Head of Engineering - Residential
We're proud to be working with one of the UK's most exciting and fastest-growing residential operators, a business we've partnered with since its inception. They've grown into a leading brand in premium student accommodation, with plans to launch numerous new buildings in the next few years and an unrivalled reputation for delivering outstanding service and living experiences.
This is a rare chance to take on a pivotal leadership role overseeing engineering and maintenance across the portfolio of buildings, ensure smooth handovers of new developments, and lead a strong regional engineering team, all while protecting the student experience that sits at the core of everything they do.
Top 3 priorities for this role:
1. Operational leadership – managing multiple regional engineers, overseeing maintenance, and ensuring tickets/SLAs are delivered and improving performance here.
2. New building integration – taking upcoming new sites into operation, from snagging and commissioning through to full operational readiness.
3. CapEx & compliance – delivering plant/system upgrades, ensuring compliance (SFG20, Building Safety Act), and proactively driving long-term investment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and support a team of five regional engineers, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development.
* Ensure timely resolution of maintenance tickets and SLA performance across the estate
* Manage handovers of new buildings: snagging, commissioning, setting operational plans, and liaising with development teams etc.
* Deliver CapEx projects and maintain an active CapEx lifecycle model across the estate.
* Oversee contractor relationships, setting clear contracts, ensuring delivery standards, and driving continuous improvement in service quality.
* Translate technical requirements for non-technical staff.
* Ensure compliance with SFG20, Building Safety Act, life safety systems, and all statutory requirements.
* Collaborate with the Utilities Manager on energy management, consumption reduction, and budget alignment.
* Provide proactive maintenance planning and long-term cost-saving strategies, focusing on preventative investment and operational resilience.
* Report regularly on performance, outages, compliance, and progress against KPIs to senior leadership, fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
What We're Looking For
* Strong technical/engineering background (live building operations essential).
* Experience in building handovers, commissioning, snagging, and operational readiness.
* Hands-on leader who can manage teams and build strong contractor relationships.
* Commercially aware, with experience delivering CapEx and tying investment to ROI.
* Solid knowledge of compliance standards (SFG20, Building Safety Act, statutory regs).
* Confident communicator, able to translate complex technical issues into clear language.
* Proactive problem solver, able to balance day-to-day issues with long-term improvements.
* Strong cultural fit: collaborative, motivated, service-driven, and student-focused.
What's in it for you?
Base salary up to £85,000
Car Allowance
Bonus up to 15% (potentially higher for over performance).
Hybrid working Available – Travel to Manchester Office occasionally needed
Be a part of one of the best cultures in the industry
The chance to lead on multiple new building launches.
A role blending technical delivery, team leadership, and strategic influence.