Specialist Contracts – Contract Manager

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Specialist Contracts – Contract Manager within the Directorate of Estates and Facilities – Facilities, Maintenance and Compliance. This role offers an exciting opportunity to manage, develop and oversee the delivery of specialist compliance and building services contracts across the University estate. The post-holder will support statutory compliance, performance and value for money across a range of critical services and specialist mechanical and electrical systems.

You will be responsible for:

• Support the Deputy Head of Compliance – Specialist Contracts in delivering a professional, compliant and customer-focused specialist contract service.
• Manage a portfolio of specialist compliance and fabric maintenance contracts, ensuring services are delivered in line with statutory requirements, University standards and contractual obligations.
• Develop and implement robust performance management frameworks, key performance indicators and service-level agreements.
• Chair regular supplier review meetings, producing reports and action plans to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Lead contract retendering exercises, including specification writing, tender evaluation, contract mobilisation and review, in accordance with University procurement regulations.
  
  
  

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of statutory compliance requirements relevant to one or more areas such as fire safety systems, boilers/chillers, security systems, lifts, automatic doors or building fabric.
• Strong understanding of health and safety legislation and its application to contract operations.

Proven experience managing mechanical and electrical, fabric or specialist compliance contracts within a complex estate or similar environment.

Excellent organisational, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with stakeholders.

Educated to HNC level or equivalent in a relevant engineering, facilities or building services discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience gained through practical learning.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of HTM guidance or other maintenance frameworks, public procurement regulations and best practice within higher education or large public-sector estates.
• Experience working within higher education or a large, complex public-sector estate.
• Professional membership of a relevant body, such as IWFM, IFE, CIBSE or CIPS, or working towards membership.
• NEBOSH or IOSH Health and Safety qualification.
  
  
  

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available
  
  
  

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries About The Role, Shortlisting And Interviews

Name: Nicholas Jackson

Email Address: nicholas.jackson@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support

recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.