Building Services Manager

Willmott Dixon; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Willmott Dixon’s London & East division seeks a Building Services Manager to oversee MEP packages from preconstruction through delivery across multiple projects.

You will blend technical leadership with commercial acumen, engaging with bid, design, and operations teams to ensure buildability and value, while guiding supply chain partners through to commissioning.

This role requires strong stakeholder skills and experience delivering £5M–£25M+ MEP packages on mid-large commercial schemes.

Qualifications

• Strong MEP design and delivery experience across multiple projects.
• Experience validating costs and procurement strategies in preconstruction stages.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management across bid, design and delivery teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead MEP design validation and cost review during tender and preconstruction.
• Develop procurement strategies and profit plans for building services packages.
• Carry out technical and commercial appraisals of designs and supply chain proposals.
• Identify risks and opportunities within the MEP package and propose mitigations.
• Coordinate with Bid, Construction, Designers and Estimators to support project success.

Skills

MEP knowledge

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Project leadership

Education

HND or degree in Building Services/Construction Management

Job description

We’re looking for a Building Services Manager to join our London & East division to support projects through preconstruction and operations. These will be spread across various sectors including DfE and local authority, Leisure, Residential, Health, Defence, Blue light – which are all the core growth areas.

This is a key role within our Building Services Department, combining preconstruction expertise (circa 80%) with operational delivery support (circa 20%). You’ll take ownership of the MEP packages across multiple projects, setting the MEP design and delivery strategy, design validation at each RIBA stage, provided cost certainty and successful delivery through to commissioning and handover.

Working closely with bid, design, commercial and operational teams, as well as supply chain partners, you’ll manage building services from early design stages through to practical completion. This includes developing solutions through the RIBA stages 1 -5, validating costs and procurement strategies, identifying risks and opportunities, and ensuring delivery aligns with programme and budget expectations.

You will bring a good technical knowledge (mechanically or electrically), commercial awareness and the confidence to influence stakeholders, ensuring building services solutions are both buildable and commercially robust.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the review and validation of MEP design solutions and associated costs during tender and preconstruction stages.
• Support project teams in developing procurement strategies and profit plans for building services packages.
• Carry out technical and commercial appraisals of designs and supply chain proposals.
• Identify risks and opportunities within the MEP package and provide mitigation strategies.

Project Delivery & Operations

• Manage building services delivery on complex projects through to commissioning and practical completion.
• Oversee supply chain performance and maintain strong relationships to ensure delivery to programme, quality and cost targets.
• Manage commissioning programmes and ensure alignment with overall project delivery milestones.
• Support project teams in resolving technical or operational challenges throughout the project lifecycle.

Technical Leadership

• Validate building services design across RIBA stages, ensuring solutions are buildable and cost-effective.
• Provide technical guidance to internal teams across the business.
• Carry out tender gap analysis and ensure the building services design represents best value for the project.
• Work closely with Bid Managers, Construction Managers, Designers, Estimators and the wider Services team to support project success.
• Build strong working relationships with MEP supply chain partners and consultants.
• Support the development of less experienced colleagues by sharing knowledge and lessons learned.
• Assist with the strategic direction of the MEP Department
• Good understanding of mechanical and/or electrical disciplines, including system interfaces and package demarcation.
• Experience managing MEP packages from design through to delivery and commissioning on mid-large scale commercial construction projects.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to break down packages and understand cost structures.
• Ability to work across multiple projects simultaneously, managing competing priorities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A collaborative, team-focused mindset with a true willingness to support colleagues when needed.
• Experience working on and delivering MEP packages between £5M and £25M+.
• HND or degree or equivalent qualification in Building Services or Construction Management or a related discipline.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 "Big" Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025.

Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King's Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.