Head of Site Services

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a Head of Site Services to oversee the engineering and facility management at the UKHSA Colindale site. The successful candidate will lead maintenance, ensure compliance with regulations, manage contracts, and promote sustainability objectives within a collaborative work culture. This permanent role offers various working patterns and is crucial for maintaining operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior engineering and maintenance management roles.
• Expertise in complex maintenance and engineering installations.
• Experience in contract management and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage engineering services at the Colindale site.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Direct the delivery of planned preventive maintenance.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Risk management

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering

Chartered Engineer Status

Job description

Job summary

The Facilities Management Department (FMD) sits within the Scientific Facilities Division and is responsible for: engineering; equipment and building maintenance; capital works projects for the Colindale site; environmental sustainability to maintain regulatory and compliant facilities to meet current and future business objectives; and site security at Colindale, working with relevant law enforcement agencies and security advisors.

This position has responsibility for site services provided at the UKHSA Colindale site by the Scientific Facilities Division. The post holder will have responsibility to lead and direct engineering and facility services at this site as well as provide occasional engineering cover and peer support to the UKHSA Head of Site for Harlow, as required.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Site Services role acts as the lead of the sites operations, managing and controlling key gold contracts on the sites, including Hard Facilities Management (FM), Soft FM and Security to assure contract deliverables and governance in the supply of services to uphold the asset value of UKHSA's estate and to meet UKHSA business objectives. The Engineering function engages with the site stakeholders and Science Hub Programme over current and future engineering, building and equipment maintenance requirements to ensure facilities and equipment will be operationally fully available to meet their business needs.

The function embraces all engineering aspects from the supply of utilities, provision of environmental conditions to meet the regulatory/compliant (HSE, MHRA, DEFRA, Department for Transport, NPSA, NaCTSO, Home Office and needs of external customers) for high containment and general research laboratories, storage facilities and general offices, through to minor/major servicing, calibration and the installation of specialised laboratory/process equipment.

The function provides assurance to senior management that engineering works and maintenance activities are carried out in a safe and secure manner, that engineering solutions support environmental sustainability in terms of government carbon reduction targets and that expenditure is controlled to meet allocated budgets and that all works are carried out to meet regulatory and compliant standards.

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£72,739 to £82,746 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-JP-301824-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Colindale

London

NW9 5EQ

Job description Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities will include:

• Ensure the safe and compliant management of all maintenance and engineering services across the Colindale site. Direct and oversee the delivery of strategic and day-to-day engineering services for the sites, identifying and delivering a programme of planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and remedial works as and when required through the Hard FM provider.
• Deliver a variety of complex and diverse strategic infrastructure engineering and planned built asset lifecycle replacement projects, ensuring that all operational maintenance, engineering and project-related health and safety requirements are clearly communicated and diligently applied
• Ensure that the Hard FM provider carries out planned and reactive maintenance works in accordance with relevant UKHSA tender specification, policies and procedures and the agreed maintenance programme.
• Direct and oversee the security management arrangements for the Colindale site, including the outsourced site guarding team, liaising as and when required with relevant law enforcement and security agencies e.g. Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI), National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and local police.
• Monitor various reports, including compliance testing, planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive works, other service reports, calibrations, facility alarms and any other reports relating to the maintenance programme.
• Ensure appointment, management and availability of suitable Authorised, Responsible and Competent Persons across the scope of engineering and maintenance activities to meet regulatory and project requirements and incident / emergency response requirements.
• For the specialist laboratory and monitoring facilities, ensure that HAZOPS are kept up to date and reflect any changes made to the facility, and that the monthly alarm listing issued by the Hard FM provider is reviewed and acted on as necessary. Act as the engineering site lead for any Health and Safety Executive, or other regulatory, interventions at the UKHSA Colindale site. Responsible for the health and safety of all site users and visitors to site on a day-to-day basis.
• Develop and issue operational and strategic performance and estate benchmarking reports as required. To monitor all engineering works to specialist laboratory facilities to ensure the works are compliant with all regulatory and service delivery requirements.
• Ensure effective communications with site users from across UKHSA, the immediate FMD Team, the Scientific Facilities Division and ensure effective co-ordination with counterparts at the Hard and Soft FM providers.
• Authorise and review User Requirement Specifications (URS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and generation of design documentation related to engineering systems within Facilities.
• Provide and ensure a responsive service as required in respect of unplanned or emergency situations requiring technical expertise and advice which may impact on critical operations or service delivery. Implement and maintain a level of infrastructure resilience and incident planning to ensure critical service and business continuity is adequately supported. This includes being a member of the out-of-hours on-call Facilities arrangement for the UKHSA Colindale site.
• To develop, lead and motivate the Facilities Team and ensure consistent and optimal performance of their duties (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).
• Attend and chair meetings, as appropriate and necessary, and liaise with key UKHSA stakeholders and customers, contractors, consultants, design/project team and external organisations as required.
• To ensure appropriate, up to date documentation is in place to support the operation of the site, including appropriate insurance policies, fire evacuation plans and training, business continuity plan/s, risk registers, risk assessments, asset lists, etc.

Please see the job description for the full list of responsibilities.

Essential role criteria

• Chartered Engineer Status
• Degree Qualified in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering
• Substantial experience in a senior engineering and maintenance management role with understanding of complex maintenance and engineering installations, their operation and maintenance and including proving regulatory compliance
• Experience of successfully leading a variety of major specialist engineering initiatives
• Demonstrated experience of large scale and specialized contract management and of commissioning engineering systems
• Experience of identifying, reporting and mitigating a range of risks associated with high hazard sites in either the public or private sector and of risk-based prioritization
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to lead teams and build effective working relationships at all levels and between organisations, building coalitions of the willing and able
• You proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation. You identify connections and reach out to bring people together
• You are positive and lead and support others through change
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to scan the horizon, anticipating future challenges and mitigating actions
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Selection Process

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1000 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Chartered Engineer Status
• Degree Qualified in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering
• Substantial experience in a senior engineering and maintenance management role with understanding of complex maintenance and engineering installations, their operation and maintenance and including proving regulatory compliance

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Please note you will not be able to upload yourCV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.Please do not email us your CV.

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.

Please note the successful candidate will be expected to work weekends and bank holidays as part of this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard / Security Check clearance.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check clearance.

UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Job description Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities will include:

• Ensure the safe and compliant management of all maintenance and engineering services across the Colindale site. Direct and oversee the delivery of strategic and day-to-day engineering services for the sites, identifying and delivering a programme of planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and remedial works as and when required through the Hard FM provider.
• Deliver a variety of complex and diverse strategic infrastructure engineering and planned built asset lifecycle replacement projects, ensuring that all operational maintenance, engineering and project-related health and safety requirements are clearly communicated and diligently applied
• Ensure that the Hard FM provider carries out planned and reactive maintenance works in accordance with relevant UKHSA tender specification, policies and procedures and the agreed maintenance programme.
• Direct and oversee the security management arrangements for the Colindale site, including the outsourced site guarding team, liaising as and when required with relevant law enforcement and security agencies e.g. Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI), National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and local police.
• Monitor various reports, including compliance testing, planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive works, other service reports, calibrations, facility alarms and any other reports relating to the maintenance programme.
• Ensure appointment, management and availability of suitable Authorised, Responsible and Competent Persons across the scope of engineering and maintenance activities to meet regulatory and project requirements and incident / emergency response requirements.
• For the specialist laboratory and monitoring facilities, ensure that HAZOPS are kept up to date and reflect any changes made to the facility, and that the monthly alarm listing issued by the Hard FM provider is reviewed and acted on as necessary. Act as the engineering site lead for any Health and Safety Executive, or other regulatory, interventions at the UKHSA Colindale site. Responsible for the health and safety of all site users and visitors to site on a day-to-day basis.
• Develop and issue operational and strategic performance and estate benchmarking reports as required. To monitor all engineering works to specialist laboratory facilities to ensure the works are compliant with all regulatory and service delivery requirements.
• Ensure effective communications with site users from across UKHSA, the immediate FMD Team, the Scientific Facilities Division and ensure effective co-ordination with counterparts at the Hard and Soft FM providers.
• Authorise and review User Requirement Specifications (URS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and generation of design documentation related to engineering systems within Facilities.
• Provide and ensure a responsive service as required in respect of unplanned or emergency situations requiring technical expertise and advice which may impact on critical operations or service delivery. Implement and maintain a level of infrastructure resilience and incident planning to ensure critical service and business continuity is adequately supported. This includes being a member of the out-of-hours on-call Facilities arrangement for the UKHSA Colindale site.
• To develop, lead and motivate the Facilities Team and ensure consistent and optimal performance of their duties (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).
• Attend and chair meetings, as appropriate and necessary, and liaise with key UKHSA stakeholders and customers, contractors, consultants, design/project team and external organisations as required.
• To ensure appropriate, up to date documentation is in place to support the operation of the site, including appropriate insurance policies, fire evacuation plans and training, business continuity plan/s, risk registers, risk assessments, asset lists, etc.

Please see the job description for the full list of responsibilities.

Essential role criteria

• Chartered Engineer Status
• Degree Qualified in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering
• Substantial experience in a senior engineering and maintenance management role with understanding of complex maintenance and engineering installations, their operation and maintenance and including proving regulatory compliance
• Experience of successfully leading a variety of major specialist engineering initiatives
• Demonstrated experience of large scale and specialized contract management and of commissioning engineering systems
• Experience of identifying, reporting and mitigating a range of risks associated with high hazard sites in either the public or private sector and of risk-based prioritization
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to lead teams and build effective working relationships at all levels and between organisations, building coalitions of the willing and able
• You proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation. You identify connections and reach out to bring people together
• You are positive and lead and support others through change
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to scan the horizon, anticipating future challenges and mitigating actions
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Selection Process

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1000 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Chartered Engineer Status
• Degree Qualified in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering
• Substantial experience in a senior engineering and maintenance management role with understanding of complex maintenance and engineering installations, their operation and maintenance and including proving regulatory compliance

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Please note you will not be able to upload yourCV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.Please do not email us your CV.

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.

Please note the successful candidate will be expected to work weekends and bank holidays as part of this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard / Security Check clearance.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check clearance.

UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification Essential Criteria Essential

• Application Form and Statement of Suitability

Essential Criteria Essential

• Questions on experience, knowledge and skills

Person Specification Essential Criteria Essential

• Application Form and Statement of Suitability

Essential Criteria Essential

• Questions on experience, knowledge and skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Colindale

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Colindale

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)