Job Purpose
To provide strategic leadership, management, and direction on critical University Campus Technical Services functions - building services engineering, electrical systems, mechanical systems, PPM / lifecycle maintenance management, and technical support.
To be specialist adviser to the University on all Technical Services support matters, reporting and briefing on proposed plans, issues, incidents, and emergencies, and play a leading role in project planning for major works.
To provide effective, customer focussed and value for money services which support the delivery of the University's strategy and;
To contribute, as a senior manager, to the development and delivery of directorate strategy, policy, operational plans, and cultural change.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide expert professional advice, guidance, and information on specialist technical services provision across a large diverse Estate comprising of over 300 buildings, ranging from listed properties to large, new build, state of the art learning and research facilities.
2. Responsible for complex maintenance work, the infrastructure and the conservation of the listed Estate making sure that work is carried out in a way that provides a safe environment for staff, students, and visitors. Ensure that all work delivered is compliant and consistent with the requirements set out in the design standards. Responsible for the health, safety and legal statutory compliance maintenance works for all assets within the estate. Work with the Head of Safety and Compliance to set standards and monitor all statutory compliance activities.
3. Lead the delivery of a consistently high quality, integrated, responsive technical service.
Ensure staff structures and roles are clearly articulated, clarifying activities to be undertaken in house versus external contractors to meet service delivery requirements and working within budgetary constraints. Service delivery models need to be customer focused, sustainable, and efficient in their working practices, including structures, working patterns, shift rotas, and related practices, across all University Campuses, Zones, Clusters, and grounds to deliver annual programmes of work for planned and preventative maintenance and achieve the highest levels of service and customer engagement.
4. Manage risks and maintain business continuity plans to provide for reliability and resilience of all services. Establish mitigation plans to protect our buildings from risks such as fire or major service outages by having robust work practices and business continuity arrangements in place. This includes coordinating and supervising the work of contractors operating in university properties. Working with the Assistant Director (Hard FM) and in close partnership with senior Estates colleagues to respond to emerging issues and threats. Ensure risk-commensurate measures are in place by working with senior Estates and College colleagues to minimise disruption to critical research and teaching for staff and students. Manage service teams to respond to emergencies, serious incidents, and service failures 24/7, 365 days a year: ensuring effective communications with service users throughout on service status.
5. Drive robust financial management systems and controls so the service provides value for money through the appropriate use of in-house resource versus external contractors. Contribute to the development of programmes and associated financial plans and budget for replacement of obsolete/life-expired assets, components, and equipment to ensure health & safety and business continuity. Maintain asset registers with accurate condition data. Responsible for strict financial control and forecasting of service delivery budget.
6. Lead on the continuous development and implementation of technical strategic and operational plans to meet business needs and objectives, in particular in relation to property maintenance, energy usage and digital systems based on robust analysis. Provide input to the Estates five-year strategic plan, including energy management targets, and the University's sustainability strategy recommending areas of focus and investment, identifying benefits and opportunities, and preparing all associated business case evidence to inform investment decision making.
7. Provide management reports with data and key performance indicators and SLAs to continually develop systems and controls and enhance processes; standard operating procedures; and performance and service levels to ensure there is clear alignment with the University's strategic plan and the campus redevelopment plan.
8. Lead, motivate and develop staff ensuring cohesive and collaborative working and that staff behaviours and attitudes reflect University values. In doing so promote a continuous improvement approach and high levels of staff engagement, ensuring that staff apply appropriate professional standards and demonstrate a culture of ownership and accountability to ensure the delivery of excellent, customer focussed services.
9. Promote the People First agenda through new ways of working through the introduction and development of new multi skilled technical roles, apprenticeships, and career pathways for technical and engineering staff.
10. Work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver key strategic initiatives such as:
1. The Construction and Operations Teams and appointed external consultants to successful transition the effective 'Soft Landings' of projects into 'business as usual' operation and maintenance service delivery.
2. The delivery of the asset management strategy.
3. The Head of Sustainability to deliver the universities net zero strategy.
4. The Head of Contracts and Frameworks to establish and maintain standard handover documentation for all projects; to ensure necessary compliance certification is available at handover and prior to delivery of draft or completed Operations and Maintenance and Health and Safety files; and
5. the Head of Support Services on the scheduling of maintenance activities and contractor activity.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles.
Or: Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification) or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in a relevant discipline, e.g. Engineering, Surveying, Construction or Facilities Management, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas.
A2 Strong evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.
A3 Strong technical knowledge of facilities management and operational support functions.
A4 Strong working knowledge of workplace health and safety legislation.
A5 Strong knowledge of budgetary management.
A6 Excellent working knowledge of Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) systems.
A7 Working towards full membership of a relevant professional body such as IMechE, CIOB, RICS
Desirable:
B1 Relevant post-graduate/Professional qualification.
B2 Relevant Safety management qualification.
B3 Working knowledge of best in class, customer service arrangements.
B4 An understanding of the key drivers and future challenges within higher education Estates functions.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Strong leadership and management skills with a demonstrable ability to develop high performing teams and promote and embed a positive culture of accountability and ownership.
C2 High level influencing and interpersonal skills, able to quickly build credibility and deliver impact at all levels.
C3 Strategic thinker, ability to develop strategy and policy and implement effectively.
C4 Innovative with strong commercial awareness and ability to drive forward and deliver change in line with strategic and operational objectives and priorities.
C5 Passionate about customer service and consistently delivering excellence.
C6 Well-developed report writing and presentation skills, with ability to communicate effectively in difficult circumstances and maintain composure.
C7 Numerate, with demonstrable skills in budgetary control.
C8 Outstanding and proven analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make well-considered decisions, resolve conflicts and demonstrate sound, professional judgement.
C9 Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight timescales and an aptitude for prioritising and manage competing demands.
C10 Integrity with high standards of personal bearing and behaviour.
Experience
Essential
E1 Significant senior leadership and management experience within a complex customer facing environment.
E2 Experience of leading the implementation and embedding of a formal customer service framework.
E3 Proven experience of effectively recruiting, developing, and structuring high performing teams. In doing so, you will also understand the importance of implementing effective systems and processes which improve efficiencies, enabling individuals to provide best in class service and expectations to a high-volume customer base.
E4 Change management experience, including reviewing processes, systems, and procedures to achieve efficiency, value for money and customer centricity across organisational boundaries.
E5 Experience of developing stakeholder communication strategies and initiatives
E6 A strong track record of leadership and delivery at a senior level operating in a political or highly complex environment - providing direction, delivering results, building on relationships and capability, and demonstrating personal resilience.
E7 Proven experience of successfully leading continuous process improvement and change with demonstrable operational and financial efficiencies delivered.
Desirable:
F1 Experience of working within a unionised environment
F2 Experience of advising on emergency planning procedures and response
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 9, £57,696 - £64,914 per annum.
This post is full-time (35 hours per week, Monday- Friday) and open-ended (permanent). Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff,, benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community .
We endorse the principles of and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
Closing Date : 23:45 on Monday 29th July 2024