Contract Services Director – Maintenance
Location : UK (Hybrid with National Travel)
Package : £90,000–£110,000 base + bonus + car allowance + full executive benefits
This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for the performance, profitability, and evolution of a national portfolio of maintenance contracts post-implementation.
The appointment exists to create sustained commercial value.
The successful candidate will own contract P&L, lead complex operational delivery at scale, and drive continuous improvement in how maintenance services are structured, priced, governed, and delivered. This role requires an individual who can operate simultaneously as a commercial operator, operational leader, and entrepreneurial value-creator.
This is not a technical asset management or engineering role.
It is a commercially exposed, operationally dominant leadership position, where success is measured by margin, predictability, client confidence, and scalable performance.
Scope & Authority
* Executive ownership of all post-mobilisation maintenance contracts
* Portfolio-level accountability for revenue, margin, cost-to-serve, and working capital
* Leadership of multi-disciplinary operational, technical, and contract teams
* Senior client sponsorship and ownership of key commercial relationships
* Direct influence over contract evolution, mobilisation learning, and future bid strategy
What This Role is (and Is Not)
This role is for you if you have :
* Led large-scale, contract-based technical services with full P&L accountability
* Turned underperforming or complex contracts into stable, profitable operations
* Operated comfortably at Board, ExCo, and client executive level
* Built commercially astute leadership teams in operational environments
This role is not for you if your background is limited to :
* Pure asset governance or ISO-led frameworks
* Engineering leadership without commercial ownership
* Cost-centre maintenance management
* Single-site or narrowly technical roles
The role :
Commercial & Financial Ownership
* Full P&L accountability across a portfolio of live maintenance contracts
* Identification and elimination of margin leakage and operational inefficiency
* Rigorous control of scope, variation, pricing, and commercial risk
* Delivery of predictable, sustainable financial performance
Operational & Contract Leadership
* Ownership of contracts post-mobilisation, driving rapid stabilisation and BAU excellence
* Executive escalation point for complex operational or contractual issues
* Consistent governance, performance cadence, and accountability across the portfolio
Asset & Lifecycle Value
* Strategic oversight of asset performance and lifecycle cost optimisation
* Data-led decisions on maintenance strategy, intervention, and investmentBalance of safety, resilience, performance, and commercial return
Entrepreneurial Value Creation
* Continuous challenge to existing delivery and cost models
* Creation of incremental value through innovation, service evolution, and scalability
* Translation of operational learning into improved contract design and pricing
Leadership & Influence
* Building and leading operational and contract teams
* Setting standards for pace, accountability, and commercial thinking
* Acting as senior sponsor for key client relationships
The person :
We are seeking a high‑calibre senior leader with :
* Degree educated with a robust career trajectory
* Proven portfolio‑level P&L ownership in contract‑based, asset‑intensive environments
* A track record of optimising, turning around, or scaling complex maintenance or service contracts
* Deep operational credibility combined with strong commercial acumen
* Experience operating in regulated and / or safety‑critical sectors
* Gravitas, judgement, and confidence to lead at executive and client Board level
Candidates are most likely to come from senior roles in :
* Contract services, infrastructure, utilities, FM, industrial services, or outsourced operations
* Multi‑site, geographically dispersed operational environments
Personal Style & Leadership Behaviour
* Decisive, resilient, and outcome‑focused
* Commercially sharp; understands precisely how value is created and lost
* Entrepreneurial mindset with the discipline to execute at scale
* Comfortable operating in ambiguity and complexity
* Sets pace, standards, and ambition for the organisation
Why This Role Will Appeal
* Enterprise‑level accountability with real commercial exposure
* Authority to shape, evolve, and improve live contracts
* High visibility with senior stakeholders and clients
* A platform to create value, not simply manage operations
Confidential Applications & Enquiries
This appointment is being managed via executive search. All enquiries will be handled in the strictest confidence.
If you recognise yourself in this brief, we would welcome your application. Please email your CV to ne@hprtalent.com.
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