General Manager in Aylesham

General Manager

Annual salary: up to £70,000.00

Location: Dover | Contract Type: Full‑Time, Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced General Manager to oversee the 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, maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations, managing performance against P&L targets, monitoring KPIs, and upholding 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.

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.
• Volunteering Leave.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards – discounts up to 10% on weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share Save scheme, and more.
• Family friendly policies.
• Company Car Allowance.
• Access to EAP Counselling sessions.

Requirements

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 for 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.