Contracts Manager Repairs

Contracts Manager – Repairs

Location: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
Sector: Social Housing Repairs & Maintenance

A well-established national organisation specialising in repairs, maintenance and refurbishment works mostly within the social housing sector is looking to recruit an experienced Contracts Manager. For the past 15 years the business has built a strong reputation, delivering Repairs & Maintenance works up and down the country. 

This is a key position responsible for the day-to-day management and performance of a reactive repairs contract. The successful applicant will lead office-based teams, coordinate field operatives, and serve as the main contact for the client, ensuring high service standards, operational efficiency, and commercial performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with housing association and local authority clients, acting as the principal point of contact and ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of the reactive repairs contract, ensuring contractual obligations, service standards, and KPIs are consistently achieved.
• Lead and manage office-based operational teams, providing direction, support, and guidance to drive service excellence.
• Oversee the planning and scheduling function, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to maximise productivity and operational efficiency.
• Manage and motivate field-based operatives, focusing on performance, quality of work, productivity, and first-time fix rates.
• Act as the key escalation point for operational issues, implementing effective solutions and minimising service disruption.
• Foster close collaboration between office teams and mobile workforce operatives to ensure seamless service delivery and excellent customer outcomes.
• Monitor and analyse operational performance data, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Implement corrective actions and performance improvement initiatives to enhance contract delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Manage the financial performance of the contract, including budget control, resource planning, cost management, and profitability.
• Prepare and present operational and financial performance reports to senior managers, directors, and client stakeholders.

Candidate Requirements:

• Proven experience in an operational leadership role within social housing repairs, maintenance, property services, or planned works.
• Demonstrated success managing reactive repairs contracts and delivering KPI-driven services.
• Experience leading planners, schedulers, supervisors, and mobile workforce teams within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong client and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build productive relationships and manage contract expectations.
• Sound commercial acumen, including budget management, cost control, forecasting, and contract profitability.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret performance data and drive service improvements.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities, capable of influencing and engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• A proactive, organised, and solution-focused approach, with the ability to perform effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.