Principle Mechanical Services Manager
Role Summary
The Principle Mechanical Services Manager will be the key strategic and technical lead for all aspects of Mechanical Services and assets within our 200+ buildings at the University of Birmingham – AHUs, boilers and heating & cooling systems, water storage and distribution, natural gas, and compressed gas and pressure systems. They will define our PPM requirements, lead on prioritising mechanical life‑time investment, and provide technical input into our design guides.
Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, you will work with equivalent roles leading electrical and building fabric maintenance to deliver a comprehensive, multiyear, maintenance strategy.
As Principal Mechanical Services Manager the post holder will be a talented and experienced leader who will be able to inspire and motivate an in‑house team supported by specialist third party contractors.
Responsibilities
* Provide leadership, development and operational guidance to a team of technical specialists and mechanically biased technicians and assistants
* Advise and support the creation of the university’s maintenance strategy relating to mechanical services
* Advise senior management on legislative changes and their impact on mechanical services and compliance
* Act as the technical expert on all aspects of mechanical services, including contractor performance and compliance
* Ensure all mechanical services maintenance activities comply with statutory regulations and health and safety legislation
* Implement, manage and report SLAs and KPIs and ensure target response times are consistently met
* Work with other areas and teams within the Estates department taking a ‘one team’ approach in service delivery and resource allocation
* Manage external service contracts relating to mechanical services maintenance including cost control and supplier review
* Provide technical support and advice on projects and initiatives both within the Estates department and wider university
* Present and manage budgets relating to mechanical services
* Participate in both internal and external meetings with stakeholders and customers across the whole university
* Actively manage equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation, and actively challenge unacceptable behaviour
* Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource‑efficient working
Qualifications and Experience
* Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification plus substantial work experience in a relevant technical/scientific and/or management/supervisory role in a specialist area
* Proven technical specialist knowledge and understanding in a relevant technical area (advanced technical expertise required)
* Demonstrable leadership skills with a history of developing capability, customer service delivery, and technical skills of internal teams
* Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise a number of conflicting tasks
* Significant experience in the management, planning and costing of repairs and maintenance works of all types of mechanical services across a diverse portfolio of buildings
* Proven track record in tendering, negotiating and managing maintenance contracts, ensuring contractor performance is monitored and reviewed to deliver value for money and high standards
* Outstanding communication and customer service skills, putting the customer at the forefront of every decision
* Experience championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area
* Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied
* Ideally hold a membership with a relevant professional organisation
* Excellent communication skills and a pragmatic approach, demonstrating a practical application that takes account of organisational needs
* Consultative and facilitative style of service delivery, combined with good influencing and motivating skills and the ability to plan and manage works and workloads to deliver necessary outcomes
Salary and Working Hours
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606.
Location
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Grade
Grade 8
Closing Date
12th November 2025
Benefits
We offer flexible working arrangements, a generous holiday allowance (40 days paid holiday a year), a paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay and a pension scheme.
Seniority Level
* Director
Employment Type
* Full‑time
Job Function
* Management and Manufacturing
* Higher Education
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