The Operational Readiness Manager is accountable for preparing the facility and its service operations for handover, converting design and construction outputs into a fully compliant, staffed, and systems-enabled operation. The role leads the readiness programme across all lifecycle phases and workstreams, securing statutory approvals, asset and maintenance readiness, and service mobilisation ahead of occupancy. Responsibilities:

Lead the operational readiness programme from design review through handover and post-occupancy stabilisation, ensuring each phase gate is achieved to the agreed scope and timeline.
Review design documentation against operability and maintainability requirements, and secure adequate facilities management space provision before the design is finalised.
Define the safe access strategy for hard-to-reach areas of the facility, ensuring working methods and equipment are established well ahead of handover.
Convert design decisions into draft cleaning and planned maintenance regimes ahead of handover.
Witness and verify testing and commissioning activities across all building systems, confirming performance and retaining certification evidence within the compliance register.
Manage the defect and snag rectification programme, prioritising items by operational impact and liability, and coordinating communication of any resulting service disruption.
Drive the statutory approval process required to permit occupation, liaising with regulatory authorities and ensuring submissions are complete, accurate, and progressed on schedule.
Lead asset identification, tagging, and verification, and ensure validated asset data is transferred into the maintenance management system ahead of handover.
Establish the planned maintenance programme before occupancy, ensuring asset criticality and warranty positions are captured to support uninterrupted operation from day one.
Mobilise the service teams and operating models, ensuring the workforce is recruited, trained, and equipped to deliver from the first day of occupancy.
Establish skills requirements and training schedules, and secure OEM first-fix and fault-finding training to reduce reliance on vendor attendance at a remote site.
Establish resilience, business continuity, emergency response, and fire evacuation arrangements, and maintain them into live operations.
Plan and sequence occupant relocation and the wind-down of vacated premises, protecting continuity of business operations throughout the transition period.
Plan the decommissioning, repurposing, or mothballing of vacated premises, maintaining maintenance and security cover throughout the transition.
Govern the programme through agreed phase gates, with a shared risk register, tracked mitigations, and clear ownership at each step.
Protect the Client's position on warranties, defects liability, and asset guarantees through the handover period and into operations.
Report progress, risk, and readiness status to the Client and internal leadership.
Ensure compliance with company policies and regulations related to the position.
Stay updated on industry best practices to enhance professional performance and process improvement.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Experience: Minimum 12 years of experience in Technical Facilities Management or Building Services, including new-build handover and mobilisation.
Certification: CFM or an equivalent recognised Facilities Management certification is desirable.
Handover Methodology: Experience with structured handover and soft landings from the design stage through occupancy.
Smart Building Systems: Working knowledge of smart building technologies and performance monitoring dashboards.
Estate Consolidation: Experience consolidating multiple occupied buildings into a single estate and managing the wind-down of vacated premises.
Standards: Working knowledge of ISO 41001, 55000, 19650, 9001, 14001, 45001, SFG20, and BICSc.
Safety Qualification: NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent, with practical experience in permit-to-work and safe systems of work authorisation.
Language: Ability to communicate and correspond effectively in English.