Site Manager - Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £48-£49k

Progression to £54k

37.5h week

34 days leave

Healthcare plan

EAP access

Pension scheme

Zoo staff membership

Job summary

Edinburgh Zoo, part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, invites applications for the Head of Property & Estates. You will lead day-to-day operations of the Estates team on site, coordinating subcontractors, managing site teams and health and safety compliance.

You will oversee procurement, RAMS, risk assessments and the delivery of maintenance, refurbishment and new builds. A degree in Construction Management and SMSTS/CSCS qualifications are preferred, with strong leadership and a

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in Construction Management.
• Relevant site safety qualifications (SMSTS) with CSCS and First Aid.
• Strong knowledge of contract law and health & safety legislation/regulations.
• Good knowledge of CDM Regulations and site management procedures.
• Experience in managing maintenance, refurbishment and minor works projects.
• Strong people leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience in construction and maintenance of buildings, fencing and infrastructure.
• Experience managing health and safety in operational facilities, maintenance, estates or similar environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage external sub-contractors, ensuring productivity and quality workmanship.
• Directly responsible for multiple projects throughout the year (£5k–£10k values).
• Lead, supervise and coordinate the Works and Gardens teams.
• Maintain a visible site presence and engage with contractors and site operations.
• Oversee CAFM system development and management.
• Lead procurement exercises and tenders.
• Coordinate external contractors for maintenance and ensure professional management.
• Ensure facilities, gardens and maintenance comply with health and safety policies and legal requirements.
• Promote high standards of health and safety practices and intervene when needed.
• Review RAMS and permits to work; ensure appropriate controls are communicated.
• Manage subcontractor RAMS and permits to work as required.
• Conduct feasibility studies into sustainable technologies and buildings.
• Supervise resources and support refurbishment of buildings and related services.

Skills

Site safety leadership

SMSTS

CSCS

First Aid

Contract law

CDM Regulations

Maintenance & refurbishment

People management

Leadership

Health and safety

Stakeholder management

Sustainability

Construction on-site

Education

Degree in Construction Management

Job description

About us

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.

Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are our gateways to the natural world through which people can experience nature.

Purpose of role:

To lead and manage the day-to-day operational activities of the Property and Estates team at Edinburgh Zoo in support of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS)’s vision and mission as a leading wildlife conservation charity. Reporting to the Head of Estates and Development, you will coordinate subcontractors, manage site teams, oversee health and safety compliance, and drive programme performance throughout the construction phase.

Some of the things you’ll do:

• Managing external sub-contractors, ensuring productivity and a good standard of workmanship.
• Directly responsible for multiple projects throughout the year, ranging in value from £5k to £10k.
• Lead, supervise and coordinate the Works and Gardens teams.
• This is a site-based operational role requiring a consistent and visible presence on site. The postholder is expected to be actively engaged with the Works and Gardens teams, contractors and wider site operations, providing effective supervision, coordinating activities and monitoring health, safety and quality standards.
• Oversee the continued development and management of the RZSS track-plan CAFM system.
• Lead procurement exercises and tenders in accordance with agreed standards.
• Coordinate and oversee the compliant delivery and development of external contractors for maintenance, ensuring they are managed in a professional manner.
• Take day-to-day responsibility for ensuring facilities, gardens and maintenance activities comply with organisational health and safety policies, procedures, risk assessments, safe systems of work and relevant legislation.
• Promote high standards of health and safety practice and intervene promptly where unsafe conditions or behaviours are identified.
• Review and implement risk assessments, method statements (RAMS) and safe systems of work, ensuring controls are appropriate, communicated, understood and followed.
• Coordinate and manage specialist contractors and subcontractors.
• Review contractor RAMS and issue and manage permits to work where required.
• Manage the process of carrying out feasibility studies into new sustainable technologies and buildings.
• Supervise resources within agreed limits and assist in the refurbishment of buildings, hard landscaping, and other associated services.

What we are looking for:

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent experience in Construction Management
• Relevant site safety qualifications, including CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) or equivalent, with appropriate CSCS and First Aid certification.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of relevant contract law, building and health & safety legislation/regulations, together with site management procedures and safe working practices.
• Good working knowledge of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM).
• Experience of managing maintenance, refurbishment and minor works projects.
• Strong people management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead, motivate and manage individuals and teams effectively.
• Solid understanding of sustainability and environmental performance.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders
• Significant practical experience in the construction and maintenance of buildings, fencing and infrastructure
• Demonstrable experience of managing health and safety within an operational facilities, maintenance, estates or similar environment,

What you’ll get in return:

• Starting salary of £48, to £49, based on experience with the opportunity to progress to £54, per annum
• 37.5 hours working week (may require some evening/ weekend working and emergency phone cover on occasion)
• 34 days annual leave
• Discount in both retail/catering
• Access to a healthcare plan
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK and Basic Disclosure check for the role.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce following the guidelines of the Equality Act .

Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live. The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.

Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible.