Facilities Manager

Your new company
Are you an experienced Facilities Manager looking for an opportunity where you can take genuine ownership of a varied estate, lead a facilities team and make a visible impact? Hays are delighted to be supporting one of our key education clients in recruiting a Facilities Manager to join on an initial Temporary/Interim basis, with the further opportunity to become a permanent member of staff.
This is an excellent opportunity to take responsibility for the strategic and operational delivery of facilities and premises services across a distinctive, multi-building education campus. You will oversee everything from statutory compliance, planned and reactive maintenance and contractor management through to asset planning, security, budgets and sustainability, ensuring buildings, grounds, plant and associated services remain safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Your new role
You will be joining a large education campus in Smethwick, West Midlands, supporting environments used by children and young people from early years through to sixth form. As Facilities Manager, you will provide visible, practical and strategic leadership across the campus, ensuring buildings, grounds, plant, equipment and facilities services are effectively managed and providing clear assurance to senior leaders.
You will lead the day-to-day facilities operation while taking responsibility for key areas including:

• Leading, supporting and developing the facilities team, setting clear standards, allocating work and maintaining safe systems of work.
• Managing statutory compliance, including inspection, testing, servicing, remedial actions and associated records.
• Monitoring key compliance areas such as fire safety, water hygiene, asbestos, electrical and gas safety, lifting equipment and security systems.
• Coordinating planned preventative maintenance and reactive repairs, prioritising safety, service continuity and value.
• Maintaining accurate asset, condition and maintenance information and contributing to lifecycle and capital planning.
• Preparing scopes of work, obtaining quotations and coordinating works, while monitoring contractor safety, quality, programme and completion.
• Strengthening contractor controls, including induction, permits, safeguarding requirements and quality assurance.
• Overseeing security, access control, keyholding, CCTV, alarms and emergency arrangements.
• Supporting business continuity and responses to issues including severe weather, utility failure and operational disruption.
• Monitoring facilities contracts, expenditure, purchasing and invoice accuracy.
• Identifying practical opportunities to improve energy, water, waste and environmental performance.

A key focus during your first 12 months will be strengthening compliance assurance, asset and lifecycle planning, team standards, maintenance management, contractor performance, emergency readiness and sustainability. Working hours are 8am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 3.30pm on Friday's, with a 30-minute lunch break each day.

What you'll need to succeed
You will be an experienced facilities, estates, premises, engineering or maintenance professional with the practical knowledge and leadership skills required to manage a busy, multi-user environment. Due to requiring someone immediately on an interim basis, applicants will require an Enhanced DBS, ideally on the DBS Update Service, to ensure a speedy start.
You will ideally bring:

• A relevant qualification in facilities management, estates, building services, health & safety or management, or equivalent substantial experience.
• Experience managing facilities, premises, engineering, maintenance or a comparable operational service with the education sector.
• Practical experience coordinating statutory compliance, inspections, servicing, documentation and remedial works.
• Experience planning and prioritising both preventative and reactive maintenance.
• Experience specifying, procuring or coordinating works and managing contractor safety and quality.
• A good working knowledge of facilities compliance, contractor control and safe working practices.
• The ability to evaluate risk, prioritise effectively and make sound decisions under operational pressure.
• Confidence interpreting service reports, quotations, schedules, basic drawings and technical information.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365 and electronic record systems.
• A visible and approachable leadership style, combined with strong organisation, communication and problem-solving skills.
• The resilience to remain calm and practical when responding to disruption and competing operational demands.

What you'll get in return
In return you will receive a daily rate of up to £195 per day, inside of IR35. Further benefits are also on offer for the permanent post. More than that, this is an opportunity to take ownership of a broad and interesting facilities portfolio where your work will have a direct impact on the safety, quality and day-to-day operation of the estate.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk