* Are you a natural leader with razor-sharp organisational skills?
* Do you have a passion for getting the most out of your team?
* Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where no two days are the same?
Resource Team Manager
Location: Manchester (Hybrid – 2 Days WFH after probation)
Salary: £35 - 40k per annum + Excellent company benefits
Hours: 37.5 per week | Monday–Friday, 8am-4pm or 9am-5pm.
AEC are recruiting for a Resource Manager who will lead our resource planning function in Manchester with clarity, confidence, and vision. You'll be the operational backbone of our planning team — owning the process from project allocation to performance reporting, building strong cross-departmental relationships, and ensuring our resource operations are seamless and strategically aligned.
The Role
Lead & Inspire: Manage, coach, and develop a small, high-performing team, creating a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
Own the Frontline: Be the first point of contact for all resourcing queries from Sales, HR, and Accounts. You'll absorb the noise, filter the issues, and empower your team to focus on delivery.
Drive Strategic Planning: Control and allocate projects using our central tools (including Alpha Tracker), ensuring the right people are on the right jobs at the right time.
Improve & Evolve: Audit processes, update ISO procedures, and train the team to operate to the highest standards – ensuring coverage, communication, and compliance.
Communicate with Impact: Attend weekly Ops meetings, lead daily team meets, and deliver insightful monthly performance reports for senior leadership.
Support Performance & Profitability: Monitor utilisation, investigate project issues, drive income recovery via variations, and support planners in commercial and operational decision-making.
Champion Collaboration: Act as the key link between Resource and Project Managers, Sales, HR, and Site Staff to deliver smooth, efficient project execution.
What You'll Be Doing
Team Leadership
Lead, develop, and support your resource team through coaching and regular audits.
Resource Planning & Utilisation
Ensure projects are efficiently allocated to planners. Drive utilisation and income targets for chargeable staff, monitor performance daily, and report weekly and monthly.
Cross-Team Collaboration
Build strong working relationships with Project Managers, Sales, HR, Accounts, and Site Staff. Resolve issues quickly and strengthen internal processes.
Project Oversight & Issue Resolution
Work closely with planners and PMs to ensure projects progress smoothly. Take ownership of any operational issues, implement solutions, and prevent recurrence.
Variation & Commercial Input
Support variation tracking and recovery. Assist in commercial reviews with PMs to maximise efficiency and profitability.
Planning & Forecasting
Communicate forward demand for skillsets and staff availability. Conduct gap analyses and ensure site teams are well-briefed to deliver to client expectations.
Meetings & Reporting
Attend weekly Ops and managers' meetings. Produce regular reports on team performance, income, project updates, and resource gaps.
System & Process Management
Use Alpha Tracker, Microsoft Excel, and other platforms to monitor planning decisions, team output, and client requirements. Suggest and implement process improvements.
Client & Stakeholder Communication
Maintain excellent client relationships via phone and face-to-face meetings. Act as a key point of contact for major accounts.
Operational Cover
Provide holiday/sickness cover for your team when needed. Participate in the out-of-hours support rota to ensure service continuity.
What We're Looking For
* Proven experience managing or leading a resource or operations planning team.
* A clear understanding of project workflows and workforce planning in a high-volume, service-driven environment.
* Manage change, and hold people to account — while remaining approachable and team-focused.
* Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
* A proactive mindset – always anticipating, resolving, and improving.
* Strong Excel skills and familiarity with planning tools or platforms (training will be given for Alpha Tracker).
* HR competency – experience with appraisals, return to work meetings, and team development is essential.
Why You'll Love Working With Us:
This is a leadership role where you'll have real influence and visibility across the business, with the opportunity to shape a growing team and evolve how we plan and deliver projects. You'll join a collaborative, forward-thinking culture that values innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. In return, we offer a competitive salary, great benefits, performance bonuses, and full training and development support. Most importantly, you'll play a key role in driving AEC's operational success and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.
AEC is an employee-owned compliance consultancy and training organisation specialising in the safe management of asbestos, water, fire, and occupational hygiene in the built environment. Established in 1997, we've grown from a small asbestos surveying consultancy to one of the UK's leading providers of vocational training services. With offices in Manchester and Essex, we serve clients both nationally and internationally. In 2024, we transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust, giving our team a stake in the company's success. Our values of honesty, integrity, independence, and people-first are at the heart of everything we do.
Employee Owned: We put our people first—giving you a real stake in our success, a voice in the business, and the opportunity to share in the rewards of our growth.
Career Development: Ample opportunities for growth, including the chance to earn further professional qualifications.
Fantastic Benefits: 23 days leave (plus bank holidays), private healthcare, pension scheme, holiday buy-back, sick pay, loyalty bonus' and more
Supportive Culture: A safety-first, collaborative work environment where quality and care are at the heart of everything we do.
Inclusive Workplace: We are committed to recruiting from all walks of life to create a more sustainable, diverse, and forward-thinking future.
If you're ready to take ownership of a critical function in a business that values proactivity, precision, and progress — then we want to hear from you. Apply today