Reactive Maintenance Contracts Manager

Contracts Manager

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary contract (initial 3 months)

Location: Reading, RG2

Salary: Competitive, to be discussed

Day to day of the role

• Lead the delivery of a customer-focused reactive repairs and maintenance service across housing stock.
• Manage supervisors, trade operatives, agency workers, office staff and subcontractors to ensure high performance.
• Oversee contractor and subcontractor relationships, including quality assurance inspections and service standards.
• Monitor KPIs, analyse service performance data and implement improvements to drive efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Take responsibility for budget monitoring, forecasting and reporting on expenditure and income variances.
• Ensure all works are delivered in compliance with health and safety legislation, CDM requirements and other relevant regulations.
• Prepare work specifications for internal teams and external contractors where required.
• Handle complaints, member enquiries, FOI requests and briefing reports for senior stakeholders.
• Support service planning, continuous improvement initiatives and cross-cover for other operational managers.
• Participate in an out-of-hours managerial rota for non-standard site escalations.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Substantial experience managing responsive or reactive repairs services within social housing, local authority or contractor settings.
• Strong background in housing repairs and maintenance, including contractor and subcontractor management.
• Proven experience leading operational teams, including supervisors, trades and support staff.
• Good understanding of relevant repairs and maintenance legislation, including health and safety and CDM compliance.
• Experience managing budgets, monitoring costs and forecasting expenditure.
• Strong working knowledge of KPI reporting, service performance management and continuous improvement.
• Ability to manage employee relations matters, including appraisals, performance management, recruitment and disciplinary processes.
• Confident using IT systems, mobile working technology and performance monitoring tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce reports and respond to senior stakeholder queries.

Benefits

• Initial 3-month temporary assignment
• Opportunity to lead a high-profile reactive repairs service
• Key management role with immediate operational impact
• Varied position covering leadership, performance, compliance and budget management
• Depot-based role with regular on-site presence
• Collaborative working environment within a busy property services team