Mechanical Operations Manager - 12 Month FTC Estates · Watford

*Please note this role is a 12 month fixed-term contract

BRE is a world-leading global organisation for innovation, science and data in the built environment. For over 100 years, we have supported governments, businesses and industry with pioneering research, testing and expertise. We are focused on growth, scale and expanding our global impact with products, services, standards and qualifications that address the challenges of a changing world. Driven by our purpose of helping everyone, in every building, everywhere, we are creating a safer, more sustainable built environment for people and planet.

Make your mark at BRE!

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in a specialist engineering environment where equipment performance directly impacts customers, testing programmes and business success. You will be the mechanical engineering expert for critical plant, process and test equipment, helping to maximise reliability, minimise downtime and shape the future of our asset strategy.

About the role

This role will lead the mechanical engineering support for critical assets across our Watford site. Working closely with laboratory teams, contractors and Estates colleagues, you will ensure equipment remains safe, compliant, maintainable and available to support testing operations.

You will combine hands‑on technical expertise with strategic asset management, helping to drive reliability improvements, reduce recurring failures and support investment and lifecycle planning. Acting as the key mechanical subject matter expert, you will provide technical leadership, challenge contractor proposals and support the delivery of maintenance, improvement and minor works activities.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the mechanical engineering lead and technical escalation point for critical test and process equipment.
• Coordinate planned and reactive maintenance activities, balancing safety, business priorities and asset criticality.
• Work closely with laboratory and operational teams to minimise downtime and disruption to testing activities.
• Monitor equipment performance, availability and reliability, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Lead fault‑finding investigations and root‑cause analysis to resolve recurring equipment issues.
• Develop and maintain maintenance strategies, asset lifecycle plans, obsolescence plans and critical spares strategies.
• Review technical specifications and ensure contractor proposals are fit for purpose, safe and cost‑effective.
• Oversee contractor performance, ensuring safe systems of work, permits, isolation procedures and commissioning activities are effectively managed.
• Support engineering change, minor projects, commissioning and the handover of new or modified assets into maintenance programmes.
• Provide technical leadership for mechanical matters and support emergency response and business continuity arrangements when required.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an experienced mechanical engineering professional with a strong background in maintaining complex industrial, process, manufacturing, testing or safety‑critical equipment.

You’ll bring:

• A mechanical engineering qualification or equivalent level of technical expertise gained through experience.
• Proven experience maintaining and improving complex plant, process equipment or test systems.
• Strong fault‑finding, diagnostic and root‑cause analysis skills.
• Experience planning and coordinating maintenance activities and prioritising work based on risk and business impact.
• Experience managing, supervising and challenging specialist contractors and suppliers.
• Good knowledge of mechanical safety, statutory inspection requirements and safe isolation practices.
• The ability to assess technical risk and provide practical, evidence‑based recommendations.
• Experience leading technical work, projects, teams or contractor‑delivered services.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Desirable

• Professional engineering registration, or working towards registration.
• NEBOSH or IOSH qualification.
• Reliability, maintenance or asset management qualifications.
• Experience within laboratories, testing environments or other highly regulated or safety‑critical industries.
• Experience using CAFM or maintenance management systems.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well‑being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer‑matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at‑cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

On‑Site – This role requires a near full‑time presence of 4 out of 5 days per week at our Watford office. You must live within a commutable distance.

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10‑30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

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