About

The Conservatoire is seeking a Facilities Manager to oversee the efficient running and maintenance of the Conservatoire buildings and estate, planning and delivering a programme of maintenance and reacting to maintenance issues where required.  Reporting to the Operations Director, the Facilities Manager will also work closely with other members of the team to ensure the site provides a welcoming, safe, and statutorily compliant environment for all learners, tutors and staff. The Facilities Manager also acts as the Conservatoire’s Health and Safety Officer.

Responsible to: Operations Director

Responsible for: Premises Stewards

Salary: £30,000 per year

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time (40 hours per week | on-site)

Main Duties and Responsibilities;
To Oversee Maintenance of the buildings and grounds
- Implementation of Planned Preventative Maintenance of the buildings, together with reactive maintenance where necessary, within budget.
- To organise a rolling schedule of redecoration throughout the site.
- To work with the Programme and Individual Tuition Teams to avoid clashes between essential maintenance and class provision
- To negotiate and manage the Conservatoire’s Maintenance and Utility service contracts within approved budgets in consultation with  the Executive Director and Operations Director, liaising as necessary with service providers and external consultants
- To keep under constant review the current Conservatoire suppliers and, where necessary advise on and source more cost effective alternatives
- To order equipment as and when required
- To undertake work across disciplines as appropriately skilled (carpentry, plumbing, decorating, gardening) and to undertake training as required.
- To undertake minor repairs to furniture and equipment 

Management of Contractors and Third Parties
- To source, liaise and schedule the work of 3rd party contractors as required for maintenance tasks within agreed budget
- To manage the cleaning contract and supervise the cleaning operatives, ordering consumables as required
- To manage the waste management contractor and organise waste pick-ups as required
To manage the relationship with the alarms service
- To manage the relationship with the external key holding company to ensure that the appropriate first responder presence is in place when required
- To manage the day-to-day IT requirements of the Conservatoire, supporting the Operations Director in the management of the relationship with our outsourced IT service provider (Techsolve)
- To manage the relationship with the gardening service
- Responsibility for all legal building requirements, including fixed wire testing and PAT testing
- To manage the relationships with third party leaseholders, including the London Early Years Foundation and the Conservatoire café provider, Arts Café

To lead on the Conservatoire’s sustainability initiatives
- To champion sustainability and embed into the Conservatoire’s activities

To establish and implement the Conservatoire’s sustainability policy and action plan
- To establish appropriate Environmental Impact assessment and monitoring
- To work closely with other team members on development plans and fundraising bids 

To act as the Conservatoire Health and Safety Officer 
- To act as the Conservatoire’s lead on Health and Safety
- To liaise with the Conservatoire’s 3rd-party consultant for Health and Safety and be responsible for its Health and Safety Policies including Fire Safety, Manual Handling, PUWER, COSHH and Control of Asbestos, reviewing and implementing policies on these where applicable
- To maintain the Health and Safety accident register.
- To manage all fire escape and first aid procedures and policies, including fire drills and staff training
- To maintain strict adherence to The Conservatoire’s Asbestos Management Plan and ensure that all work around this area is compliant in line with The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- To manage the storage and handling of all hazardous materials
- This post will fulfil one of the three Deputy Safeguarding Lead positions within the organisation. Level 3 Safeguarding training will be provided anually

Essential Criteria:
- Experience of repairs and maintenance, ideally within a listed building context
- Experience of driving sustainability initiatives
- Physically fit with experience of equipment handling and lifting/moving heavy or bulky objects
- Experience of managing Health and Safety for a public facing organisation
- Experience of managing a small team
- Experience of sourcing and managing external contractors

Desirable Criteria:
- Experience with trouble-shooting IT Networking and WIFI issues
- Experience coordinating with local authority conservation officers
- Holding, or willing to hold, a personal alcohol licence. Training will be provided if required 

To Apply:
Submit CV and covering letter outlining how your skills and experience match the Person Specification and reflect suitability for this role to recruitment@conservatoire.org.uk 

Deadline:  Monday, 26th February 2024

Interviews: Friday, 1st March 2024

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The Conservatoire in Blackheath was established in 1881, originally as the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music, and is the focus of arts education and events in South East London, providing exceptional lifelong learning.  It is a charity offering group classes and individual tuition, primarily in music, art and drama, catering for all ages, welcoming over 2000 students a week.