Quality Assurance and Risk Manager
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GB, CB1
Who we are
VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.
What we do
We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.
Location: Home based, but candidates must be based in Cambridgeshire so sites can be accessed.
Permanent, Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm
Salary: Competitive
The Quality and Risk Assurance Manager will be responsible for leading the development, implementation, and management of effective quality and risk assurance frameworks that underpin operational excellence across the contract. Acting as a focal point for compliance, assurance, and performance improvement, this role ensures that all processes, systems, and outputs meet both client requirements and national and international quality standards. You will play a key part in safeguarding compliance, driving innovation, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, while also converting risks into opportunities to enhance delivery and efficiency.
In this role, you will lead the Quality function, developing strategies and tactical plans that support both immediate operational requirements and longer-term strategic goals. This includes administering and maintaining assurance procedures, validating processes, measuring performance, and providing robust documentation and reporting to demonstrate compliance. By managing the analysis of performance data and rolling out improvement plans, you will ensure that contract delivery is both efficient and effective, driving best practice across the organisation.
You will also be central to risk management, leading workshops, implementing digital solutions to streamline processes, and ensuring risk registers are actively managed and opportunities captured. As a core member of the operational management team, you will contribute to wider contract performance, collaborating with internal stakeholders, business partners, suppliers, and subcontractors to improve outcomes. A critical element of the role is serving as the focal point for client collaboration, providing assurance through transparent reporting, accurate performance reviews, and effective communication.
Line management responsibilities include leading and developing a small team of compliance professionals, ensuring they have clear objectives, are supported in their development, and deliver consistently high standards. Regular review meetings will be conducted to assess performance, identify risks, and explore opportunities for improvement. Through clear communication of company values and objectives, you will inspire a culture of accountability, fairness, and innovation, ensuring operational teams understand expectations and deliver to the highest standards.
What You'll Bring
To be successful in this role, you will bring proven experience in the hard services FM sector, underpinned by strong operational management expertise and team leadership skills. Essential requirements include proficiency with IT systems, particularly Excel, and experience with CAFM and SAP tools is highly desirable. You will also demonstrate excellent negotiation skills, strong communication capabilities, and the ability to manage team performance effectively. A detailed understanding of relevant Health and Safety legislation, including COSHH and RIDDOR, is critical, as is the ability to obtain and maintain SC level security clearance.
Desirable attributes include experience working with mechanical or electrical assets in a commercial environment, accredited qualifications in first aid and health and safety, and professional membership of a relevant body. Prior experience of operating within a Ministry of Defence environment would be a distinct advantage.
This is a role for a self-motivated, analytical, and collaborative professional who can balance compliance with innovation, ensuring that quality assurance and risk management are not only robust but actively drive operational improvement. By combining technical expertise with excellent relationship management skills, you will play a key role in safeguarding standards, strengthening performance, and delivering confidence to both clients and stakeholders.
What We Offer
- 6% employee matched pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave
- Single private medical cover
- Life assurance 2x annual salary
VIVO Defence Services
The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.
At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.
We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.