Job Description

*Please note, this role is a 6 month FTC

Make your mark at BRE!

BRE aims to be the world’s leading innovation, science and data hub for the built environment. For more than a century, we have provided government and industry with cutting-edge research and testing. Join us to help deliver products, advice, services, standards and qualifications used around the globe to make buildings better for people and the environment. Through science-led solutions to urgent challenges, we will build a thriving and sustainable world.

Your role at BRE

As Senior Operations Manager, you will be responsible for the strategic and operational management of the estate, overseeing both technical and non-technical facilities services delivered through outsourced partners.

Working across a busy science park environment, you'll ensure buildings, infrastructure and essential services operate effectively while managing compliance, sustainability initiatives, capital projects and operational budgets. The role offers significant variety and influence, combining hands-on operational leadership with strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and business-critical decision making.

Key responsibilities -

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the estate, buildings and infrastructure across the science park.

• Manage outsourced facilities management providers, ensuring service delivery meets agreed performance standards, KPIs and SLAs.

• Oversee engineering maintenance activities, building compliance and technical maintenance strategies.

• Lead operational meetings and contract performance reviews with service partners.

• Manage capital projects from concept through to completion, including budgets, procurement and contractor management.

• Develop and manage annual operational and capital expenditure budgets.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across estates and facilities services.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant statutory, health and safety and environmental regulations.

• Lead sustainability, energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives, including ESG-related reporting requirements.

• Develop business continuity and emergency response plans and lead responses to major estate-related incidents.

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, laboratory teams, suppliers, contractors and the local community.

• Lead, develop and support direct reports, ensuring appropriate training, capability development and succession planning.

What we are looking for

We're looking for an experienced estates, facilities or operations professional with a strong technical background and a track record of managing complex facilities through outsourced service providers.

You'll bring:

• HNC or HND in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (desirable).

• NEBOSH and/or IOSH Managing Safely qualification.

• Significant experience managing large outsourced facilities management contracts.

• Strong knowledge of building services, maintenance operations and statutory compliance requirements.

• Experience managing operational and capital budgets, procurement activities and contractor performance.

• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance service delivery, risk and cost.

• Sound understanding of health and safety legislation and building-related compliance requirements.

• The ability to remain calm and decisive when managing operational issues and incidents.

Desirable -

• Degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Building Surveying, Property or a related discipline.

• 18th Edition Electrical qualification.

• Professional membership with RICS, IWFM, CIBSE or a similar body.

• Experience using CAFM systems.

• AutoCAD experience.

This role includes participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota and requires the ability to respond to major site incidents when necessary. For professionals who enjoy combining strategic responsibility with operational leadership, this is an excellent opportunity to make a visible impact across a critical and evolving estate.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

Hybrid – This role requires a presence at our Watford office (4-5 days per week). You must live within a commutable distance.

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10-30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.