Senior Building Services Manager

Willmott Dixon; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Willmott Dixon in Gateshead is seeking an experienced Senior Building Services Manager (M&E Manager) to lead MEP packages across multiple projects from preconstruction through handover. You will validate designs, set delivery strategies, and provide cost certainty by coordinating bid, design and commercial teams with supply chain partners.

The role spans Education, Transport, Leisure, Residential, Healthcare and more, offering a supportive, inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Strong technical knowledge of building services and MEP design.
• Experience managing MEP packages through design and preconstruction.
• Strong commercial awareness and cost understanding.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead review and validate MEP design solutions and costs during tender/preconstruction stages.
• Develop procurement strategies and profit plans for building services.
• Carry out technical and commercial appraisals of designs and supply chain proposals.
• Identify risks and opportunities within the MEP package and provide mitigations.
• Validate building services design across RIBA stages for buildability and cost.
• Provide technical guidance to internal teams across the business.
• Carry out tender gap analysis and ensure best value for the project.
• Collaborate with Bid Managers, Construction Managers, Designers, Estimators and the Services team.
• Build relationships with MEP supply chain partners and consultants.
• Mentor less experienced colleagues and help shape the MEP department.

Skills

Building services

Relationship management

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Education

Professional membership MCIOB/MCIBSE/MIET

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Senior Building Services Manager (M&E Manager) to join our growing North East business, playing a key role to support a diverse range construction projects through preconstruction

Operating from our Gateshead office, you'll have the opportunity to work on projects ranging from £10m to £70m, across sectors including Education (DfE), Transport, Leisure, Residential, Healthcare, Defence and Blue Light.

This is a key role within our preconstruction team. You’ll take ownership of the MEP packages across multiple projects, setting the MEP design and delivery strategy, design validation at each RIBA stage and provide cost certainty.

Working closely with bid, design and commercial teams, as well as supply chain partners, you’ll manage building services from early design stages through to handover to the deliver team. This includes developing solutions through the RIBA stages 1 -5, validating costs and procurement strategies and identifying risks/opportunities.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the review and validation of MEP design solutions and associated costs during tender and preconstruction stages.
• Support project teams in developing procurement strategies and profit plans for building services packages.
• Carry out technical and commercial appraisals of designs and supply chain proposals.
• Identify risks and opportunities within the MEP package and provide mitigation strategies.

Technical Leadership

• Validate building services design across RIBA stages, ensuring solutions are buildable and cost-effective.
• Provide technical guidance to internal teams across the business.
• Carry out tender gap analysis and ensure the building services design represents best value for the project.
• Work closely with Bid Managers, Construction Managers, Designers, Estimators and the wider Services team to support project success.
• Build strong working relationships with MEP supply chain partners and consultants.
• Support the development of less experienced colleagues by sharing knowledge and lessons learned.
• Assist with the strategic direction of the MEP Department

We're interested in speaking with people who have a strong technical understanding of building services, combined with the ability to manage relationships, coordinate specialist contractors and able to ensure building services solutions are both buildable and commercially robust

• Good understanding of mechanical and/or electrical disciplines, including system interfaces and package demarcation.
• Experience managing MEP packages through design and preconstruction
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to break down packages and understand cost structures.
• Ability to work across multiple projects simultaneously, managing competing priorities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A collaborative, team-focused mindset with a true willingness to support colleagues when needed.
• Working towards or holding professional membership such as MCIOB, MCIBSE or MIET.

We recognise that experience can be gained through different career paths. If you've developed your technical and leadership skills within a specialist M&E contractor and are looking to broaden your experience with a leading main contractor, we'd welcome your application.

Additional Information

In return for your hard work, we offer a competitive package that includes flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle and priorities. This includes an enhanced pension scheme, optional private medical cover, life assurance and an Incentive Bonus.

At Willmott Dixon, we provide an inclusive and flexible working environment for people to thrive in and are happy to support agile working wherever possible.

We are a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 "Big" Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025. Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King's Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.