Head Of Maintenance Operations

About the job

Head of Maintenance Operations - Estates Maintenance Operations

Interim / Temporary - 6 Months - £65,000 + Holiday Pay + Benefits

Reporting to the Director of Maintenance

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 and 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 – and to coordinate small‑scale improvement works through in‑house labour and contractors.

To ensure that the campus infrastructure – including roads, power and water – is safe, fit for purpose and resilient.

• Review, design and implement new systems and working practices (using benchmarking data and competitor analysis) to ensure a safe, cost‑effective, customer‑focused, operationally effective service delivery organisation that 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, leading the optimisation of building services and infrastructure, and championing the adoption of smart, efficient and sustainable solutions.
• Direct the delivery of all engineering operations “Hard FM (Facilities Management)” services to the University‑operated buildings.
• Lead a large in‑house labour force, including recruitment, training and development, and discipline.
• Manage maintenance requirements across the University; determine annual operational plans and secure budgets for service, deciding which functions should be delivered in‑house and which through specialist contractors or other providers.
• Implement and monitor service delivery through key performance indicators (KPIs) focused on productivity, customer service, carbon reduction, resource consumption and continual improvement.
• Be responsible for managing the delivery of the prescribed statutory and routine maintenance and act as the responsible person (RP) or approved person (AP) for certain statutory responsibilities, as agreed in the RACI.
• Develop maintenance policies and systems to deliver a high‑quality, efficient and effective service while ensuring value for money, safety compliance and the works undertaken by in‑house and external specialists.
• Direct the use of external contracts where required for maintenance and operational needs.
• Compile financial business cases supporting additional resources for campus expansion/contraction, and assist in compiling forward maintenance plans for future years while advising on campus condition.
• Lead the forward maintenance plans for future years and advise on campus condition.
• Manage the emergency response process to ensure adequate cover and responsive service provision meeting required service levels.
• Account for annual budgets for planned and reactive maintenance, providing monthly reporting and management information for future budgets and five‑year plans.
• Develop and implement a sustainable, environmentally aware, low‑carbon and energy‑efficient approach to minor works and repairs.

• 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, teamwork and empower the team to use initiative to exceed expectations.
• Ensure business cases justify decisions about delivery method (outsourced/in‑sourced) to provide the best quality of service and…