Head of Core Delivery

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.

Head of Core Delivery

South of England

Competative Salary + Bonus and Car Allowance
Flexible base within the South West region

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Head of Core Delivery to lead the operational performance of a large-scale housing maintenance contract supporting 27,000 homes across the South of England.

This role is critical to ensuring the safe, compliant and efficient delivery of core housing services, including responsive repairs, statutory and mandatory maintenance, grounds maintenance and void preparation.

Reporting to the Accommodation Operations Director, you will play a key leadership role within an established long-term contract, driving operational performance, customer outcomes and commercial sustainability across a complex, geographically dispersed portfolio.

About the Contract

VIVO is four years into a seven-year contract delivering repairs, maintenance, void services and asset investment across a significant UK Defence residential estate.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Delivery

• Lead delivery of core housing services across repairs, maintenance, grounds and void operations
• Ensure contractual performance measures and service standards are consistently achieved
• Drive operational efficiency, service reliability and customer satisfaction across regional delivery teams

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture across employees and supply chain partners
• Ensure all statutory, regulatory and contractual compliance requirements are met

Commercial & Financial Management

• Manage operational budgets, forecasting and financial performance
• Ensure appropriate cost recovery mechanisms are applied across all services
• Identify efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities while maintaining service quality

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior regional interface for client and stakeholder engagement
• Build strong working relationships that support collaborative contract delivery
• Represent the organisation at regional operational and stakeholder forums

Supply Chain & Performance Management

• Lead and manage supply chain partners to ensure consistent delivery standards
• Embed standard processes and performance expectations across all providers
• Drive continuous improvement and sharing of best practice across delivery regions

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and develop high-performing operational teams
• Promote innovation and challenge existing ways of working to improve outcomes
• Support the Operations Director as deputy, providing operational leadership when required

About You

We are looking for a confident operational leader with strong commercial awareness and housing or asset management delivery experience.

Essential Experience

• Senior leadership experience within housing maintenance, facilities management or asset management environments
• Strong commercial and financial management capability
• Experience managing large operational contracts and performance frameworks
• Demonstrable success delivering efficiencies and service improvements
• Strong client and stakeholder management experience
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate multi-disciplinary teams

Key Capabilities

• Delivery and results focused
• Commercially aware and financially disciplined
• Collaborative and relationship-driven
• Resilient and adaptable within fast-paced operational environments
• Committed to safety, compliance and customer service excellence

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel across the South of England as required
• Experience operating within regulated or safety-critical environments advantageous

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.