Assistant Service Manager

South Western Railway; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional railway operator in England is seeking a Facilities Management role to support contract management and service delivery. Candidates should have experience with NEC4 contracts and strong financial management skills. This position offers competitive benefits, including free travel for employees and dependants, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Free travel on SWR services for employees

Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants

75% discount on other train operators

Full training and development support

Excellent pension scheme

Qualifications

• High standard of general education.
• Experience with NEC4 or building maintenance contracts.
• Knowledge of building maintenance contracts and management.
• Strong knowledge of financial management processes.

Responsibilities

• Support and manage contracts and invoicing processes.
• Lead service delivery performance reports and KPIs.
• Facilitate communication with stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and company procedures.

Skills

Contract Management

Financial Management

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Skills

Negotiation Skills

Communication Skills

Decision-making Skills

Education

Professional qualification in Facilities Management

Equivalent experience in Quantity Surveying

Job description

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job

The role will support and deputise for the Service Manager for the NEC4 Facilities Management Contract and partnership relationship management for the service delivery of the contract across the SWR Infrastructure and Property Portfolio. The post holder will incorporate quantity surveying principles for effective price scoping and spend monitoring. This role is crucial in ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, providing high-quality service delivery, and facilitating communication between stakeholders.

The NEC4 term service provides a wide range of statutory and essential building asset maintenance and repairs to the South Western Railway and Island Line station buildings and their surroundings in accordance with the Station Access Conditions and the requirements of ISO 55001.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Contract Management
• Support the Service Manager and Lead Commercial Manager with contract negotiations regarding financial management, contract performance, and dispute resolution.
• Manage contract instructions, Early Warning Notices (EWNs), and Compensation Events (CEs) to ensure timely communication and resolution in line with defined timelines, processes, and procedures.
• Assist (and lead as required) in the preparation and submission of contract reports, presentations, and materials for meetings with stakeholders and management.
• Responsible for overseeing the contract invoicing process, incorporating quantity surveying principles to ensure the organisation receives value for money and maintains high financial management standards.
• Lead the monitoring and reporting of service delivery performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and contractual obligations.
• Support the development and implementation of Service Improvement Initiatives.
• Negotiate on individual work orders on behalf of the Service Manager and make key contract decisions.
• Work closely with the Fleet Facilities Manager, Stations Facilities Manager, and Facilities Engineers to ensure the safe operation and functionality of the Infrastructure & Property Portfolio.
• Lead the development of processes to improve overall contract performance, ensuring regulatory and safety compliance. Use contractual data to identify trends and reduce reactive maintenance costs.
• Ensure accurate contractual records are maintained and inform budget development, ensuring provisions are not exceeded.
• Facilitate effective communication with internal and external stakeholders and contractors, acting as a point of contact.
• Participate in audits and inspections to ensure compliance with NEC4, ISO 55001, Health and Safety Regulations, and Service Quality standards, and assist in developing corrective actions.
• Assist in identifying and implementing best practices within facilities management processes for continuous improvement.
• Deputise for the Service Manager and represent the Infrastructure & Property Department as required.
• Ensure all records, reports, and correspondence are maintained and retained according to regulatory, legislative, and company procedures.
• Assist in preparing documentation for contract reviews, performance evaluations, and audits.
• Track and analyze performance metrics to identify trends and areas for improvement.

You'll need:

• A high standard of general education and ideally a professional qualification or equivalent experience in Facilities Management and/or Quantity Surveying.
• Experience working on a NEC4 contract or a building maintenance contract.
• Relevant knowledge of building maintenance contracts, procurement, negotiation, and management, with a good understanding of NEC contracts, practices, and procedures.
• A strong knowledge of financial management processes.
• Thorough understanding of building-related legislation, regulations, and guidance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for negotiations across complex stakeholder groups.
• Strong decision-making skills, ensuring accountability on financial and compliance issues.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to research and analyze data from various sources and produce qualitative reports.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in IT, including email, spreadsheets, and word processing, with extensive experience in complex data manipulation for reporting.

Working pattern

You will work an average of 37 hours per week, typically during office hours, Monday to Friday.

The Reward

In return, we offer a competitive salary and valuable benefits, including:

• Free travel on SWR services for employees.
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria apply).
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies.
• Full training and development support.
• Excellent pension scheme.

We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment. If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, please follow the link below to share your needs:

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/