Technical Services Manager
2 days ago
Liverpool
Job Title\n\nTechnical Services Manager\n\nRole Purpose\n\n The Technical Services Manager is responsible for the safe, reliable, compliant, and customer‑focused operation of building engineering systems and associated building fabric within a shopping centre environment. The role focuses on technical assurance, operational performance, asset condition, and service continuity for both critical and non‑critical assets that support a safe, attractive, and fully operational retail destination.\n \nActing as the senior technical authority on site, the postholder ensures that mechanical, electrical, life safety, and building fabric elements operate in line with statutory obligations, manufacturer requirements, landlord standards, and agreed service levels, while supporting continuous improvement, resilience, and positive occupier and visitor experience.\n \nThis role is deliberately non‑financial in nature and does not include budget ownership, service charge management, or commercial financial accountability.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\nTechnical & Operational Leadership\n\nProvide day‑to‑day technical leadership for mechanical, electrical, life safety, and associated building systems across the shopping centre.\nAct as the primary technical escalation point for complex plant failures, system alarms, fabric defects, and abnormal operating conditions.\nEnsure all plant, equipment, and fabric elements are operated and maintained within design parameters, statutory requirements, and manufacturer specifications.\nMaintain oversight of critical systems including HV/LV, UPS, generators, BMS, fire systems, security interfaces, HVAC, and public‑facing infrastructure.\n\nCompliance, Assurance & Safety\n\nEnsure full statutory compliance across all engineering and fabric‑related activities, including health & safety, fire safety, accessibility, and environmental requirements.\nImplement and maintain safe systems of work, permits, risk assessments, and method statements for engineering and fabric works.\nEnsure engineering and fabric documentation, O&M manuals, drawings, inspection records, and certification are accurate, current, and readily available.\nCarry out regular audits, inspections, and technical reviews of plant rooms, back‑of‑house areas, service corridors, roofs, and public areas to identify risk and drive corrective actions.\n\nPlanned & Reactive Maintenance\n\nOversee delivery of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive works for engineering systems and building fabric to ensure asset reliability, safety, and presentation.\nReview maintenance trends, asset condition, and defect data to support proactive and condition‑based maintenance approaches.\nEnsure incidents, defects, alarms, and fabric failures are investigated, recorded, prioritised, and resolved effectively.\nSupport the development, testing, and continuous improvement of operating procedures and emergency response plans relevant to a live retail environment.\n\nBuilding Fabric Management\n\nProvide management and technical oversight of building fabric elements including roofs, façades, glazing, floors, walls, doors, loading bays, malls, service yards, and landlord areas.\nCoordinate fabric inspections and surveys, ensuring defects are identified early and managed in line with risk and operational impact.\nOversee reactive and planned fabric repairs, ensuring works are completed safely, to an appropriate standard, and with minimal disruption to trading.\nEnsure fabric works comply with statutory requirements, fire strategy, accessibility standards, and landlord design principles.\nMaintain close coordination between fabric and M&E activities to ensure holistic asset performance.\n\nTeam & Contractor Management\n\nProvide direct leadership and technical guidance to site engineering teams, including shift and day engineers.\nCoordinate daily workloads, task prioritisation, and operational coverage to maintain service continuity during trading hours and out‑of‑hours periods.\nDirect and supervise contractors and specialist service partners undertaking engineering or fabric works, ensuring compliance with site rules, permits, and safe working practices.\nIdentify training needs and support the development of technical and safety competence within the site team.\n\nRetail Environment & Stakeholder Support\n\nSupport the safe operation of the shopping centre during trading hours, events, peak periods, and seasonal activities.\nProvide technical support and assurance to centre management, retailers, and operational stakeholders regarding engineering and fabric matters.\nCoordinate works planning to minimise disruption to retailers, customers, and centre operations.\nSupport incident response in public areas, ensuring safety, communication, and swift technical resolution.\n\nReporting & Communication\n\nProduce clear technical and fabric condition reports covering incidents, compliance status, asset condition, and operational risk.\nMaintain accurate shift logs, inspection records, and incident reports.\nCommunicate engineering and fabric risks, defects, and improvement opportunities to senior stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.\nProvide authoritative technical input to support occupier engagement and landlord assurance.\n\nProjects & Change Support\n\nProvide technical and fabric input into small works, refurbishments, asset replacements, and minor modifications.\nSupport commissioning, handover, and integration of new or modified plant and fabric elements.\nWork collaboratively with project and centre management teams to resolve technical, safety, and operational challenges.\n\nInterfaces\n\nSite engineering teams and supervisors\nBuilding fabric contractors and specialist service providers\nShopping centre management teams\nRetailers and occupiers (as required)\nHealth & Safety and Fire Safety representatives\nClient and operational stakeholders\nProject and transition teams\n\nSkills & Experience\n\nEssential\n\nRecognised apprenticeship or equivalent qualification in mechanical or electrical engineering.\nStrong experience working with business‑critical building services systems in a live operational environment.\nDemonstrable experience overseeing or coordinating building fabric maintenance and repairs.\nProven ability to lead engineering teams and manage contractors on a complex site.\nSound knowledge of statutory compliance, health & safety legislation, fire safety, and safe systems of work.\nAbility to interpret technical data, drawings, and system documentation.\nStrong organisational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.\nComputer literate with the ability to produce clear technical and condition reports.\n\nDesirable\n\nAuthorised Person status for HV or other critical systems.\nFormal Health & Safety qualification (e.g. IOSH, NEBOSH).\nExperience working within a shopping centre, retail, or other customer‑facing environment.\nExperience supporting refurbishments or fabric improvement works in occupied buildings.\n\nPersonal Attributes\n\nProactive and methodical approach to technical and fabric risk management.\nCalm and decisive under pressure, particularly during incidents affecting public areas.\nStrong attention to detail with a focus on safety, compliance, and presentation.\nCollaborative team player with the confidence to challenge unsafe or non‑compliant practices.\n\nScope & Accountability\n\nAccountable for technical performance, safety, compliance, and condition of site engineering systems and building fabric.\nLine management responsibility for site engineering staff and day‑to‑day oversight of engineering and fabric contractors.\nNo direct responsibility for financial management, budgets, or service charge control