Operations and Contracts Manager, Corporate Services/Estates, Washington DC.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 76,822 - 93,893; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid maternity leave

Paid paternity leave

Job summary

A government office in Washington, DC is seeking an Operations and Contracts Manager to lead its Corporate Services team. This role focuses on strengthening UK-US collaboration in facilities management, managing an in-house maintenance team, and ensuring high standards of service delivery. The ideal candidate will have experience in maintenance operations and contract management, along with strong communication and negotiation skills. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• A comprehensive understanding of the FM market, including contract management.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation.
• Strong financial literacy, ideally with experience in profit/loss reporting.

Responsibilities

• Assist in annual business plan for FM services.
• Manage in-house maintenance team effectively.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards.

Skills

Maintenance Operations

Facilities Management

Contract Management

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Customer Engagement

Education

Professional qualifications in Property/FM or engineering related subject

Tools

Microsoft Suite

CAFM systems

Job description

Operations and Contracts Manager, Corporate Services/Estates, Washington DC.

Join to apply for the Operations and Contracts Manager, Corporate Services/Estates, Washington DC. role at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Operations and Contracts Manager, Corporate Services/Estates, Washington DC.

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Join to apply for the Operations and Contracts Manager, Corporate Services/Estates, Washington DC. role at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

The British Government’s British Embassy in Washington DC, USA is offering an exciting opportunity to join the Corporate Services, Estates team as an Operations and Contracts Manager. This is a meaningful role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US - contributing to work shaping international diplomacy to make a real difference globally.

In this role, you will be part of a dynamic international environment spanning the British Government’s extensive network across the United States and the United Kingdom, which includes the Embassy in Washington, the UK Mission to the United Nations, multiple Consulates, and other Government Offices—comprising over 900 staff and supporting the work of approximately 30 UK government departments and agencies.

As Operations and Contracts Manager in the Corporate Services, Estates team, you will contribute to strengthening UK-US collaboration in Facilities Management area of work. Positioned within the Corporate Services team, you will work closely with internal stakeholders such as His Majesty’s Ambassador to USA Private Office and Residence teams, 18 different Government Departments and external partners including Facilities Management Professional Organizations. This role supports the UK’s broader strategic objectives in Corporate Services and Facilities Management and offers valuable experience in international engagement and cross-government collaboration.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, proactive, collaborative and detail-oriented professional with experience in Maintenance Operations, Facilities Management and Contract Management. You’ll bring strong communication and customer engagement skills, supplier management, negotiation and influencing skills. and a commitment to high-quality work, delivering value for money and results and continuous learning.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Assist the Director of Facilities Management (FM) in the annual business plan for FM services at Washington, including setting clear objectives and service requirements for the in-house maintenance team and contracted delivery.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships at Post, including with; the UKB officers housed in the Estate, building users, FCDO directorates & PAGs and representatives of the key contractors, ensuring customer expectations are properly managed.
• Manage the in-house maintenance team, so that their work is carried out in a professional, timely manner and within budget, delivering VfM in line with the set objectives.
• Provide clarity and guidance on Hard and Soft FM delivery and contractual matters as they arise, ensuring a consistent approach is being taken across all Washington contracts and in-house.
• Participate in performance monitoring of in-house and FM contracts including providing input and taking part in the Governance meetings as required.
• When required by the Director of Facilities Management act as the Client for Forward maintenance Register projects, prioritising and managing the delivery from budgeting to operational.
• For all delivery routes (in-house or contractor) allocate and monitor work orders to review if they are completed on time and work closely with key stakeholders to deliver full customer satisfaction where improvements to services needed or excellence in delivery recognised.
• Oversee and audit compliance (H&S, FCDO standards, local legislation) with the FM contractors and in-house teams to maintain a safe and compliant environment in our offices and staff accommodation.
• Review quotations submitted by contractor(s), ensuring that works are delivered in accordance with pricing model and challenge anomalies where necessary and confirm when works are complete so that the AFP (Application For Payment) can progress.
• Maintain regular contact with FCDO peers (including the Regional Contract Managers in Europe and APac) and contractor staff and team leads to share good practice in service provision and operational management.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line Management of 10 maintenance technicians.

Language requirements:

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• A comprehensive understanding of the FM market, including contract management and technical facilities, ideally with exposure to international facilities management.
• Health & Safety legislation knowledge.
• Strong communication and customer engagement.
• Good negotiating and influencing skills.
• Good financial literacy (eg. profit/loss reporting experience).
• Ability to evidence capability against the FCDO core competencies for this position.
• Proficient computer skills/experience with Microsoft suite and specifically with CAFM (Computer Aided Facilities Management) systems.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Professional qualifications or equivalent in a Property/FM or engineering related subject, and membership of a property/FM related professional body.
• Good knowledge of procurement regulations.
• Construction project management.

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

10 September 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Location (City)

Washington

$85,358 gross annually

Start Date

3 November 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

Please note: The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. See job posting for more details.

Working Patterns:

This position is salaried, and is full time in the office, Monday to Friday 0730-1600. Occasional out of hours working and weekends may be required during any project works.

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 10 September 2025

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Learning and Development

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management

• Industries

  Government Administration

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid maternity leave

Paid paternity leave

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