.

• Understand client priorities and respond proactively to concerns.

• Protect and develop existing contracts by consistently delivering high-quality services.

• Identify opportunities to enhance existing services and support potential new business.

• Communicate professionally, clearly and concisely with clients, colleagues and operational teams.

Essential Requirements

• Experienced and competent to UA5 standard, or an equivalent level of utility-arboriculture training.

• Demonstrable contract, service or project-management experience.

• Proven experience managing dispersed operational teams across multiple counties.

• Strong track record of delivering contractual, operational and financial targets.

• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, costs and P&L performance.

• Strong working knowledge of health and safety legislation and operational compliance.

• IOSH qualification or equivalent recognised health and safety training.

• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.

• Competent using Microsoft Office applications and electronic reporting systems.

• Excellent people-management, leadership and team-development skills.

• Strong client and stakeholder-management experience.

• Clear, concise and professional written and verbal communication skills.

• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly throughout the designated area.

• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in arboriculture, forestry or a related discipline.

• Level 5 Award or equivalent qualification in Leadership and Management.

• Experience delivering vegetation-management services for National Grid or another utility provider.

• Knowledge of utility-arboriculture standards, line-clearance operations and associated contractual requirements.

• Experience supporting contract growth and business-development opportunities.

Personal Attributes

• A progressive, proactive and visible leader.

• Passionate about health, safety and continuous improvement.

• Commercially focused and confident making evidence-based decisions.

• Resilient and comfortable operating in a demanding environment.

• Able to work autonomously and take ownership of a geographically dispersed service.

• Strong motivator with the ability to build capable and engaged teams.

• Customer focused, professional and relationship driven.

• Confident challenging performance and ensuring accountability.

• Committed to improving personal, team and contract performance.

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?

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