Maintenance Manager, Contracts & Regions

Maintenance Manager, Contracts & Regions

Job reference: 1246

Location:

Milton Keynes
Department:
Infrastructure
Salary: £47,389 to £56,535
Closing Date: 25 January 2026
Weekly

Working Hours:

37
Contract type:
Permanent (Fixed Term contract: End Date: Not applicable)
Welsh Language:
Not applicable

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part‑time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to You Tube by clicking this link).

As the Maintenance Manager, Contracts & Regions, you will ensure the effective maintenance of mechanical, electrical engineering services, plant, equipment and the building fabric at all National and Regional sites to ensure University Health, Safety and compliance objectives are met.

You will be responsible for the planning and delivery of planned, reactive and emergency maintenance within the cost, customer care, governance, quality and safety parameters set by legislation, The Open University and Estates.

You will instruct and manage contractors at all National and Regional offices and on the Milton Keynes campus, for small works, ad hoc, reactive and planned maintenance and manage specific maintenance works from inception through to completion. You will contribute and co‑operate to deliver agreed objectives and targets as well as deputise as required for the Senior Estates Maintenance Manager.

• Arranges and co‑ordinates the effective planned and reactive maintenance of mechanical, electrical services and building fabrics of University properties located in Milton Keynes and the 7 National and Regional Locations throughout the UK and Northern Ireland.
• Support the Senior Maintenance Manager and the Maintenance Managers to organise and deliver maintenance and small works activity.
• Responsible for day‑to‑day management of contractors employed on major contracts for planned and reactive maintenance, as well as ad‑hoc call out and small works, both M&E and Fabrics.
• Plans, organises and monitors contractors' staff on site to ensure co‑ordination with Open University activities and compliance with statutory requirements and Estates procedures.
• Ensures safe systems of work are implemented. Ensure compliance with all H&S Regulations, CDM Regulations, Building Safety Act and ACOPS.
• Engage with and promote a positive approach to compliance and Health & Safety, ensuring a collaborative approach with H&S colleagues and other Estates colleagues.
• Use asset management and other local IT systems to enhance and ensure effective and efficient maintenance.
• Review, develop, plan, monitor and prioritises M&E and Fabric maintenance programmes and repairs making judgements across a wide range of issues taking into account conflicting demands and legislation.
• Operate BMS (Trend) and Fire Alarm systems in conjunction with the Building Management System Engineer. Monitor plant performance and diagnoses faults via the Building Management System.
• Arrange suppliers and ad hoc contractors, negotiating agreement to cost, timely attendance, deliveries, methods and procedures.
• Prepare risk assessments for own area of work and formerly assess and review Risk and Method Statements submitted by contractors along with reviewing competencies and safe systems of works.
• Arrange and co‑ordinates statutory inspections and ensure records relating to inspections are recorded for the Compliance Manager.
• Provide technical advice to the Senior Estates Maintenance Manager on day‑to‑day condition and operational status of critical systems and building fabric condition.
• Take action with due regard for Legionella, asbestos management and confined spaces. Prepares Permits to Work for confined spaces, access to sub‑stations and hot works at National & Regional premises and the Milton Keynes campus.
• Develop and implement maintenance policies, plans and procedures.
• Advise on and organise isolations of services to allow maintenance, alterations or new connections to be installed.
• M…