TRAINEE SERVICES MANAGER-VIVO - Built Estate

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.

Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Location: DST Leconfield (Base) + RAF Fylingdales & RRH Staxton Wold + Satellite Sites
Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £27,000 – £30,000

VIVO Defence Services is a joint venture between Serco and ENGIE, bringing together deep Defence engineering expertise and leading facilities management capability. We are currently delivering critical infrastructure services across the UK Defence estate and are looking for a Trainee Services Manager to join our team at DST Leconfield, supporting additional key sites including RAF Fylingdales and RRH Staxton Wold.

This is a structured development role designed to build the skills and experience required for future progression into a Services Manager position. The role offers exposure to a wide range of operational, technical, and management responsibilities within a Defence FM environment.

The successful candidate will support the delivery and management of planned and reactive maintenance works in line with statutory legislation, Ministry of Defence requirements, and contractual performance indicators. You will assist in monitoring and coordinating supply chain partners to ensure safe working practices, high-quality service delivery, and value for money.

A key aspect of the role involves supporting health and safety compliance across all site activities. This includes reviewing risk assessments and method statements, assisting with permit systems for high-risk activities, supporting asbestos and legionella management processes, and promoting a strong safety culture across all teams. You will also ensure that all maintenance activities are accurately recorded within CAFM systems and that site risk registers are maintained and updated.

The role will also involve supporting small-scale project delivery, typically up to £25,000, across mechanical, electrical, building, and specialist works. This includes assisting project managers with defining requirements and coordinating delivery with end users and stakeholders.

In addition, you will assist with site audits, inspections, and compliance checks, ensuring that all documentation is complete, accurate, and audit-ready. You will be expected to contribute to proactive performance management and help drive continuous improvement across services.

What you’ll need

Applicants should have practical experience in construction, property maintenance, or a related field. Experience working within a Ministry of Defence environment is essential, along with familiarity with relevant compliance areas such as asbestos management, disability access regulations, sustainability, and energy performance. An understanding of local site operations and geography within the area of responsibility is also required.

Candidates should be working towards or already possess experience in supervising site operations, including planning and directing activities, managing priorities, and solving operational problems. A relevant technical qualification such as an HNC in Building Services, Civil Engineering, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience) is desirable. A health and safety qualification such as SMSTS would also be advantageous, along with knowledge of CDM regulations.

Applicants must hold a minimum of five GCSEs including Maths and English at grade 9–4 (A*–C). A Level 3 qualification such as A Levels, BTEC, T Levels, or completion of a Facilities Management Supervisor apprenticeship is preferred.

This role requires the ability to obtain SC Clearance.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career within a high-performing Defence estate environment, supporting critical national infrastructure across Leconfield and surrounding Defence sites.

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.