Contract Director

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.

Operations Director

Location: Southwest England

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Compensation aligned with experience  + Bonus & Car/ Allowance

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Operations Director to lead operational maintenance and capital delivery across a diverse built and infrastructure estate spanning 70 sites across the South West of England.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role holds full accountability for operational performance, financial delivery and stakeholder confidence across both estate services and a major capital investment programme.

Operating through an outsourced delivery model, you will lead delivery through a workforce of approximately 300 people, driving performance, commercial discipline and operational improvement within a complex, safety-critical environment.

Scope of Responsibility

• £65m annual operational delivery, including reactive repairs, statutory and mandatory maintenance, grounds maintenance and M&E services
• £150m capital and project programme, ranging from minor works to complex multi-million-pound construction and infrastructure schemes

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Service Delivery

• Provide leadership across all maintenance, repairs and operational service delivery activities
• Lead outsourced partners, holding performance to account across cost, quality, compliance and programme delivery
• Drive service performance, productivity and customer outcomes across a geographically dispersed estate

Capital Programme Delivery

• Accountable for delivery of a £150m annual capital investment programme
• Ensure effective governance, risk management and commercial control across projects
• Balance delivery pace with safety, quality and long-term asset performance

Asset Management & Compliance

• Deliver asset management strategy, lifecycle planning and investment prioritisation
• Maintain ownership of statutory compliance and Safe Systems of Work
• Ensure robust asset data, assurance and risk management processes

Commercial & Financial Leadership

• Hold full P&L accountability across operational and capital budgets
• Drive cost control, contract performance and value optimisation
• Use operational data and insight to inform decision-making and performance improvement

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary leadership team across dispersed locations
• Embed a culture of accountability, collaboration and performance delivery
• Act as senior interface with clients, executives, regulators and supply chain partners

About You

Experience & Capability

• Senior operational leadership experience within Facilities Management, Property, Construction, Infrastructure or asset-intensive environments
• Proven accountability for large-scale budgets and outsourced delivery models
• Strong commercial and financial management capability
• Experience leading large operational or leadership teams
• Track record of improving operational performance within complex environments
• Confident operating under pressure with competing priorities

Technical Understanding

• Broad understanding of FM, construction or M&E environments
• Ability to challenge technical specialists and make informed strategic decisions

Leadership Profile

You will be:

• Delivery-focused and commercially driven
• Calm and credible in high-pressure environments
• Collaborative and influential with senior stakeholders
• Comfortable leading change and organisational improvement

Qualifications

• HND (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline
• Management qualification desirable
• Experience managing geographically dispersed estates advantageous
• Experience within regulated or safety-critical environments desirable
• Evidence of continued professional development

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. If candidates wish to request extra time to apply then they should contact 0345 010 4000 and ask to speak to a VIVO Recruiter.