Maintenance Contract Strategy & Planning Manager – PO10

Job Description

Job Category: Technical – Property
Location: Hackney Service Centre, Hackney Council
Hours Per Week: 36.00
Start Date: Immediate Start
Start Time: 09:00
End Time: 17:00
Salary: £34.48

We are seeking a Maintenance Contract Strategy and Planning Manager (R&M) to be accountable for the end-to-end delivery of repair and maintenance services for Hackney Council. The individual will play a key role in shaping roles and processes to optimise the service. Using their stakeholder management and technical expertise the role will ensure that Maintenance operates in line with best practice health & safety standards to ensure effective delivery and customer satisfaction metrics.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
• The post and team provide multidisciplinary professional advice and expertise to all Council Departments and the Council’s Cabinet in respect of the Corporate property portfolio.
• Create and implement innovative strategies, processes, and procedures to improve customer outcomes, business targets, and operational efficiency. Resolve escalated customer complaints and queries and promote exemplary customer-first service at every opportunity.
• 
Build a strong relationship with the Senior Management of Maintenance suppliers to optimise the service they provide and play a key role in the future supplier strategy.
• The job holder will be responsible for the operational delivery of Hackney.
• Council’s estate through the planning and management of all mechanical, electrical, building fabric and general Maintenance Services. This will include ensuring full availability of properties and close management of all planned and reactive maintenance activities by contractors in conjunction with both the on-site managers and supply partners to ensure that execution of work is carried out in a cost-effective and productive manner.
• To implement and manage systems for the effective management of property information and to ensure that information is analysed to inform strategic decision making in relation to the delivery of Maintenance services, and to ensure statutory compliance across the estate.

Education:
Essential:
• Qualified in a relevant Property related degree.

Desirable:
• Qualified in a relevant building or related discipline i.e RICS or IOB.

Experience:
Essential:
• Significant experience in the development, planning and implementation of property maintenance programmes.
• Able to demonstrate experience of strategy development and implementation in a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrable evidence of managing outsourced consultants and contractors to deliver high quality, timely work.
• Able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation related to Property Maintenance.
• Able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the rights and responsibilities in the Landlord/ Property Occupier interface.
• The ability to make recommendations based on sound risk management principles and contingency planning, within financial, legal and ethical frameworks.
• The ability to show the post holder will deal with a range of complex and contentious matters whilst maintaining the Council’s major policy objectives.
• Significant experience of acting for their employer and bringing together the elements of Technical, Compliance and Client Relations, Cost Control and Contract Management to produce creative and innovative solutions.
• Clear analytical skills to allow the exploration, evaluation and interpretation of information and opinions, strong decision-making skills with the ability to make decisions and recommendations based on the analysis of options.
• Preparation and effective control of budgets.
• Preparation and presentation of reports to senior management and Elected Members.
• Track record of negotiating and working well with professional consultants and external contractors.
• Evidence of success in building and enhancing the reputation of an organisation with external bodies.
• A champion of energy best practice.

Desirable:
• Knowledge of integrating functions within private sector organisations.

Knowledge:
Essential:
• NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma (General or Construction).
• Relevant legislation and codes of practice.
• Building Regulations and their application.
• Council Procurement procedures.

Skills and Abilities:
Essential:
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills. Communication skills are paramount in this role as is the need to be able to communicate diplomatically with many different stakeholders, explain project works to widely differing audiences with widely differing styles and needs, especially external contractors.
• Able to demonstrate how to manage contentious matters to ensure satisfactory outcomes
• Ability to lead and manage a professional team to ensure the successful delivery of service and act as a mentor/coach to support their professional development and monitoring of the team against objectives.
• Ability to negotiate effectively and flexibly to secure good value for money.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with internal and external contacts, gain their confidence and persuade them to cooperate with initiatives where required.
• An understanding of the need for excellent customer service and an ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with key staff and all stakeholders. The evaluation of existing service provision to ensure that appropriate developments and innovative solutions are proposed.
• Ability to analyse large amounts of data from a range of sources, drawing conclusions and presenting them in a clear and concise format.
• Numerate and able to control a significant budget in line with Council Regulations.
• Ability to work independently, flexibly and supportively.
• Ability to keep abreast of relevant changes within the sector and within the Council.
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to negotiate, motivate, influence, persuade and build relationships in an enthusiastic and diplomatic way.
• Excellent time management skills; the ability to plan and juggle a number of tasks and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to take an innovative approach and solve problems pragmatically and creatively.
• Confident user at a minimum of intermediate level of business software and products – for example cloud based productivity and collaboration suites such as Google Workspace and/ or Microsoft 365. Also experience and practical application of asset management databases and other property information systems.

Desirable:
• Proven ability to work collaboratively, a team player who contributes to team events and the work of the team as a whole.