Head of Maintenance Operations (M&E)

Deputy Head of Maintenance Location: South Kensington, London Salary: £67,000 – £75,000 per annum + excellent public sector benefits We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Deputy Head of Maintenance to join a large-scale public sector organisation based in South Kensington. This is an outstanding opportunity for a technically strong facilities and engineering professional with significant Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) expertise to play a key leadership role within a complex and high-profile operational environment. Working within a diverse estate portfolio, you will support the strategic and operational delivery of hard services maintenance, ensuring compliance, reliability, safety, and continuous improvement across critical building infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Maintenance in leading day-to-day engineering and maintenance operations across a large, complex estate.
• Oversee planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programmes and reactive maintenance activities.
• Provide technical leadership across all M&E systems including HVAC, BMS, electrical distribution, plant rooms, generators, UPS systems, and water systems.
• Manage specialist contractors and service providers to ensure high standards of delivery, compliance, and value for money.
• Ensure statutory compliance with all relevant health & safety and building regulations.
• Lead on fault finding, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Assist with capital projects, refurbishments, and lifecycle planning.
• Support budget management, procurement processes, and performance reporting.
• Deputise for the Head of Maintenance when required.

About You

• Proven experience in a senior maintenance or engineering leadership role within a large-scale environment such as public sector, healthcare, education, transport, museums, or commercial estates.
• Strong background in Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) building services maintenance.
• Excellent knowledge of compliance and statutory regulations relating to building maintenance.
• Experience managing contractors, service delivery, and technical teams.
• Strong understanding of asset management and planned maintenance systems.
• Relevant engineering qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (HNC/HND/Degree or equivalent).
• IOSH or NEBOSH qualification desirable.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £67,000 – £75,000 per annum
• Generous public sector pension scheme
• 40+ days annual leave including bank holidays
• Excellent work-life balance
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Employee wellbeing programmes
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme
• Access to high-profile and technically diverse facilities This is an exciting opportunity to join a respected public sector organisation operating within a prestigious South Kensington setting, where you can make a significant impact on the performance and future development of a major estate portfolio. To apply, please submit your CV and supporting statement outlining your relevant M&E and maintenance leadership experience