Head of Building Services in Milton Keynes

We're looking for an exceptional Head of Building Services who is passionate about raising standards and creating environments where people are proud to live, work and visit.

This is far more than managing buildings.

It's about leading operational excellence across our estate, facilities and business services, ensuring every interaction, every environment and every service reflects the high standards we aspire to as an organisation.

You'll inspire your team to move beyond simply maintaining buildings and instead create places that are safe, welcoming, compliant and exceptionally well run.

From reception and housekeeping to maintenance, compliance and office services, you'll drive continuous improvement, challenge the status quo and build a culture where quality, accountability and customer service are everyone's responsibility.

We're looking for someone who sees opportunities where others see obstacles.

Someone who enjoys transforming services, developing high-performing teams and creating systems and processes that deliver consistently excellent results.

About the Role

Reporting to the CEO, you will be responsible for leading and overseeing the management, maintenance, safety and day-to-day operation of YMCA South Midlands' buildings and facilities across all sites.

The role ensures our buildings are safe, compliant, welcoming and well maintained, providing an environment where residents, colleagues, volunteers and visitors can thrive.

The postholder will lead the Building Management team, drive continuous improvement and ensure our estate supports the delivery of high-quality services whilst providing excellent value for money.

This role will also provide first-class support to the Social Enterprise Manager by ensuring meeting rooms and conferencing facilities are professionally prepared, set up and cleared down, delivering an excellent experience for colleagues, customers and visitors.

The scope of the role includes

• Health & Safety
• Fire & Risk Management
• Building Maintenance
• Void Works
• Housekeeping
• Reception Services
• Office Management
• Contractors
• Planned & Reactive Maintenance
• Compliance
• Estates

Key Responsibilities

• You'll play a key role across the entire employee lifecycle, including:
• Building Management
• Lead the day-to-day management of YMCA South Midlands' buildings and estate.
• Ensure workloads and resources are managed effectively, to ensure performance times and deadlines are routinely achieved.
• Work with Head of Resident Services to ensure void properties are prepared for efficiency.
• Oversee planned preventative maintenance and responsive repairs ensuring excellent customer service and great value for money.
• Develop and implement long-term maintenance and asset improvement plans.
• Health, Safety & Compliance
• Lead the organisation's approach to building compliance and operational health and safety.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, inspections, servicing and statutory testing.
• Oversee risk assessments and ensure actions are implemented effectively.
• Promote a proactive safety culture across the organisation.
• Fire safety, testing, evacuations and High-Risk Building Status
• Managing DSE Assessments
• Facilities & Operational Services
• Oversee housekeeping, reception and office management services including IT, Telephony and other business critical functions.
• Ensure facilities services consistently meet organisational standards.
• Monitor service quality and implement improvements to enhance the experience of residents, staff and visitors.
• Ensure contractors deliver services safely, effectively and in accordance with agreed standards.
• Quality, Performance & Compliance
• Ensure all building management services consistently meet legal, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Monitor performance, compliance and service standards, using data to drive continuous improvement.

Lead service reviews and implement improvements that enhance operational effectiveness and customer experience.

• Financial & Asset Management
• Manage facilities and maintenance budgets effectively.
• Ensure assets are maintained to maximise their lifespan and value.
• Procure services and manage external contractors in line with organisational procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and achieve value for money.

About You

You're an experienced operational leader who enjoys raising standards and making things better.

You naturally see opportunities to improve services, simplify processes and create environments that people are proud to be part of.

You're equally comfortable developing long-term plans as you are supporting your team to resolve day-to-day operational challenges.

You'll ideally have

• Significant experience leading estates, facilities or operational support services
• Experience developing and leading high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety legislation and statutory compliance.
• Experience managing planned maintenance programmes, contractors and service contracts.
• Experience managing operational budgets and procurement.
• Experience leading service transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• The confidence to challenge poor performance, influence others and drive operational excellence.
• A proactive, customer-focused mindset with a genuine passion for raising standards.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to make a genuine impact within a growing organisation that's ambitious about both its people and the communities it serves.

You'll have the opportunity to

• Make a real difference in a purpose-driven organisation.
• Help shape a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
• Build trusted relationships with managers across the organisation.
• Influence how we recruit, develop and support our people.
• Lead meaningful HR projects and continuously improve how we work.
• Join a supportive team where your ideas and expertise will be valued.
• Everyone is Welcome Here

At YMCA South Midlands, we believe everyone should feel they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and communities.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the people we serve and where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

As a charity with a Christian heritage, our faith inspires our values and our commitment to serving others.

We welcome people of all faiths and none.

All appointments are made on merit.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best throughout our recruitment process.

If you have a disability, long-term health condition or are neurodivergent and would benefit from any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us at any stage.

We'll be happy to discuss how we can support you.

Safer Recruitment

YMCA South Midlands is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all colleagues to share this commitment.

As part of our safer recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to complete pre-employment checks, which will include a DBS check, verification of identity and right to work in the UK, employment references, qualification checks (where applicable) and other relevant pre-employment screening in line with our Safer Recruitment Policy.

If you're passionate about people, thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to help build a culture where people are supported, challenged and inspired to achieve their best, we'd love to hear from you.

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