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 Director – Southwest Built Estate

Location: Southwest England

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

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

About the Role

We are creating a new senior leadership role to support the continued success of VIVO and the Southwest Built Estate contract. This position will lead the Built Estate core contract across operational teams, ensuring outstanding service delivery while driving strategic growth opportunities.

This is a high-profile role, responsible for managing a £70m core maintenance contract, building trusted client relationships, and leading a large, diverse workforce to deliver consistently high standards.

About You

We are looking for a proven senior leader with a strong operational background in complex FM environments and solid technical knowledge, ideally supported by an M&E qualification. You will bring demonstrable experience of P&L management, cost control and commercial ownership, alongside a track record of building credible, trusted client relationships where you inspire confidence through a calm and professional approach. With experience of leading senior teams, you will be skilled at driving performance improvements while maintaining a sharp focus on safety, compliance, and the end-user experience. Resilient and robust, you thrive in high-profile, demanding environments, bringing a positive, 'can-do' attitude that energises both clients and colleagues. Above all, you lead with humility, integrity, and authenticity – setting the cultural tone by modelling the right values and behaviours.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

• Take full accountability for P&L performance, ensuring cost control, margin delivery and financial targets are met.
• Develop and deliver the contract’s strategic plan, aligned with client expectations and VIVO objectives.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting processes.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as senior point of contact for the client and stakeholders, building strong, collaborative relationships based on trust.
• Proactively manage contractual obligations to ensure compliance and customer satisfaction.
• Influence and engage effectively with both internal and external stakeholders.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee the delivery of high-quality hard FM services across multiple complex sites in the Southwest region.
• Lead and manage both direct delivery teams and supply chain partners, ensuring best value and performance.
• Achieve all KPIs, SLAs, and compliance requirements through data-driven performance management.
• Embed and promote robust health, safety, quality and environmental standards, fostering a Zero Harm culture.
• Lead operational transformation and change programs where required.

People Leadership & Culture

• Provide visible, inspiring leadership to a multi-disciplinary workforce.
• Build and develop a resilient, high-performing leadership team with clear succession plans.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and a culture of accountability and engagement.

Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all contractual, statutory, and regulatory obligations.
• Proactively identify, manage and mitigate risks across large-scale FM operations.
• Provide transparent reporting to senior leadership on contract performance, risks, and opportunities.

Person Specification

• Senior leadership experience delivering large-scale FM or maintenance contracts (£50m+).
• Strong commercial and contractual acumen, with experience of P&L ownership and cost management.
• Skilled in driving performance improvement and managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of FM compliance, risk management, and health & safety standards.
• Degree-level education (or equivalent) with evidence of professional development.
• Proficient in data analysis, reporting, CAFM systems, and Microsoft O365.

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.