Senior Operations Manager - Soft FM

Equans UK & Ireland; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle or allowance

25 days annual leave (+ holidays)

Life Cover

Gym membership discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Learning opportunities

Job summary

Equans UK & Ireland is hiring a Senior Operations Manager – Soft FM for The University of West London on a permanent, full-time basis. The role drives all Soft FM operations on the university contract, ensuring high standards, SLA/KPI delivery and strong client relationships.

40 hours per week with a competitive salary and benefits package. You will lead a large, diverse team, manage budgets and contribute to contract development while collaborating with university stakeholders to maintain

Qualifications

• Senior-level Soft FM management experience.
• Experience leading large teams and prioritising workloads
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Budget management and financial systems knowledge
• Familiarity with CAFM systems (Maximo) and contract negotiation

Responsibilities

• Manage all Soft FM teams: cleaning, security, caretaking, helpdesk, etc
• Ensure services meet SLAs, KPIs, and client expectations
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and cost efficiency
• Maintain strong relationships with the university’s FM function
• Engage with schools/departments to enhance Equans’ reputation on campus
• Recruit, train, develop, and motivate staff
• Lead a large, diverse operational workforce
• Create budgets, business plans, and departmental strategies
• Manage financial performance and reporting
• Support commercial activity and contract development
• Some out-of-hours attendance required

Skills

Soft FM management

Team leadership

Budget management

Financial systems

Contract negotiation

Communication skills

Tools

Maximo CAFM

Job description

Equans are looking for a Senior Operations Manager – Soft FM to join our team at The University of West London. This is a permanent, full-time role, working 40 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

The Senior Operations Manager will lead all Soft FM operations on the university contract, ensuring services run smoothly, efficiently, and to a high standard. The post holder will act as the key link between Equans and the university’s FM team.

The ideal candidate is a self‑motivated and driven individual able to add expertise and leadership to the team. Will establish good working relationships with both client and team members. Able to deal with multiple competing priorities without compromising service delivery, including business critical events.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience managing soft FM and security services at a senior level. Previous experience of meeting SLA’s and KPI’s, team management, stakeholder management and driving standards forwards.

What will you deliver?

• Manage all Soft FM teams: cleaning, security, caretaking, helpdesk, etc
• Ensure services meet SLAs, KPIs, and client expectations
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and cost efficiency
• Maintain strong relationships with the university’s FM function
• Engage with schools/departments to enhance Equans’ reputation on campus
• Recruit, train, develop, and motivate staff
• Lead a large, diverse operational workforce
• Create budgets, business plans, and departmental strategies
• Manage financial performance and reporting
• Support commercial activity and contract development
• Some out-of-hours attendance required

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus, and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are you?

• Strong background in Soft FM management at a senior level
• Experience managing large teams and prioritising workloadsExcellent communication and customer service skills
• Skilled in budget management and financial systems
• Familiarity with CAFM systems Maximo or similar
• Experience in contract negotiation and implementation

This role includes a DBS Enhanced check therefore ability to pass is essential

Who are we?

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of sustainable facilities management and regeneration, and cutting‑edge energy and digital services. Our 15,000 employees combine these activities to deliver decarbonisation across the built environment and help businesses, communities, public sector organisations and government to accelerate the transition to a low carbon, resilient world. Globally, Equans is a world leader in the energy and services sector with operations in 20 countries, 90,000 employees working on 5 continents and a turnover of 19.2 billion euros in 2024. Equans is a subsidiary of the Bouygues group.

At Equans, we’re committed to building a diverse, respectful and inclusive workplace that truly reflects the communities and markets we serve.

Joining Equans means being part of a culture where every voice is valued, supported by vibrant employee led networks championing inclusion and diversity across gender, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQ+, veterans, parents, and young professionals.

Guided by our core values, we foster a culture of respect, integrity, collaboration, and excellence - empowering our people to deliver outstanding results and be their authentic selves every day. Our approach means we welcome candidates with transferable skills who may not meet every specific requirement, and where possible we support flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments to enable success.

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK.Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check or security vetting, as noted in the role requirements. A criminal record will not necessarily be a barrier to obtaining a position with us.

As part of our recruitment process, EQUANS uses StaffVetting, our trusted third‑party provider, to support the completion of employee background checks. StaffVetting delivers professional screening services in a friendly, efficient, and customer‑focused way, helping us ensure the right checks are completed from the start of the application journey.

We are Disability Confident Level 2 members, and we offer the Guaranteed Interview Scheme as part of this commitment. Where feasible, if a candidate applies under the Disability Confident Scheme and they meet all of the essential criteria, we will offer an interview. To find out more about this scheme please click here.

The Equans Resourcing Team manage this requirement. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries should come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.