Operations Manager

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The firm

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

Purpose of job

The Operations Manager leads the Premises Team. The role will be dealing directly with staff, subcontractors, suppliers and Fisco to deliver a proactive service which supports SLAs and contractual KPIs, of the business. Supporting and delivering the requirements of hard services contracts, managing the day-to-day operational provisions and maintenance of integrated services within the Birketts infrastructure.

Accountabilities

• Manage systems that will ensure buildings are maintained and operated in accordance with maintenance schedules, current legislation and regulation via Fisco and the inhouse premises team.

• Management of subcontractors for various hard service disciplines.

• In partnership with the Head of Operations, take ownership and accountability for managing agents and landlords.

• Health & Safety management across the Birketts estate.

• Budgeting, assisting the Head of Operations to forecast and accurately maintain budgets for the year.

• Statutory and regulatory compliance across all disciplines.

• Co-ordinating reactive and planned maintenance.

• Project and contract management support as and when required.

• Provide support to the Head of Operations and deputise in their absence, together with the Client Services Manager and their team.

• Assist the Head of Operations with the implementation of ISO accreditation and environmental certification.

• Oversee the security and its associated systems of all buildings in and out of hours. Including access control in both managed and multi-tenanted sites.

• Respond to and report breaches of security / accidents and incidents across the portfolio.

• Responsible for the management, training and personal development of the premises team based in Ipswich and Chelmsford, approving holidays and managing holiday cover.

The candidate

• Previous experience and knowledge of Facilities Management (Hard and Soft services).

• Comprehensive knowledge of Health and Safety regulations.

• Broad M&E experience, ideally with a strong building management background.

• Experience of procurement and management of subcontractors and suppliers.

• Proven experience of managing and developing employees within a business environment and maximising the performance of the team.

• Commercially aware with budgetary, contract and procurement experience.

• Organised with the ability to prioritise workloads, meeting SLAs and deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal, with ability to work with senior management.
• Competent in use of Microsoft Office and related software applications.
• Full UK Driving licence as frequent travel to other offices.
• Cover the Head of Operations during periods of absence.
• Demonstrated experience in Building Energy Management.
• Previous experience using Building Management Systems.

Equal opportunities

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award - 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy

https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.