Job Description - Senior Hard Services Manager

Role:                 Senior Hard Services Manager
Reports to:       Head of Facilities and Compliance
Location:          Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow, site-based role

Role Summary

The Senior Hard Services Manager is responsible for leading and managing all technical, engineering, and building maintenance operations across the SEC Campus.

The role will oversee planned and reactive maintenance, asset management, lifecycle planning, event operational support and technical project delivery. They provide strategic direction to our facilities teams and contractors, ensuring high standards of service delivery, sustainability, and cost control. The role requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, often within critical or high-profile environments.

Key Responsibilities
Hard Services & Asset Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight of all hard services across the SEC Campus, including mechanical, electrical, HVAC, fire & life safety, plumbing, asbestos management, security systems, and critical plant.
• Lead lifecycle planning and asset renewal strategies to ensure long-term reliability, resilience, and operational continuity.
• Ensure proactive inspections and condition surveys are completed, with clear action planning for maintenance, repair, or replacement.
• Oversee the asset register, ensuring records are accurate, compliant, and continuously updated with service history, lifecycle data, and change control.

Event Readiness, In-Event Support & Load-Out

• Ensure all building systems and services are fully operational and event-ready ahead of every show, exhibition, or live event.
• Coordinate and oversee technical hard services support throughout live events, responding rapidly to minimise downtime or disruption.
• Lead and support load-out operations, ensuring a smooth reset of venues, equipment, and infrastructure for subsequent events.
• Contribute to the global scheduling of key building services (heating, lighting, ventilation, and plant) aligned to the event programme.

Compliance & Statutory Oversight

• Act as compliance lead for all statutory hard services obligations, ensuring inspections, testing, and reporting are completed in line with legislation, standards, and best practice.
• Maintain and report against the Compliance Register, ensuring it remains accurate, complete, and audit-ready at all times.
• Ensure the FAC Risk Register is accurate, up to date, and actively managed, with emerging risks assessed and mitigations recorded.
• Lead asbestos management responsibilities in line with the SEC’s Asbestos Management Policy and Plan, ensuring safe planning of intrusive works, control of ACMs, and delivery of UKATA ‘Duty to Manage’ (BOHS P405).
• Guarantee that all operations are carried out in accordance with H&S legislation, proactively embedding safe systems of work, risk assessments, and method statements.

Team Leadership & Contractor Management

• Provide direct leadership to the Building Services Managers and the Assets & Facilities Workflow Manager, aligning team delivery with the strategic objectives of the Head of Facilities & Compliance.
• Motivate, mentor, and develop the wider Facilities & Compliance team, embedding a culture of safety, accountability, and customer focus.
• Lead procurement and performance management of specialist contractors, ensuring compliance, quality, and timely delivery of services.
• Oversee site access, contractor scheduling, inductions, and permit-to-work systems (e.g., hot works, working at height, restricted access).

Digital Systems & Reporting

• Lead implementation and optimisation of the CAFM system, embedding smart workflows, SOPs, and digital-first reporting.
• Ensure all maintenance, compliance, and risk data is accurate, transparent, and audit-ready.
• Take ownership of monthly FAC reporting to the Head of Facilities & Compliance, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with KPIs.

Customer Service & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders, organisers, partners, and contractors, ensuring effective communication of technical and compliance requirements.
• Deputise for the Head of Facilities & Compliance when required, engaging at senior level with external stakeholders, regulators, and industry partners.

Sustainability & Innovation

• Collaborate with the Environment and Waste Team to identify and deliver environmental improvements across hard services.
• Promote energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainability initiatives in asset planning and project delivery.
• Seek opportunities for innovation and digital transformation to improve team efficiency and customer service.

Required Skills and Experience

• Significant experience managing hard FM services and infrastructure in a complex, high-profile, or event-based environment.
• Strong technical background in mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and fire & life safety systems, with a sound understanding of asbestos and statutory compliance.
• Proven leadership experience, with responsibility for multi-disciplinary teams and contractor management.
• Familiarity with CAFM systems and digital reporting tools.
• Knowledge of UK legislation, compliance frameworks, and H&S regulations.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.
• Professional qualifications (e.g., IWFM, NEBOSH/IOSH, or Engineering background) desirable.

Key Competencies

• Problem Solving
• Leadership
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Attention to detail
• Time Management & Prioritization
• Customer Orientation