National Mechanical Manager

Role Title: National Mechanical Manager

Reports To: Group Compliance Director

Location: National (Hybrid)

Hours of Work: 45 hrs per week

Salary: Competitive

Job Purpose:

To lead Management of Mechanical Assets in line with the contract, FM operating model across all M&S locations. Ensuring Statutory Compliance, Operational and Health and Safety Policies and processes are always adhered to.

The National Mechanical Assets Manager is the subject matter expert (SME) responsible for the strategy, compliance, performance, and lifecycle management of all mechanical assets across the retail estate.

This role ensures that critical operational equipment—including cradles, gantries, shutters, doors, dock levellers, balers, compactors, man safe systems and associated systems—is safe, compliant, reliable, and maintained to the highest standards to support uninterrupted operations.

To provide a single point of contact for Mechanical Assets, ensure both internal and external stakeholder management communication / escalation.

To oversee the delivery of compliance and performance delivered through 3rd party contractors for Mechanical Assets.

To Audit and take ownership of operational activity, liaising with City stakeholders to ensure non-conformance actions are documented, owned, and closed out. Develop best practice and lessons learnt to drive the business forward.

To work closely with Senior Compliance Manager, reporting on weekly and monthly performance.

Key Accountabilities:

Operational Compliance:

- As a subject matter expert, providing legal, statutory and operational guidance across all relevant mechanical assets within the estate.

- Define technical standards, specifications, and safe operating requirements.

- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, standards, and codes of practice (e.g., LOLER, PUWER, H&S regulations).

- Provide technical guidance to regional FM teams, contractors, and stakeholders.

- Support incident investigations and provide expert root cause analysis.

- Support the operational business, highlighting best practise and evolving ways of working

- Contribute to the delivery of business objectives

- Carry out compliance focused projects / tasks, enabling key risk focus and mitigation

- Ongoing input into planned maintenance delivery & specifications. Ensuring they are fit for purpose and aligned with Industry practice and regulatory requirements

- Develop/maintain key relationships with client, compliance team, procurement and supply chain and wider contract stakeholders.

Asset Strategy & Lifecycle Management:

- Develop and implement asset management strategies across the full lifecycle (procurement, operation, replacement/upgrade).

- Support delivery of a detailed and accurate national asset register.

- Define maintenance regimes (PPM, statutory inspections, reactive response).

- Lead capital planning and replacement programs based on risk, condition, and business impact.

Performance Management:

- Oversee national maintenance delivery for mechanical assets via service partners.

- Set and monitor KPIs (uptime, response times, first-time fix, compliance completion).

- Drive continuous improvement in asset reliability and cost efficiency.

- Analyse failure trends and implement preventative strategies.

Contracter & Supplier Management:

- Support selection, appointment, and manage specialist mechanical service providers.

- Ensure contractors meet compliance, competency, and safety standards.

- Conduct performance reviews, audits, and technical assessments.

- Standardise service delivery models across the estate.

Compliance & Risk Management:

- Ensure all statutory inspections and certifications are completed and recorded.

- Manage high-risk assets (e.g., access equipment, lifting equipment, dock systems).

- Develop safe systems of work and ensure adherence across sites.

- Support audits (internal and external) and ensure corrective actions are closed.

- Capture and escalate key risk for inclusion with contract risk register

Project & Change Management:

- Provide technical input into new store developments, refurbishments, and closures.

- Review/Approve mechanical specifications and installation standards.

- Lead mobilisation of assets in new sites and decommissioning in closures.

- Ensure minimal disruption to trading during works.

- Deliver training and awareness on asset use and risk where applicable.

Financial Responsibility:

To act as subject matter expert, assist operational teams with compliance based spend / sign off. provide specification / statutory guidance to enable accurate budget spend / control

Manage Compliance remedial and PPM budget for Mechanical Assets ensuring spend is prioritised based on Risk

People Responsibility:

Ensure City leadership behaviours and values are embedded, driving a culture of engagement and performance where colleagues strive to drive improvements. To represent the company in a professional manner in line with People policies

Develop a good working relationship with all key stakeholders both internal and externally

National Mechanical Manager has no Direct reports

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Essential:

Extensive experience managing mechanical assets in a multi-site environment (retail, logistics, or similar).

Strong knowledge of statutory compliance (e.g., LOLER, PUWER, H&S legislation, Working at Height).

Proven track record in asset lifecycle management and maintenance strategy.

Experience managing national contractor networks.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.

Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive standards nationally.

Strong PC literacy, with experience in extracting, collating, and presenting performance data distilled to actionable insights.

Good communication skills (written and verbal)

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, ability to influence and manage conflict.

Proven Planning & Organisational skills, demonstrating the ability to prioritise workload.

Effective problem-solving and decision-making, highly flexible and self-starting.

Desirable:

Engineering qualification (Mechanical or related discipline). HND minimum

Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., IMechE, IWFM, DHF).

Experience in retail/distribution environments.

Knowledge of CAFM systems and asset data management