Maintenance Manager

Flow Student Ltd; Southampton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Flow Student Ltd in Southampton is seeking a Maintenance Manager to lead the maintenance function, ensuring safe, compliant, and well-maintained living spaces for students. You will manage a team of operatives and external contractors, coordinating reactive repairs and preventative maintenance with on-site colleagues.

The role requires strong leadership, building services knowledge, and budget management. On-site, office-based role with a 37.5-hour week and a salary of £45,000–£48,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a maintenance manager or supervisor.
• Strong knowledge of building services and safety.
• Experience leading a maintenance team.
• Budget management and contractor liaison experience.
• Familiarity with CMMS and general IT tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Maintenance Team: supervise and develop operatives, allocate work and set standards.
• Oversee repairs and upkeep across student living spaces and common areas; prioritise urgent issues.
• Plan preventative maintenance; create schedules for plant, equipment and accommodation.
• Ensure statutory compliance: fire safety, gas safety, electrical testing and others.
• Manage contractors for repairs, servicing and refurbishments; ensure quality and value.
• Control costs: track spend and identify efficiency opportunities.
• Prepare for peak periods and room turnarounds for academic year.
• Maintain stock and equipment and ensure proper ordering.
• Keep accurate records of risk assessments, inspections and compliance documents.
• Support the student experience by responding to feedback positively.

Skills

Team leadership

Technical knowhow

Health & safety

Budget mgmt

CMMS

Problem solving

Communication

Customer service

Time management

Education

IOSH/NEBOSH

Trade qualification

Tools

CMMS

IT packages

Job description

Maintenance Manager

Location: Southampton (office based)

Contract: Permanent, full time

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 - £48,000 per annum

About the Role

As Maintenance Manager, you will lead the maintenance function for Flow Student in Southampton, making sure our buildings are safe, secure, compliant and well maintained for our students. You will manage a team of maintenance operatives, including a plumber, an electrician and a general maintenance operative, alongside external contractors. Working closely with the City Operations Manager and on site colleagues, you will keep reactive repairs moving, plan ahead with preventative maintenance, and help create a living environment where students feel at home.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Maintenance Team: Supervise, support and develop maintenance operatives, allocating work, setting standards and ensuring high quality, safe working practices.
• Oversee Repairs and Upkeep: Manage all reactive and planned maintenance across student rooms, studios, communal areas and amenity spaces, prioritising urgent issues to minimise disruption.
• Plan Preventative Maintenance: Create and deliver planned maintenance schedules for plant, equipment and accommodation, reducing breakdowns and extending asset life.
• Ensure Statutory Compliance: Oversee fire safety, gas safety, electrical testing, legionella control, lift servicing and all other statutory inspections, keeping accurate certificates and records.
• Manage Contractors: Appoint, coordinate and monitor external contractors for specialist repairs, servicing and refurbishment works, ensuring quality and value for money.
• Control Costs: Manage the maintenance budget, track spend and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Prepare for Peak Periods: Plan room turnaround and inspections so that accommodation is ready for the start of each academic year and for new arrivals throughout the year.
• Maintain Stock and Equipment: Keep tools, equipment and materials in good order and order supplies as required.
• Keep Accurate Records: Ensure maintenance requests are logged and closed accurately, and that risk assessments, inspection reports and compliance documents are up to date.
• Support the Student Experience: Work with colleagues across the site to respond to student feedback with a positive and approachable attitude.

Requirements

• To be successful in this role, you will have:
• Proven experience as a maintenance manager or supervisor, ideally within student accommodation, residential, hotel or commercial property.
• Strong technical knowledge of building services, including heating, electrical, plumbing and general building maintenance.
• Experience of leading, motivating and developing a maintenance team.
• A sound understanding of health and safety legislation, fire safety and statutory compliance, with a qualification such as IOSH or NEBOSH desirable.
• Experience of managing budgets, contractors and suppliers.
• Confidence using maintenance management software (CMMS) and standard IT packages.
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills, with a focus on customer service.
• The ability to prioritise workloads and remain calm under pressure.
• A trade qualification, technical certification or equivalent practical experience.
• A valid UK driving licence.