Building Services Manager (Mechanically Biased)

Walter Lilly; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

26 days' annual leave

Private medical insurance

Income Protection Insurance

Automatic enrolment to company pension

Travel expenses

Job summary

Walter Lilly, a premier contractor in London and the South East, is seeking a Building Services Manager for a major new science facility in Bracknell. You will lead the full lifecycle of MEP services from design coordination through commissioning and handover.

You will coordinate with project teams, consultants, and subcontractors to ensure compliant, safe, and high-performance systems in laboratory environments, with a focus on integration, validation, and meeting programme milestones.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering commissioning activities on construction projects.
• Proven track record in life sciences, laboratory, or similarly serviced environments.
• Strong MEP technical knowledge and ability to interrogate designs, identify risks, and resolve issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage the design development, coordination, and delivery of all MEP services across the project lifecycle.
• Ensure building services installations are integrated with the wider programme and project objectives.
• Review MEP designs for risks and clashes and identify improvements.
• Lead commissioning and validation, developing detailed commissioning programmes and ensuring system performance.
• Coordinate utility connections and liaise with statutory authorities to meet milestones.
• Collaborate with project managers, site teams, consultants, and subcontractors to ensure timely delivery.
• Ensure compliance of complex building services in laboratory and science environments.

Skills

Commissioning management

Utilities coordination

MEP coordination

Project delivery

Team collaboration

Education

Building Services Engineering degree

Electrical/Mechanical Engineering background

Tools

CSCS accreditation

Job description

Who Is Walter Lilly?

Walter Lilly is a premier provider of high quality construction services for London and the South East’s finest landmark and heritage buildings, alongside state-of-the-art science and higher education facilities. With over 100 years experience, we bring bold, complex projects to life. Our clients come to us for the best, expecting results that stand out on a global stage.

Who Is Walter Lilly?

Walter Lilly is a premier provider of high quality construction services for London and the South East’s finest landmark and heritage buildings, alongside state-of-the-art science and higher education facilities. With over 100 years experience, we bring bold, complex projects to life. Our clients come to us for the best, expecting results that stand out on a global stage.

Boasting an impressive track record of unique projects, we work with industry-leading architects, engineers, interior designers, and highly skilled tradespeople on a portfolio ranging from the UK’s most recognisable listed attractions to cutting-edge contemporary structures.

This is the ideal role for a talented Building Services Manager with a strong mechanical background to progress their career with a top-tier construction contractor.

You will have the chance to work at the heart of complex, high-profile projects, where your ideas, decisions, and expertise drive solutions that make a visible, lasting difference.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 26 days' annual leave
• Private medical insurance
• Income Protection Insurance
• Automatic enrolment to company pension scheme ('opt out' available)
• Travel expenses

Our Culture

At Walter Lilly, we work with each other and our clients in the spirit of collaboration. We recognise the expertise of those who have been with us for many years whilst investing in the next generation of rising industry stars, combining invaluable experience with fresh, innovative thinking.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to reach their full potential. We strive to create a culture where employees can bring themselves to work in line with our core values of integrity, honesty, and fairness.

The Role

As a Building Services Manager, you will oversee the full lifecycle of building services delivery on a major new-build science facility in Bracknell, from pre-construction through to commissioning, handover, and aftercare.

Working closely with project teams, consultants, and specialist subcontractors, you will manage the successful coordination, integration, and delivery of all MEP services within a technically complex laboratory and science environment. You will ensure that building services solutions are designed, coordinated, and delivered to meet stringent operational, performance, compliance, and sustainability requirements.

Your expertise will be central to developing commissioning and validation strategies, managing the commissioning process, and ensuring the seamless integration and performance of all mechanical, electrical, public health, and specialist laboratory systems.

You will also take responsibility for coordinating utilities installations and liaising with statutory authorities, while working collaboratively with colleagues across departments to ensure successful project delivery in line with the project programme and the Inter-Departmental Integration of Activities Schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the design development, coordination, and delivery of all MEP services throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure building services installations are fully integrated with the wider construction programme and project objectives.
• Review and interrogate MEP designs, identifying risks, clashes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead the commissioning and validation process, developing detailed commissioning programmes and ensuring successful system performance, testing, and handover.
• Coordinate utility connections and collaborate with statutory authorities to achieve programme milestones.
• Work closely with project managers, site teams, consultants, and specialist subcontractors to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
• Manage the integration of complex building services systems within laboratory, research, and science environments, ensuring compliance with operational and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor building services quality, compliance, health and safety performance, and programme delivery across all project stages.
• Review subcontractor submissions, method statements, technical documentation, and commissioning plans to ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Contribute to project planning, risk management, and commercial performance through proactive management of the MEP package.
• Support the delivery of specialist environments, including laboratories, clean areas, and technically demanding research facilities.
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants, end users, and specialist stakeholders, representing the business with professionalism at all times.
• Ensure building services systems are delivered, tested, commissioned, and documented to meet the stringent requirements of science and laboratory facilities.

About You

• be considered for the role of Building Services Manager, you will need to demonstrate:
• Experience managing commissioning activities, utilities coordination, and the successful delivery of MEP services on construction projects.
• Proven experience delivering complex new build or major construction projects, ideally within life sciences, laboratory, pharmaceutical, healthcare, data centre, advanced manufacturing, or other highly serviced environments.
• Extensive MEP technical knowledge with the ability to interrogate designs, identify risks, and resolve technical issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of how MEP services integrate with the wider construction programme, building fabric, and operational requirements.
• Experience coordinating the installation, testing, commissioning, and handover of complex building services systems.
• Knowledge of laboratory, research, cleanroom, containment, or specialist technical environments would be advantageous.
• Working knowledge of health and safety legislation, industry standards, and safe working practices.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to assess subcontractor submissions, review variations, and manage costs effectively.
• Experience working collaboratively with consultants, specialist subcontractors, client teams, and end users to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across project teams and stakeholder groups.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain programme objectives within a fast‑paced project environment.
• The ability to obtain and maintain CSCS accreditation.
• Qualifications appropriate to the role, ideally within Building Services Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.