Operations Manager

About this role

Equans is looking for an Operations Manager to join the team in Birmingham on a permanent basis. This is a full-time role working 40 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

Reporting to the Senior Account Manager, the Operations Manager is responsible for the operational delivery and performance of Hard and Soft FM services across a portfolio of 17 PFI schools. The role ensures that all contractual obligations, service level agreements (SLAs), statutory requirements and customer expectations are consistently achieved whilst minimising performance deductions and maximising service excellence.

The postholder will provide leadership and direction to operational teams, including Performance Managers and the Soft Services Manager, ensuring effective management of frontline engineering, caretaking, cleaning and supervisory teams. The role requires strong operational leadership, organisational capability and commercial awareness rather than technical expertise, with a particular focus on performance management, workflow control, subcontractor management, customer relationships and continuous improvement.

Working closely with the Technical Compliance Manager and Lifecycle Manager, the Operations Manager will coordinate service delivery to ensure contractual compliance and operational efficiency across the estate.

There is a degree of complexity within this role, requiring a clear understanding of what is included—and excluded—within the client contract. The position also demands strong problem‑solving skills to address issues arising within the facilities, along with solid knowledge of educational compliance and safeguarding.

What will you deliver?

• Lead delivery of integrated Hard and Soft FM services across a geographically dispersed school portfolio
• Manage operational risk through proactive jeopardy identification, escalation and mitigation planning
• Monitor, analyse and improve KPI, SLA and performance deduction trends
• Develop, implement and continuously improve operational processes, controls and workflows
• Ensure CAFM systems accurately support service delivery, reporting and performance management
• Coordinate planned, reactive and lifecycle activities across multiple stakeholders and sites
• Manage subcontractors and supply chain partners to ensure contractual and statutory compliance
• Support the Technical Compliance Manager in the delivery of fabric, grounds and statutory compliance programmes
• Coordinate operational support requirements for lifecycle activities
• Lead incident response, business continuity and service recovery activities where required
• Build strong relationships with clients, school leadership teams and key stakeholders
• Drive a culture of accountability, customer focus and continuous improvement
• Use operational data and management information to identify trends, risks and opportunities
• Ensure service delivery supports safeguarding principles and minimises disruption to teaching and learning environments
• Lead and implement operational change initiatives, embedding new processes, systems and ways of working

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, car or car allowance, bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are we looking for?

• Significant operational management experience within Facilities Management
• Experience managing both Hard and Soft FM service delivery
• Proven experience operating within complex, performance-driven contracts
• Experience managing KPI, SLA and performance-based service regimes
• Strong people management and leadership experience within multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of subcontractor, supplier and contract management
• Experience using CAFM systems and performance reporting tools
• Strong customer relationship and stakeholder management skills
• Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, deductions and service performance
• Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving skills
• Full UK Driving Licence

This role includes a DBS Enhanced check therefore ability to pass is essential.

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in**more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros.

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services – with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables.

Equans’ 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live.

Equans is a Bouygues group company.

What's next?

If this role is of interest to you, please click below to register, apply, and track your progress! A member of our Resourcing Team will review your application and be in touch.

As part our commitment to better reflect the markets within which we operate, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010.

At Equans we’re committed to delivering a culture where everyone’s voice is heard and supported. We know the value a diverse workforce creates, delivering better results for our people, customers, and stakeholders. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do, should you join Equans you'll find a welcoming and open workplace where you're supported and encouraged to be your true self at work.

You'll also have access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.

The Equans Resourcing Team supports this job advert. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries must come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.

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