Contracts Manager

Nelson Permanent Placements; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Fuel card

Expenses card

3-year contract

Career progression

Job summary

Nelson Permanent Placements is partnering with a fast-growing facilities management business to recruit a Contracts Manager for hard FM in Newcastle. The role covers a regional patch across the Northeast and Scotland with UK travel.

You will oversee hard FM services across 7+ student accommodation sites, manage contractors, support mobilisation of new contracts, and ensure health and safety and high service standards while maintaining close client relationships.

Qualifications

• FM experience, ideally mobile/multi-site.
• Strong knowledge of M&E principles and PPM schedules.
• Experience managing contractors and ensuring compliance.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience in student accommodation or large multi-site assets is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee hard FM services including PPMs and reactive works.
• Manage contractor bookings for HVAC, lifts, fire systems, gas, water.
• Be client-facing lead to maintain relationships and ensure smooth operations.
• Coordinate with helpdesk and admin for daily calls and tasks.
• Conduct monthly site visits and manage day-to-day delivery via Teams.
• Support mobilisation of newly awarded contracts and ensure Health & Safety standards.

Skills

Facilities Management

Contractor management

M&E knowledge

Team leadership

Driving licence

MS Teams

Tools

MS Teams

Job description

CONTRACTS MANAGER – STUDENT ACCOMMODATION (HARD FM)

• Location: Newcastle (Primary base with UK travel)
• Salary: Up to £60,000 per annum + vehicle or allowance + fuel card + benefits
• Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Contracts Manager to join one of the UK’s fastest-growing facilities management companies, specialising in high-quality hard FM delivery for student accommodation, build-to-rent, and education sectors. This is a hands-on, high-visibility FM role managing a key regional patch of student accommodation sites across the Northeast and Scotland. You will take ownership of hard FM activity across 7+ modern buildings, acting as the vital link between contractors, site teams, admin, and the client.

Your Patch & Travel Requirements

• Primary Location: Newcastle base
• Regular Monthly Travel: Leeds, Durham, and Scotland (2 sites in Glasgow, 1 in Edinburgh)

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all hard FM services, including planned preventative maintenance (PPMs), reactive works, compliance, and minor projects.
• Manage the supply chain by booking and overseeing specialist contractors for HVAC, lifts, fire systems, gas, water, and more.
• Act as the client-facing lead to guarantee excellent relationships and smooth operational performance.
• Collaborate closely with the helpdesk and admin team who coordinate day-to-day calls and tasks.
• Conduct monthly site visits while managing day-to-day delivery via Teams.
• Support the successful mobilisation of newly awarded contracts.
• Provide operational support to building general managers while site managers handle student-facing queries.
• Ensure strict compliance with Health & Safety and contract delivery standards.

Person Specification

• Proven experience within Facilities Management, ideally in a mobile or multi-site FM capacity.
• A strong working understanding of M&E principles and PPM schedules.
• Confident managing contractors, handling reactive calls, and driving compliance.
• A calm, professional, and organised demeanour with strong problem-solving capabilities.
• A technical background (e.g., electrical, plumbing, or gas) is advantageous but not essential.
• Previous exposure to student accommodation or high-occupancy residential environments is a strong bonus.
• A full UK driving licence is required.

Package & Benefits

• Base salary of up to £60,000
• Choice of company vehicle (e.g., EV or petrol) or car allowance
• Fuel card and expenses card provided for travel and overnight stays
• Long-term 3-year contract stability
• Career progression pathways into senior leadership within a collaborative, fast-growing business