Principal Manager; Compliance

Principal Manager / Contracts / Maintenance / Housing / Permanent / Ipswich / up to £55,000

Lead the delivery of high-quality maintenance, contracts and property services, shaping the future of housing and community assets.

Vivo Talent is working with our client to recruit an experienced, forward-thinking and results-driven senior manager to play a key leadership role within their maintenance & contracts service.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished professional to take responsibility for a significant portfolio of services, providing strategic direction and operational leadership while ensuring the effective delivery of maintenance, construction and property-related services.

Working as part of the senior management team, you will deputise for the Operations Manager, contributing to the wider strategic management of the service and the organisation.

You will lead and manage a broad range of technical and operational functions, ensuring services are delivered efficiently, effectively and to the highest standards. Your responsibilities will include:

• Strategic and operational leadership: Lead the delivery and performance of services within your area of responsibility, covering project management, contract supervision, building and quantity surveying, asset management, compliance and mechanical and electrical services.
• Financial management: Take responsibility for budgets, financial planning and the effective management of resources within your service area.
• Procurement and contract management: Develop effective procurement strategies and systems, lead on the procurement of major contracts and represent the organisation in significant contractor disputes, including negotiating and resolving contractual claims.
• Senior management and strategic development: Contribute to the strategic direction, policy development and overall performance of the service, working closely with senior colleagues.
• Health, safety and compliance: Provide leadership on health and safety across contract works and take a lead role in wider organisational health and safety responsibilities. This will include overseeing CDM compliance, developing health and safety plans and contributing to health and safety policies.
• Environmental sustainability: Support environmental and climate change ambitions, particularly through improvements to the housing stock.
• People and resource management: Lead, motivate and develop teams, ensuring staffing and resource requirements are effectively managed. Champion staff development through appraisal, training and performance management.
• Performance and service improvement: Establish and continuously improve performance management systems, maintain external quality accreditations and ensure services meet the needs and expectations of tenants, residents and the wider public.

We are looking for a confident and credible senior leader with the ability to manage complex services, provide strategic direction and deliver tangible results.

You will bring:

• Significant experience of managing maintenance, construction, property or contract-related services.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire teams and develop talent.
• A proven track record of managing substantial budgets, resources and complex contracts.
• Excellent knowledge of procurement, contract management and contractor dispute resolution.
• A strong understanding of relevant legislation, health and safety requirements and CDM regulations.
• The ability to develop and implement effective policies, procedures and performance management frameworks.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive approach to service improvement, customer satisfaction and organisational performance.
• The ability to operate effectively at senior management level and contribute to wider organisational priorities.

This is an opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership position where you can make a real difference to the quality, safety and sustainability of housing stock and wider property services.

You will have the opportunity to influence strategic decisions, lead significant contracts and projects, develop high-performing teams and help shape the future direction of the Maintenance & Contracts service.