Operations Manager - Property Services

Birketts; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job description

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The firm
Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do.

Purpose of job
Reporting into the Head of Operations, the Estates and Infrastructure Manager will lead the Estates team and manage the buildings, infrastructure and supporting regulations, PPM and reactive works across a range of hard services.

You will be dealing directly with staff, subcontractors, suppliers and FisCo to deliver a proactive service which supports the contractual KPI's, SLA's of the business; supporting and delivering the requirements of hard services contracts, managing the day to day operational provisions and maintenance of integrated services within the Birketts infrastructure and take on responsibilities for Health & Safety, budgeting, procurement and compliance.

With substantial growth plans forecasted in the coming years, the successful candidate will work alongside the Head of Operations to deliver a class leading service to the business and clients for all 7 locations of the Birketts offices currently including Bristol, Ipswich, Cambridge, Chelmsford, London, Sevenoaks and Norwich.

Accountabilities

• To formulate, develop and implement systems that will ensure buildings are maintained and operated in accordance with maintenance schedules, current legislation and regulation via FisCo.
• Management of subcontracts for various Hard Service disciplines.
• Provide technical, professional support and guidance to the Head of Operations.
• Take ownership and being accountable for the ongoing line-management of Managing Agents.
• Health & Safety.
• Budgeting.
• Procurement.
• Statutory and regulatory compliance.
• Reactive and planned maintenance.
• Project and contract Management Provide support to the Head of Operations and deputise in their absence, together with the Soft Services Manager and their team. Assisting in specific projects and tasks as required.
• Assist the Head of Operations with the implementation of ISO accreditation and environmental certification. Responsible for the management, training and personal development of the Property Services team based in Ipswich and Chelmsford, approving holidays and managing holiday cover.

The candidate

• Previous experience and knowledge of Facilities Management (Hard and soft services).
• A good knowledge of Health and Safety regulations to ensure the highest levels of Health and Safety are achieved across the business.
• Broad M&E experience, ideally with a strong building management background.
• Experience of procurement and management of subcontractors and suppliers.
• A sound understanding of implementing and operating robust Safe Systems of work to ensure the safe and compliant delivery of Hard Services.
• Proven experience of managing and developing employees within a business environment and maximising the performance of the team.
• Commercially aware with budgetary, contract and procurement experience.
• Organised with the ability to prioritise workloads, meeting SLAs and deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal, with ability to work with senior management.
• Competent in use of Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook etc) and information databases.
• Full UK Driving licence as frequent travel to other offices.
• Cover the Head of Operations during periods of absence.

Qualifications/Experience
Essential:

• Previous experience and knowledge of Facilities Management (Soft and Hard Services).
• M&E experience, ideally with supervision of building services contractors.
• A knowledge of Health and Safety regulations.
• Full UK Driving licence.

Desirable:

• Health & Safety Training.
• Fire Marshal Training.
• First Aid Training.

Equal opportunities
At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays.
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service.
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed).
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee).
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share).
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance.
• Paid CSR Day.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave.
• Subsidised gym membership.
• Electric car scheme.
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy.
• Dress for your Day Policy.

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.