Head of Projects

Manchester Arndale; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Digital Learning

Retail Discounts (Hapi app)

Flexible Pay (Wagestream)

Professional Growth

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company seeking a senior leader to manage a portfolio of contracts across the UK. You will oversee project teams, drive profitability, and build strong client relationships while ensuring compliance and delivery excellence.

The role requires extensive management experience, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Natural leader with gravitas and the ability to bring out the best in people.
• Strong commercial acumen and client empathy.
• Ability to quickly grasp changing needs and translate into operations.
• Resilient, self-starting, and capable of challenging the status quo.
• Demonstrated experience in a similar senior management role.
• Full driving licence and ability to manage across sites.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible to the Project Director for P&L and lead project activities to improve profitability.
• Develop relationships with client staff and account stakeholders using Key Account Management.
• Prepare annual business plans and budgets for the contract portfolio.
• Conduct regular monthly project reviews of P&L, progress, quality, and H&S.
• Manage sub-contractors and ensure compliant procurement processes.
• Lead site-based staff and develop skills matrices and plans.
• Ensure site contract administration files are accurate and up to date.
• Provide leadership and direction to project managers and teams across the UK.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

People management

Problem solving

Customer focus

Decision making

Communication

Education

Electrical or Mechanical/ Fabric qualifications

Tools

MS Projects

Excel

Office 365

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

About The Role:

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week

Role Overview:

Managing a team of managers and reporting into the Project Director, we will be looking to you to ensure the cost effective and timely delivery of all project obligations and service provisions. Focus on building relationships with all managers, clients, operational and FM team across the UK is a key part of the role, as is the ability to hit the ground running. Good project and people management skills are essential

Key Responsibilities:

• Be responsible to the Project Director for the P&L of the Account and to lead and direct project activities in order to maintain and improve the net profitability of the business
• Develop strong relationships with client staff and their representatives applying Key Account Management principles in order to foster good working relationships at every level and optimise the commercial position.
• Prepare with the Project Director an annual business plan and budget for the contract portfolio
• Carry out regular monthly Project reviews of P&L accountability; including progress of projects; quality; H&SW; Relationships
• Manage sub-contractors effectively both financially and commercially. Ensure all procurement processes and procedures are followed
• Develop and maintain relationships with all the clients departments including those of the operational and FM teams
• Ensure we maintain accurate site contract administration files
• Ensure management and close supervision of site-based UK staff, off site support staff when visiting site and sub-contractors
• Provide leadership and direction to site-based staff and Project Managers, developing skills matrix and development plan
• Take ownership of projects and provide support as and when required
• Ensure correct skill & competence levels of site-based team to meet the contract scope
• Preparation of the monthly report for the Project Director and Client, listing all relevant site-based activities that occurred during the month including proposals and tenders completed
• Be conversant with all statutory compliance processes and procedures such as CDM 2015; Building Regulations; British Standards; RIBA Stages and those set out within a specification
• Ensure that all policies, procedures and standards are in place and adhered too
• Ensure the Projects has suitable, qualified and experienced management teams in place within an appropriate reporting structure, by deploying appropriate HR strategies to recruit, develop, motivatemotivate and retain the required management capabilities

Essential Criteria:

• A natural leader with obvious gravitas and charisma to stand out amongst others and the ability to bring the best out of people
• Strong commercial acumen
• An obvious empathy with customers and clients, an ability to quickly grasp their needs and an ability to galvanise resources to satisfy clients demands
• An ability to quickly grasp changing needs and the talent to translate these into operational reality
• An ability to identify and drive through ‘win-win’ solutions when even under considerable or sustained pressure
• A self-starter who is not afraid to challenge received wisdom and has the resilience to pursue legitimate business aims and objectives
• The energy and infectious enthusiasm to get things done
• Extensive experience within a similar management role
• Appropriate trade qualifications either Electrical or Mechanical of fabric
• Management and leadership training
• Coaching / Development
• Good IT skills including Excel, MS Projects,Office365, PowerPointand Word
• Must be able to demonstrate leadership qualities
• A good Level of interpersonal and customer relationship skills
• Valid full driving licence

About The Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer

Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning

The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks

With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth

600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay

Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.