Built Estate Manager

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: RAF Fairford (on site role) to cover RAF Welford as well

Permanent, Full time, On call 1 in 3 weeks

Salary: Up to £55,000 + Company car/Car allowance

The Built Estate Manager plays a vital leadership role within the VIVO Defence contract, acting as the key on-site stakeholder interface and ensuring the seamless delivery of all contractual outputs across the establishment. Responsible for overseeing both direct delivery teams and supply chain partners, the Built Estate Manager ensures that all statutory, mandatory, and reactive maintenance activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with MOD and company standards. This role combines technical expertise with strong operational management, commercial acumen, and the ability to foster high-performing teams that consistently deliver outstanding results.

Based at RAF Fairford, the Built Estate Manager takes full ownership of the maintenance and operational delivery of MOD properties within their area of responsibility. They are accountable for ensuring that all work—ranging from planned and preventative maintenance to reactive response and minor projects—is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of safety and quality. The role requires proactive leadership, forward-thinking problem solving, and an unwavering focus on service excellence, ensuring that the needs of the client and end users are consistently met and exceeded.

A key part of this position involves managing and motivating a diverse team that includes Service Managers, Helpdesk Coordinators, Engineers, and a network of supply chain partners. The Built Estate Manager provides clear direction, ensures that resources are effectively deployed, and leads the day-to-day delivery of maintenance activities. They monitor performance across all operational areas, ensuring that key performance indicators are achieved and that health, safety, and environmental standards are rigorously maintained. This includes ensuring full compliance with JSP 375 and related MOD policies, assessing the competence of engineers, and supporting the production of risk assessments, method statements, and permits to work.

Commercially astute and operationally focused, the Built Estate Manager takes responsibility for managing local budgets, controlling costs, and ensuring value for money across all areas of delivery. They maintain strong relationships with contractors, stakeholders, and internal teams to support the management and mitigation of risk, ensuring that all activities align with contractual and business requirements. Through effective reporting, performance analysis, and the use of data and technology—including the Maximo system—the Built Estate Manager drives continual improvement, transparency, and accountability across their area.

The role demands a strong technical background, with the ability to interpret maintenance data, identify emerging issues, and provide informed advice and guidance to both the site team and senior management. The Built Estate Manager ensures that all work is recorded accurately and that audits, inspections, and assurance checks are completed within agreed timeframes. They also take the lead in preparing for external audits and support initiatives that align with the MOD’s sustainability and carbon reduction goals. This includes identifying opportunities to improve environmental performance across the estate and embedding best practice in energy and asset management.

A central part of the Built Estate Manager’s success lies in their ability to build and maintain strong relationships across multiple stakeholders, including Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) personnel, Authorised Engineers, contractors, and end users. Acting as a single point of contact for customer issues, they ensure timely communication, transparency, and the effective resolution of any concerns. They also work closely with Area Managers and the wider VIVO team to ensure consistent delivery standards across the region and to support the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives.

Leadership and people management are core to this position. The Built Estate Manager provides coaching, mentoring, and structured supervision to ensure teams perform at their best. They foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and safety, encouraging innovation and professional growth within the workforce. This includes ensuring that all personnel are properly inducted, security cleared, and compliant with health and safety protocols. The Built Estate Manager also takes responsibility for HR activities such as performance reviews, training development, and staff wellbeing, ensuring that the team remains motivated and capable of meeting evolving operational demands.

What You'll Bring

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience managing facilities maintenance or construction operations, ideally within a Defence or highly regulated environment. They will hold an HND or equivalent qualification in Construction, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, and demonstrate a proven ability to lead multi-skilled teams. Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, including SMSTS or similar management-level certification, is essential, as is familiarity with MOD policies such as JSP 375 and systems such as Maximo, and exceptional people management and performance management skills. Experience in managing Safe Systems of Work, CDM compliance, and risk management will be crucial to success in this role.

The Built Estate Manager combines technical competence, commercial awareness, and outstanding communication skills to deliver exceptional results. They embody VIVO’s values of openness, collaboration, and integrity, and demonstrate the ability to make sound, timely decisions that balance operational efficiency with customer satisfaction. Through their leadership, they ensure that the MOD estate remains safe, compliant, and operationally ready, supporting the delivery of VIVO’s commitment to service excellence across the Defence infrastructure portfolio.

What We Offer

• 6% employee matched pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Company car/car allowance
• Single private medical cover
• 1x professional subscription paid per year
• 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.