Small Works Manager

Serco Canada Inc; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 35,000 - GBP 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading facilities management provider in the UK is seeking a Small Works Manager to oversee various projects for the military. This role involves managing contractors, ensuring compliance with Health & Safety regulations, and delivering projects on time and within budget. The ideal candidate will have strong project and contract management experience, with a relevant qualification and excellent communication skills. This position comes with a salary of up to £42,000 and offers a company car or allowance.

Benefits

6% employee matched pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Single private medical cover

Life assurance 2x annual salary

Company car/car allowance

Qualifications

• Proven experience in project and contract management within housing or construction sector.
• Ability to supervise contractors and manage term contracts.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day delivery of low-value, high-turnover works.
• Manage procurement activities and ensure compliance with orders and legislation.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to maintain clear communication.

Skills

Project management

Contract management

Customer service

Analytical skills

Health & Safety compliance

Education

Industry-recognised qualification in construction or property-related subject

Evidence of continued professional development

Tools

Microsoft Office (including MS Project)

Job description

Overview

VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.

Location: Home Counties to cover sites in Oxford, Bicester, Wallingford, Aylesbury & Maidenhead.

Permanent, 8am-5pm Monday-Friday

Salary: Up to £42,000 + Company car/Car allowance

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and ambitious Small Works Manager to play a key role in the wider Billable Works team, overseeing damp and mould programmes, minor works such as kitchens and bathrooms, and full internal refurbishments. You will be responsible for ensuring that all projects are delivered to the highest professional standards, meeting time, cost, and quality requirements, while always upholding Health & Safety and contractual obligations.

The Role

In this role, you will lead on the day-to-day delivery of low-value, high-turnover works, managing teams of suppliers and contractors to deliver multiple programmes simultaneously. You will take ownership of procurement activities, ensuring compliance with VIVO orders, procurement guidelines, UK legislation, and EU regulations. From developing briefs, specifications, procurement plans, and tender documents to managing projects through to completion, you will ensure that delivery is robust, transparent, and aligned with contractual obligations.

Strong financial control is an essential part of the role. You will monitor and manage monthly spend across projects, ensuring delivery within agreed budgets, timescales, and quality criteria. Through effective contract and performance management, you will ensure contractors deliver value for money while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and adhering to VIVO’s core values. You will also be expected to scope out works accurately, provide clear reporting on contract activities, and maintain comprehensive records that meet both internal and external requirements.

Health, Safety, and compliance are at the heart of the role. You will ensure full compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and legislation, including CDM Regulations and the Control of Asbestos Regulations. By managing risk proactively and ensuring contractors are properly briefed, you will maintain a safe and professional delivery environment across all works.

Building strong relationships with stakeholders is vital. You will be responsible for maintaining the accommodation for our Armed Forces families, working closely with service families, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), supply chain partners, and internal teams to ensure clear communication throughout the delivery process. From project initiation to post-completion handover, you will ensure customers remain informed, supported, and satisfied with the outcome of works.

What You’ll Bring

To be successful, you will bring proven experience in project and contract management, ideally within the housing or construction sector. You will be confident supervising contractors and suppliers, managing term contracts, and resolving issues around contract or project delivery. Excellent customer service skills, strong analytical abilities, and the ability to produce concise reports will also be essential.

A solid technical foundation is required, with evidence of competence in successful project management and an industry-recognised qualification in a relevant construction, contract, or property-related subject. A good general education, evidence of continued professional development, and experience with compliance and Health & Safety are expected, while qualifications such as SMSTS are highly desirable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages, including MS Project, will be needed to manage workloads, track progress, and analyse performance.

This role is ideal for a technically capable manager who thrives in a fast-paced, high-turnover environment and who takes pride in delivering high-quality projects that make a real difference to service users. With excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills, you will not only deliver successful outcomes but also build trust, collaboration, and long-term value across the projects you manage.

To be considered for this role you must have a full UK driving licence and be able to pass SC Clearance.

What We Offer

• 6% employee matched pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Single private medical cover
• Life assurance 2x annual salary
• Company car/car allowance

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.