Small Works Manager

Manchester Arndale; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is recruiting an experienced Small Works Manager to join the Home Office contract delivery team. The role is office- and site-based with travel across the North of England, requiring a valid UK driving licence and ability to obtain Home Office clearance.

You will manage cradle-to-grave delivery of small works, lifecycle and capital projects across M&E, building fabric and roofing, working with operational, commercial and capital-project teams.

Qualifications

• Proven project management experience delivering small works and construction projects.
• Strong client, contractor, supply-chain and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end delivery of small works, lifecycle and capital projects in the North of England.
• Develop and manage project programmes and coordinate delivery through supply chains.
• Ensure CDM compliance and maintain construction phase plans.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budget oversight

Communication

Education

IOSH or SMSTS qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel)

Job description

About The Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

About The Role:

Job Overview

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Small Works Manager to join the OCS Home Office contract delivery team.

The role will ideally be based in the North West, where most project activity is expected to take place. However, regular travel across the full Home Office account throughout the North of England will be required.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the cradle-to-grave delivery of small works, lifecycle and capital projects. Working closely with operational, commercial and capital-project teams, you will manage a varied programme of M&E, building fabric, roofing and specialist works.

We are looking for an ambitious and commercially aware individual with practical experience delivering construction and hard-services projects within fast-paced technical or facilities management environments. You must have a strong understanding of CDM Regulations and working knowledge of the RIBA Plan of Work.

This is an office and site-based position requiring regular travel. The successful candidate must also be able to obtain and maintain the required Home Office security clearance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end delivery of small works, lifecycle and capital projects across the North of England.
• Develop and manage project programmes, ensuring activities are allocated to the appropriate delivery teams.
• Coordinate project delivery through an approved and accredited supply chain.
• Deliver projects across M&E systems, building fabric, roofing and planned infrastructure replacement.
• Manage client relationships, resolve issues and promote a collaborative, one-team approach.
• Conduct pre-start meetings, technical inspections, site walkarounds and formal project handovers.
• Manage subcontractor performance and ensure the appropriate resources are available.
• Prepare and control Construction Phase Plans, health and safety documentation and project variations.
• Ensure all projects comply with CDM Regulations, statutory obligations and relevant industry standards.
• Apply the RIBA Plan of Work and associated project stages throughout delivery.
• Manage commercial risk in accordance with OCS policies and procedures.
• Monitor project budgets, variations, programmes and delivery risks.
• Support project delivery within NEC and NEC4 contract frameworks where applicable.
• Establish performance measures, targets and reporting processes.
• Provide clear progress reports to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Support local supply-chain, SME and community-engagement initiatives.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, sustainably, on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.

About You

• Proven project management experience delivering small works and construction projects.
• Practical experience managing hard-services projects across M&E, building fabric or specialist services.
• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations and experience preparing Construction Phase Plans.
• Working knowledge of the RIBA Plan of Work and associated project stages.
• Relevant health and safety qualification, such as IOSH or SMSTS.
• Commercially astute, with experience managing budgets, variations, programmes and project risks.
• Knowledge of NEC or NEC4 contract frameworks would be beneficial but is not essential.
• Strong client, contractor, supply-chain and stakeholder-management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation and report-writing abilities.
• Competent in Microsoft Office, including Excel.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Based in, or within a commutable distance of, the North West would be preferred.
• Flexible and willing to travel regularly across the full Home Office account.
• Able to obtain and maintain the required Home Office security clearance.

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.