Regional Manager

VIVO, a 50:50 joint venture between Serco and EQUANS, has been awarded places on the Defence FM and Housing Maintenance framework contracts. 

VIVO embodies both experience and innovation. It combines Serco’s comprehensive track record delivering engineering, technical and FM services to the UK MOD for over 55 years with EQUANS’ market leading FM, energy, asset optimisation and regeneration capabilities. 

Location: Portsmouth, to cover Hampshire and Dorset - Hybrid role

Salary: Up to £87,500 + car/car allowance + benefits

Full time, permanent

The Regional Manager holds a key leadership role in overseeing the delivery of facilities management, maintenance, and project services across a defined area within the VIVO Defence contract. This position is responsible for ensuring that all operational, technical, and commercial activities are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards of quality and compliance. Acting as the senior point of accountability within the region, the Regional Manager provides strategic direction, drives performance excellence, and ensures service delivery meets both contractual obligations and the evolving needs of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Working within a complex and high-demand environment, the Regional Manager leads a diverse, multi-disciplinary team to deliver a broad range of maintenance, response, and project works across multiple sites. They ensure that operational activities are conducted in accordance with all statutory, regulatory, and company health, safety, and environmental requirements, with a strong emphasis on risk management, sustainability, and continuous improvement. This includes maintaining full compliance with Government and MOD standards while fostering a culture that prioritises safety, accountability, and technical integrity at every level of delivery.

The role demands close collaboration with DIO representatives to define and agree on work scopes, priorities, and resource planning. The Regional Manager ensures that robust work plans, budgets, and delivery programmes are developed and maintained, balancing operational effectiveness with cost control and contractual performance. They are responsible for ensuring that all maintenance and response activities are delivered to the required technical standards, with all documentation and records accurately maintained in the MAXIMO system. A focus on data integrity, progress tracking, and quality assurance ensures transparency and consistency across the contract.

As a senior leader within the business, the Regional Manager provides strong and visible leadership, motivating and developing teams to achieve operational excellence and deliver measurable results against key performance indicators. They are responsible for recruiting, mentoring, and supporting a skilled and qualified workforce, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth. The role requires an ability to inspire and influence others, ensuring that individuals and teams are empowered to perform at their best and that performance management processes are used to drive continuous improvement.

Commercial performance is a central aspect of the role. The Regional Manager is accountable to the Operations Director for financial outcomes within their area, ensuring projects, planned works, and reactive maintenance are delivered within budget, on time, and to required standards. They contribute to business planning, risk management, and the resolution of complex operational and client issues, while maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Ensuring adherence to company financial procedures, contractual commitments, and performance reporting standards is essential to sustaining operational success and client confidence.

The Regional Manager also plays an active role in strategic development, contributing to the wider leadership team to support VIVO’s growth, service innovation, and cultural alignment across all regions. They promote collaborative working practices, effective communication, and a shared sense of purpose, ensuring that the “one team” philosophy underpins all aspects of delivery. Through strong leadership, commercial insight, and operational discipline, the Regional Manager helps ensure that service delivery continually evolves to meet future Defence estate requirements.

What You'll Bring

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in hard services facilities management or property maintenance, supported by a background in managing complex, multi-site operations. They will hold a qualification in Building, Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering (HND level or equivalent) and possess strong technical and health & safety credentials, such as NEBOSH certification. A sound understanding of MOD working environments, CDM regulations, and compliance legislation is essential, alongside proven experience in financial management, risk control, and supply chain performance monitoring.

This is a leadership role requiring excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels. The Regional Manager demonstrates strategic thinking, operational focus, and the capacity to make sound decisions in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. Chartered status or evidence of continuing professional development is highly desirable, along with proficiency in systems such as MAXIMO and Microsoft Office.

Ultimately, the Regional Manager embodies VIVO’s values of integrity, teamwork, and excellence — ensuring the safe, effective, and customer-focused delivery of services that sustain and enhance the operational readiness of the UK Defence estate.

What We Offer:

• Car or car allowance
• Bonus scheme
• 6% employer matched pension contribution
• Life assurance 2 x base salary
• Private medical cover for self and partner
• 25 days annual leave

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 Employer. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.