Facilities & Maintenance Manager

Cherry Trees; East Clandon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Trees seeks an experienced Facilities & Maintenance Manager to oversee day-to-day maintenance, facilities and safety across our care environment. The role combines hands-on repairs with planning, budgeting, and supervising two part-time Handymen, while coordinating contractors and ensuring cost-effective, compliant operation.

You'll manage planned and reactive maintenance, keep compliance records, support fire safety, and maintain facilities to a high standard, helping create a safe,

Qualifications

• A relevant trade qualification or significant practical maintenance experience would be desirable.
• Experience in a care, healthcare, education, children's or residential environment would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of fire safety, statutory compliance or planned preventative maintenance would help.

Responsibilities

• Carry out day-to-day repairs and maintenance across buildings and grounds.
• Diagnose faults and decide on the most appropriate solution.
• Lead two part-time Handymen and allocate work.
• Plan and manage planned preventative and reactive maintenance.
• Coordinate contractors and suppliers and ensure value for money.
• Order materials and manage invoices and expenditure.
• Coordinate statutory inspections, servicing and testing.
• Support fire safety and emergency arrangements.
• Maintain buildings, grounds and facilities to a high standard.
• Manage the facilities budget and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Keep accurate records and provide updates to the senior team.

Education

Trade qualification

Job description

We provide specialist short-break care for children with disabilities, creating a warm, safe and welcoming home-from-home environment while giving families valuable respite. To help us maintain that environment to the highest standard, we're looking for an experienced Facilities & Maintenance Manager to join our team.

This is a genuinely hands-on role. You'll take responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance, facilities and general upkeep of Cherry Trees, making sure our buildings, grounds, equipment and facilities are safe, well maintained and fit for purpose.

You'll combine your practical maintenance skills with strong organisation and people management. You'll undertake repairs yourself, while also planning and allocating work for our two part-time Handymen, coordinating contractors and suppliers, managing purchasing and invoices, and keeping planned maintenance and compliance requirements on track.

What you'll be doing

You’ll have a varied role, including:

• Carrying out day-to-day repairs and maintenance, including basic carpentry, decorating, plumbing, furniture and fixture repairs.
• Diagnosing faults and deciding on the most appropriate solution.
• Managing and supporting our two part-time Handymen, allocating work and ensuring priorities are clear.
• Managing both planned preventative and reactive maintenance.
• Coordinating contractors and specialist suppliers and ensuring work is completed to a good standard and represents value for money.
• Ordering materials, equipment and services and managing invoices and expenditure.
• Coordinating statutory inspections, servicing and testing and keeping compliance records up to date.
• Supporting fire safety and emergency arrangements.
• Maintaining our buildings, grounds and facilities to a high standard.
• Managing the maintenance and facilities budget and identifying opportunities to reduce costs without compromising safety or quality.
• Keeping accurate records and providing updates to the senior team., You’ll be helping to create an environment where children feel safe, comfortable and welcome, while ensuring our care team has the facilities and support they need to provide an excellent service.

Success in this role means that maintenance is completed promptly, our team and contractors are well organised, compliance requirements aren't missed, expenditure is controlled and potential problems are identified before they become bigger issues. Most importantly, the care team can rely on the facilities function to get things done.

Safeguarding

Cherry Trees is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including identity and right-to-work checks, references and an appropriate DBS check.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're an experienced maintenance professional who enjoys a varied, hands-on role and would like to use your skills to make a real difference to children and families, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for someone who is practical, proactive and highly organised, with the confidence to take ownership and get things done.

You’ll need experience in a practical maintenance, property, facilities or building-related role, together with strong repair and fault-finding skills. You’ll also have experience of supervising others, coordinating contractors and suppliers, purchasing materials or services, and managing invoices or expenditure.

You’ll be someone who:

• Enjoys being hands-on and isn't afraid to get stuck in.
• Can manage competing priorities and stay calm when unexpected problems arise.
• Takes pride in doing things properly and following work through to completion.
• Is confident managing contractors and challenging poor work when necessary.
• Communicates well and works collaboratively with colleagues.
• Understands the importance of maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for children with disabilities.
• Shares Cherry Trees' commitment to providing a high-quality service to children and families.

A relevant trade qualification or significant practical maintenance experience would be desirable. Experience in a care, healthcare, education, children's or residential environment, as well as knowledge of fire safety, statutory compliance or planned preventative maintenance, would also be advantageous.