Oaklands College is seeking a proactive and experienced Facilities Manager to lead our Site Operations, Workplace Support, Grounds and Maintenance Teams across multiple campuses. This is a key leadership role focused on delivering exceptional service to students and staff, while ensuring high standards of compliance, efficiency and value for money.
You’ll support the Director of Estates in executing the College’s Property and Estates Strategy and collaborate as part of the College Management Team to deliver seamless open days and events. This role demands a hands-on leader with strong operational oversight and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Your Day to Day Impact
* Lead and manage estates operations teams, embedding a responsive facilities helpdesk and service standards.
* Deliver and monitor planned and preventative maintenance programmes.
* Oversee maintenance, grounds and estates operations across all campuses.
* Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety and statutory regulations.
* Manage contractor relationships, monitor works and oversee building handovers.
* Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
* Maintain statutory compliance logs and coordinate inspections and servicing.
* Represent facilities at project meetings and college events.
* Identify training needs and set annual objectives for team members.
* Support college events with facilities planning, staffing and setup.
* Produce detailed reports on maintenance, projects and event support.
* Maintain accurate records of college assets and emergency access plans.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the estates operations teams to provide a highly effective service to support the college in achieving its objectives, including embedding and monitoring the facilities helpdesk to ensure that minimum standards are established and adhered to.
* Deliver and monitor the planned and preventative maintenance programme and establish and maintain effective procedures and systems to record and facilitate this.
* Oversee the operational management of the Maintenance Services Team and the Grounds and Estates Team.
* In conjunction with the Health & Safety Manager and the Project Managers, ensure that all works involving the college facilities and estate comply with all current Health & Safety and other relevant legislation and codes of practice.
* Liaise with contractors and monitor progress of works contracts across the campuses.
* Develop, document, and maintain comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and operational efficiency across all departments.
* Regularly review and update SOPs to reflect changes in regulations, technology, or internal workflows
* Maintain detailed logs of all statutory compliance activities, ensuring timely documentation and adherence to legal requirements.
* Coordinate and oversee contractor visits related to statutory obligations, including health and safety inspections, fire risk assessments, and equipment servicing.
* Ensure all contractor documentation (e.g., certifications, risk assessments and method statements) is reviewed and filed in accordance with regulatory standards.
* Track and manage compliance schedules, flagging upcoming deadlines and ensuring no lapses in statutory obligations.
* Manage building handovers, including snagging processes.
* Attend and contribute to project progress meetings, representing facilities and maintenance interests.
* Identify training needs of the facilities staff to ensure they are competent to undertake tasks required within the team.
* Setting annual objectives of the staff reporting to you and provide career guidance and progression opportunities to them
* Coordinate with college departments to support event planning and execution.
* Oversee facilities staffing for events, ensuring adequate personnel are available for setup, operation and portering.
* Ensure all necessary setups are completed accurately and on time for college events.
* Regularly review and update facilities management processes and procedures
* Create comprehensive reports related to facilities activities, including maintenance, project progress, and event management.
* Establish suitable maintenance records for college assets and keeping up to date plans of services, isolation points, emergency access processes and embedding this knowledge within the team.
Is This You?
We’re looking for a well organised and flexible approach manager, a team player who maintains pride in delivering quality service. Possesses a positive, enthusiastic, customer orientated and self-motivated attitude with a professional outlook. Able to work flexible hours/days to meet service needs with minimal supervision and aware of cultural diversity.
You'll bring:
* Experience of managing teams to provide excellent services.
* Experience of multi trade and building works in a variety of sectors.
* Experience of planning preventative maintenance and delivering the plan to time and budget.
* Experience of managing external contracts and service level agreements with external partners and stakeholders.
* Good IT skills with excellent verbal communication and written skills.
* Good organisational and time management skills.
* Knowledge of Health & Safety issues e.g. COSHH, Risk Assessment.
* Evidence of external involvement with other colleges or organisations and sharing of best practice.
* Evidence of successful implementation of innovative project(s).
* Further development of qualification base or management training.
* Facilities management qualification at management level.
Why Oaklands?
At Oaklands, your work matters. We invest in both students and staff to ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed and grow.
* Generous holiday allowance - 35 days plus bank holidays.
* Local Pension Scheme with excellent employer contributions.
* Ongoing CPD and free access to Adult Community Learning courses.
* Free onsite permit parking.
* Onsite gym and wellness treatments at discounted rates.
* Cycle to Work Scheme and discounted travel through UNO Bus Scheme.
* Eye care vouchers and employee assistance programme.
* Mental health and wellbeing support, including peer supporters.
* Staff development days and annual awards celebrating your achievements.
Oaklands College is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and stakeholders to share this commitment.
We review applications on a rolling basis and may close this advert early if we receive high interest. Don’t miss your opportunity to join a college that’s shaping futures and transforming lives.
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