Operations Manager – Defence FM Contract
Locations: Abingdon, Didcot & Newbury
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the delivery of Facilities Management services on a high‑profile Defence contract, covering multiple secure sites across Abingdon, Didcot and Newbury.
This is a senior, hands-on role requiring strong leadership, technical understanding, and the ability to manage compliance, performance, and people in a demanding operational environment. You will act as the focal point for all site issues, ensuring contractual delivery, statutory compliance, and exceptional client engagement.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead client and end‑user engagement, preparing for and delivering weekly/monthly meetings.
* Track and drive KPI performance, analysing daily operational data and ensuring failed KPIs, backlog tasks, and non‑compliant assets are resolved promptly.
* Motivate, mentor, and performance‑manage site teams, conducting regular 1‑2‑1s, identifying issues, and supporting staff development and training needs.
* Oversee daily site and office operations, maintaining full role-awareness and providing operational cover where required.
* Manage Health & Safety compliance, ensuring all statutory checks, inspections, documentation, and reporting metrics remain on target and up-to-date.
* Lead audit preparation and delivery, ensuring high assurance scores and timely action closure.
* Maintain information management systems and statutory documentation, ensuring management plans, returns, portals, and records are complete and current.
* Manage small works and low-value projects, tracking progress, mitigating risk, and escalating delays or issues early.
* Act as the primary operational escalation point, liaising continuously with the SDAM and maintaining strong relationships with DIO and Military stakeholders.
Essential experience & skills:
* You will be an experienced and confident leader with a strong background in managing FM operations within a regulated or secure environment.
* Strong understanding of statutory compliance, assurance, and governance within Facilities Management.
* Experience managing small works / minor projects.
* Good working knowledge of CDM Regulations, Health & Safety, and compliance frameworks.
* Mechanical or Electrical background preferred.
* Proven experience managing and motivating teams, including in challenging or high-pressure environments.
* Excellent communicator, able to deliver clear, structured verbal and written updates.
* Confident leading audits, inspections, and assurance activities.
* Ability to take ownership, act decisively, and drive issues through to resolution.
* Strong people manager, mentor, and motivator.