Job Advertisement:
Who we are
VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.
What we do
We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.
Location: RAF Lakenheath (on site role)
Salary: Competitive + Company Car/Car Allowance
Permanent, full time
Join Our Team as a Technical Services Manager – Lead, Support, and Innovate
Are you a skilled Technical Services Manager with expertise in Mechanical and HVAC systems? This role offers the opportunity to lead a team of engineers, oversee maintenance activities, and ensure compliance with industry standards while delivering exceptional service in a dynamic environment.
What You’ll Do:
As a Technical Services Manager, you will provide expert technical support and guidance to maintenance teams and customers in your field of discipline. Leading a team of Maintenance Engineers, you will oversee planned and reactive maintenance on mechanical systems, plant, and equipment, including heating, water services, gas distribution, ventilation, air conditioning, and other mechanical services.
Working closely with the Maintenance Manager and Supervisors, you will help develop and implement a planned maintenance program aligned with departmental strategy and industry standards. You will also support the Built Estate Manager (BEM) in defining maintenance standards and ensuring systems and processes measure performance effectively. Where maintenance standards fall short, you will take proactive action to improve service delivery.
Your responsibilities will include managing external maintenance and project contractors, ensuring compliance with contracts, key performance indicators, and professional standards. You will oversee the commissioning and handover of projects, including operations and maintenance documentation, warranties, staff training, and defect liability management.
As a key duty holder, you will ensure compliance with all relevant statutory Health & Safety regulations and follow up on necessary checks and actions. You will develop and continuously review risk assessments and method statements, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. Your role will also involve ensuring that all mechanical maintenance work adheres to safe working practices and is accurately recorded in departmental systems.
To maintain operational continuity, you will assist the BEM in managing an effective on-call system to provide technical coverage for breakdowns or emergencies outside of normal working hours.
Supporting the BEM, you will lead and develop the maintenance team, fostering a professional, proactive, and customer-focused culture. You will ensure all activities meet operational, environmental, sustainability, and customer service standards while staying within budgetary constraints and compliance requirements.
By setting clear expectations for your team, providing regular feedback, and recognizing outstanding performance, you will maintain high standards across the department. You will contribute to a strong team culture, ensuring close collaboration with other FM services to deliver an excellent customer experience.
As part of your role, you will ensure all Health & Safety documentation, including Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS), is in place before maintenance teams and subcontractors begin work. Compliance with JSP 375 regulations will be a key focus, ensuring all maintenance and billable works are conducted safely and effectively. You will also review inspection reports and certification, raise necessary remedial actions, and ensure statutory tasks are correctly addressed within the CAFM system.
Communication and leadership will be key aspects of your role. You will lead team briefings, conduct toolbox talks, and share technical updates as needed. Acting as a mentor to apprentices, you will support their professional development. You will also liaise with the military end users, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), and supply chain partners to maintain strong working relationships.
What You’ll Bring:
To excel in this role, you should have Mechanical or HVAC qualifications, with multi-skilled experience preferred, or a solid understanding of Mechanical/HVAC engineering coupled with strong people management skills and experience.
A strong understanding of Health & Safety regulations, including COSHH and RIDDOR, is essential, along with experience managing a large engineering team in a maintenance or construction environment. A full UK driving license and the ability to obtain SC-level security clearance are required. Punctuality, reliability, self-motivation, and excellent communication skills will be critical to your success.
Previous experience working with mechanical or HVAC assets in a commercial environment, an accredited First Aid or Health & Safety qualification, and membership in a relevant professional body would be advantageous. This role will require you to pass SC Clearance.
Why Join Us?
This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and develop a team while ensuring the effective maintenance of critical infrastructure. As a Technical Services Manager, you will play a key role in operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.
We offer:
* 6% employee matched pension contribution
* 25 days annual leave
* Single private medical cover
* Life assurance 2 x base salary
* Company car/car allowance
* Rewards Hub
Apply Now to be part of a forward-thinking team that values technical expertise, leadership, and service excellence!
VIVO Defence Services
The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.
At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.
We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. If candidates wish to request extra time to apply then they should contact 0345 010 4000 and ask to speak to a VIVO Recruiter.