We're recruiting an experienced and dynamic Responsive Repairs Manager to join a forward-thinking housing service responsible for delivering a high-quality repairs and maintenance function to residents. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior professional with strong leadership experience, technical expertise, and a proven background in managing large repairs operations to make a significant impact across a busy housing service.
You'll play a key role in leading the responsive repairs, out-of-hours service, scheduling operations, Health & Safety, and materials/supplies management. Working as part of the senior management team, you will drive performance, embed cultural change, support transformation projects, and ensure efficient, customer-focused service delivery.
The role will require the successful candidate to attend the council offices as required for operational management, team leadership and service oversight.
The Role
·Lead the delivery of the responsive repairs service across the borough, including managing the in-house workforce, specialist operatives and external contractors.
·Oversee scheduling teams to optimise technology, manage planned and emergency workloads, and support customer communication and complaints handling.
·Provide strong, effective leadership to teams responsible for repairs, health & safety and supply chain management.
·Drive performance management across the service, meeting KPIs, customer satisfaction targets and ensuring a robust 24/7/365 service.
·Manage staff capability, sickness, training, recruitment and development, ensuring a high-performing and motivated workforce.
·Prepare and present reports, respond to casework and complaints, and ensure timely and effective resolutions.
·Oversee budgets and ensure all financial activity complies with organisational standing orders and financial regulations.
·Provide technical leadership, including surveys, risk assessments, reviewing reports, defining policy and procedures, and staying updated on legislation and best practice.
·Evaluate tenders, recommend contract awards and ensure services meet specification, budget and timescales.
·Act as a workstream lead on transformation projects and contribute to service redesign and improvement.
·Promote a strong health & safety culture, ensuring compliance with all regulatory standards.
·Collaborate closely with internal managers, elected members, stakeholders and external partners to deliver excellent service outcomes.
·Deputise for the Head of Repairs when required and support other managers across the repairs service.
Key Requirements
·Strong knowledge of legislation and regulatory standards relating to housing repairs and maintenance.
·Understanding of local government governance, decision-making and experience working with elected members and boards.
·Minimum of three years' experience delivering a repairs and maintenance service, including project works.
·Experience working in a performance-driven environment with clear service targets.
·Background in a client/contractor environment with strong commercial awareness.
·Management experience across people, budgets, risk, complaints and operational planning.
·Experience preparing technical specifications and reports relating to repairs issues.
·Knowledge of pricing and costing systems, including schedules of rates, target/maximum pricing and contractor management systems such as DRS or Optitime.
·Strong communication skills with the ability to work with diverse groups and communicate technical issues clearly.
·Able to lead teams, manage change, motivate staff and work independently under pressure.
·Commitment to excellent customer service, equality, diversity and continuous professional development.
·Membership of a relevant professional body (desirable).
·Willingness to attend evening meetings or occasional out-of-hours work.
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