Maintenance Manager in Southampton

We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced, and forward-thinking Maintenance Manager to join the Estates, Facilities & Capital Development (EFCD) department within UEL, delivering Operational Maintenance Services to University Hospital Southampton. This role will provide operational leadership to the Building and Fabric Maintenance team, with a clear remit to develop, modernise, and transform the service. The Building & Fabric Maintenance team plays a critical role in supporting the hospital's safe and effective operation, delivering day‑to‑day estates maintenance services including painting, roofing, carpentry, fire doors, and windows.

The Maintenance Manager will be responsible not only for ensuring high‑quality service delivery but also for driving continuous improvement, enhancing capability, and embedding best practices across the team. The post holder will lead a multidisciplinary team of specialists and operational staff and will be accountable for the full Operational Estates function. This includes planned and reactive maintenance, testing, installation, maintenance and repair of assets, contract management, and ensuring full statutory and regulatory compliance.

• Provide strong operational and transformational leadership to the Building & Fabric Maintenance team, driving cultural change, capability development, and improved performance across the service.
• Lead the ongoing development, modernisation, and transformation of the Building & Fabric Maintenance function to ensure it meets current and future hospital operational, safety, and compliance requirements.
• Manage day‑to‑day operational estate maintenance services, including painting, roofing, carpentry, fire doors, windows, and associated building fabric activities, ensuring services are delivered safely, efficiently, and to agreed standards.
• Develop, review, and implement robust policies, procedures, and standard operating practices, ensuring they remain current, effective, and aligned with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Champion the use of digital systems and technologies to improve asset management, compliance monitoring, reporting, and the planning and delivery of maintenance activities.
• Ensure full accountability for planned and reactive maintenance, testing, installation, repair of assets, contract management, and all aspects of statutory and regulatory compliance.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a multidisciplinary team of specialists and operational staff, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and professional development.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to support service improvement initiatives, manage change effectively, and ensure minimal disruption to hospital operations.

This role requires a leader with a strong growth mindset and a proven ability to engage teams in change, developing people, improving processes, and strengthening performance and compliance.

• A strong understanding of industry best practice and statutory compliance requirements.
• Demonstrable experience in the safe and effective management of contractors, including control of works, permit systems, risk assessments, method statements, and performance monitoring.
• Strong knowledge of planned and reactive maintenance delivery, with the ability to manage performance against agreed service levels, KPIs, and contractual requirements.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and reviewing procedures, policies, and safe systems of work to ensure consistent, compliant, and high‑quality service delivery.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate multidisciplinary teams, promoting a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Generous NHS pension scheme
• NHS terms of service and annual leave
• Access to an employee benefits platform offering discounts on groceries, high street shopping, family outings, holidays, and more

Southampton offers an excellent quality of life, located on the south coast with an international airport and direct train links to London. The area boasts the stunning New Forest National Park, beautiful beaches along the Jurassic Coast, and living costs around 20% lower than in London. With 14 Ofsted‑rated “Outstanding” schools, it’s a great place to live and work.