Head of Maintenance Operations in Coventry

We are seeking an interim/temporary Head of Maintenance Operations to oversee the day-to-day delivery of maintenance services for a large multi building and facility university establishment in Coventry. The role will report directly to the Director of Maintenance and manage a team including Department Managers to ensure the safe, compliant, efficient operation and maintenance of all university buildings, building systems and infrastructure, and relevant external public realm.

Responsibility will also ensure the efficient and effective delivery of reactive, planned and statutory maintenance functions, including providing an emergency reactive service for all building disciplines across all university operated properties. To ensure that buildings are statutory compliant, well maintained, and operational – including long-term capital planning and delivery. To coordinate small scale improvement works through in-house labour and contractors. To ensure that the campus infrastructure – including roads, power, and water – are safe, fit for purpose, and resilient.

Technical and People Duties

• Review, design and implement new systems and new working practices (using benchmarking data and competitor analysis) to ensure a safe, cost effective, customer focused, operationally effective, service delivery organisation which is fit for purpose for an ever-developing, technical and expanding campus.
• Take ownership for all engineering operations, spanning mechanical, electrical and critical systems, steering the estates engineering strategy, lead the optimisation of building services and infrastructure, and champion the adoption of smart, efficient and sustainable solutions.
• To direct the delivery of all engineering operations “Hard FM (Facilities Management)” services to the University operated buildings.
• Leadership of a large in-house labour force, including recruitment, training & development, and discipline.
• Management of maintenance requirements across the University; determining annual operational plans, and securing budgets for service.
• Implement and monitor the delivery of the service through Key performance indicators (KPI’s). Focused on productivity, customer service, carbon reduction, resource consumption, continual improvement.
• Responsible for the management of the delivery of the prescribed statutory and routine, planned maintenance and function as the responsible person (RP) or approved person (AP) for certain statutory responsibilities, as agreed and detailed in the RATSIA (RACI).
• Development of maintenance policies and systems to deliver a quality, efficient, effective service whilst ensuring value for money, and safety compliance of the works undertaken, by in-house and external specialist consultants/contractors.
• Direct the use of external contracts where required for the maintenance and operational requirements.
• Compilation of financial business cases in support of additional resources for Campus expansion / contraction as required.
• Co-operating in the compilation of forward maintenance plans for future years and advising on the condition of the Campus.
• Leading the forward maintenance plans for future years and advising on the condition of the Campus.
• Management of the emergency response process for the department to ensure adequate cover and responsive service provision to meet service levels required.
• Accountability for annual budgets for planned and reactive maintenance, providing monthly reporting and management information for future budgets and 5-year plans.
• Develop and implement a sustainable, environmentally aware, low carbon and energy efficient approach to minor works and repairs.

People Management

• To lead the team to ensure clear objectives and focus.
• Develop a culture of continuous improvement where ownership and efficient resolution of issues are expected. Promote excellent customer service, team working and empower the team to use initiative to exceed customer expectations.
• Ensure business cases justify decisions about method of delivery (out-sourced/in-sourced) to provide the best quality of service and/or access to specialist skills/knowledge within budget to ensure compliance.
• To have overall responsibility for compliance of building systems and buildings, H&S safety for contractors and directly employed staff.
• To ensure that there are clear roles and responsibilities within the team for compliances, and to ensure that they have adequate training and resource.

Person Specification

• A degree qualification in Building Services, Engineering or equivalent experience.
• National Examination Board Health and Safety Certificate (NEBOSH) or equivalent.
• Chartered & Member of a related professional body such as Chartered Institute of Building Services (CIBSE), CIOB or equivalent.
• Broad spectrum of knowledge in Building Service Management, covering: building fabric, electrical and mechanical.
• Significant relevant experience at a senior level within a large complex (equivalent) organisation.
• Significant experience and background of managing and maintaining large local infrastructure and plant.
• Detailed H&S knowledge and background and evidence of improving the H&S culture in an organisation.
• Ability to design and implement significant change and reorganisation programmes in a unionised environment.
• Ability to plan, strategically manage, organise complex services operations that are performance and date critical.
• Ability to work as part of a senior team with conflicting priorities.

Desirable

• A post graduate qualification in a building, engineering, or management related subject.
• Management of Asbestos in Buildings qualification BOHS P405/3.
• NEBOSH General Certificate, Certificate in Fire Safety, Certificate in Construction.
• Experience developing, placing and working with various forms of JCT/NEC3 contracts.
• Working knowledge of the delivery of projects in a Higher Education environment.
• Able to use AutoCAD – understanding or REVIT, BIM.
• Lean process practitioner.

This role is for an immediate start and will offer an excellent opportunity to work for a large leading one-site university establishment.

WEG Tech is part of the Warwick Employment Group and is acting as an internal recruitment agency for this vacancy. Please forward your latest CV to Pete.Hampshire@warwick.ac.uk.