Mechanical Engineering Project Manager | St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Posting date:	26 August 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£64,156 - £71,148 PA
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	25 September 2025
Location:	Blackshaw Rd, London, SW17 0QT
Company:	st georges nhs trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7395943/200-NN-7395943-CA-A

Summary

The Project Manager – Mechanical Engineering Projects leads the management, delivery, and maintenance of the Trust’s mechanical engineering infrastructure, ensuring systems are safe, compliant, and operational to support high-quality healthcare. Based at St George’s Hospital (with work across Trust sites), the role oversees in-house teams, consultants, and contractors, delivering projects in line with HTMs, HBNs, legislation, and Trust standards.

Key responsibilities include managing systems such as HVAC, water safety, medical gases, lifts, pressure systems, and energy centres; preparing and evaluating tenders; ensuring statutory compliance; maintaining robust Safe Systems of Work; and acting as an Authorised Person for relevant HTMs. The postholder manages a £2.5M budget, driving cost efficiency while maintaining service quality.

They recruit, train, and lead staff, foster a culture of safety and accountability, and liaise with internal and external stakeholders. The role also supports the Trust’s sustainability agenda, participates in emergency on-call duties, and ensures minimal disruption to patient care during works. This position demands strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to deliver results under pressure in a complex healthcare environment.

Manage the day-to-day operation of the Mechanical Engineering Infrastructure Team and contractors, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective service delivery. Lead mechanical engineering projects from design to completion, covering systems such as HVAC, water safety, medical gases, lifts, pressure systems, and energy centres. Prepare and evaluate tenders, oversee procurement, and ensure projects comply with HTMs, HBNs, legislation, and Trust standards. Act as an Authorised Person for relevant HTMs, maintaining Safe Systems of Work, statutory compliance, and robust governance processes.

Oversee planned and reactive maintenance to minimise disruption to hospital services, ensuring full asset and record management within CAFM systems. Manage a £2.5M budget, delivering services within financial limits and identifying cost improvement opportunities. Recruit, train, and develop staff, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and service excellence. Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including clinical teams, contractors, regulators, and local authorities. Support sustainability initiatives, contribute to the Trust’s Carbon Reduction Programme, and participate in the on-call rota, providing technical support during emergencies and major incidents.

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
Position Summary

The Estates Manager – Mechanical Engineering Projects is a senior operational and technical leader within the Estates & Facilities Division of St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The role is based primarily at St George’s Hospital but requires flexibility to work across all Trust sites. Reporting to the Senior Estates Manager – Mechanical Engineering Projects and accountable to the Assistant Director of Estates, the postholder is responsible for the efficient, safe, and economical management of mechanical engineering infrastructure projects and associated operational teams.

The purpose of this role is to ensure that the Trust’s estate is supported by reliable, compliant, and effective engineering services. This includes oversight of system design, installation, operation, and maintenance in accordance with statutory legislation, NHS guidance (including HTMs and HBNs), and industry best practice.
Role Context

The Estates & Facilities Division plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality healthcare by ensuring that the Trust’s estate is safe, attractive, and operational. The Estates Manager – Mechanical Engineering Projects is a key member of the division’s management team, contributing to the strategic and operational planning, delivery of infrastructure upgrades, and continuous service improvement.

This postholder is expected to combine professional engineering expertise with strong managerial and leadership skills, overseeing a mix of in-house staff and external contractors to deliver projects and services with minimal disruption to patient care.
Key Responsibilities
1. Leadership and Team Management
• Direct and manage the in-house Mechanical Engineering Infrastructure Team and associated contractors, ensuring day-to-day operations are efficient, safe, and meet agreed service levels.
• Develop, train, and support staff to maintain the appropriate skill mix and succession planning for the department.
• Conduct staff appraisals, performance reviews, and ensure adherence to Trust policies on conduct, attendance, and behaviour.
• Act as a role model for the Trust’s values—Excellence, Kindness, Responsibility, and Respect—and ensure these are embedded in team culture.
• Maintain staff morale, welfare, and engagement, promoting high standards of service delivery.
2. Mechanical Infrastructure Management
• Take responsibility for a diverse range of engineering systems, including:
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Water safety and distribution systems (hot, cold, and drinking water)
• Medical gas services
• Lifts and vertical transportation systems
• Pressure systems, including steam and compressed air
• Energy centre and boiler plant operations
• Asbestos management within mechanical systems
• Emergency planning and business continuity arrangements
• Ensure these systems are operated, maintained, and upgraded in compliance with statutory and NHS requirements.
• Implement planned preventative maintenance programmes and respond to unplanned failures quickly to minimise disruption.
3. Project Planning and Delivery
• Lead mechanical engineering infrastructure projects from inception to completion, ensuring adherence to programme, budget, and quality standards.
• Prepare and compile tender documentation in cooperation with Procurement.
• Evaluate contractor bids, recommend award of contracts, and oversee works on site.
• Conduct feasibility studies and provide cost estimates for improvement works and capital projects.
• Ensure robust project governance and reporting processes are followed.
4. Compliance, Risk, and Safety Management
• Act as an Authorised Person for HTM 02 (Medical Gases), HTM 03 (Ventilation), HTM 04 (Water Safety), and other HTMs as appropriate following successful training.
• Maintain Safe Systems of Work and ensure statutory compliance with all relevant health, safety, and environmental legislation.
• Conduct safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Interpret complex technical guidance and legislation for operational application.
• Ensure full compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and contribute to inspections.
5. Financial and Resource Management
• Manage a portion of the Estates engineering budget of approximately £2.5 million (£2.2M non-pay, £800K pay).
• Monitor expenditure, ensuring services are delivered within budget and resources are deployed effectively.
• Participate in budget-setting processes and develop cost improvement programmes.
• Authorise official orders and approve expenditure in line with Trust policies.
• Ensure contractor performance provides value for money and meets service-level agreements.
6. Information and Asset Management
• Maintain accurate engineering and project records in CAFM systems such as Planet and Zetasafe.
• Ensure that asset registers, drawings, and logbooks are updated following alterations or project completions.
• Monitor contractor performance using key performance indicators and benchmarking processes.
• Provide regular progress reports to management and contribute to corporate governance reporting.
7. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with internal stakeholders including directors, managers, consultants, matrons, and clinical teams.
• Work closely with external organisations such as NHS Estates, Department of Health, specialist consultants, professional bodies, and regulatory agencies.
• Liaise with local authorities, fire services, and planning/building control as required.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including presenting technical and complex information to non-technical audiences.
8. Sustainability and Service Improvement
• Contribute to the Trust’s Carbon Reduction Programme and sustainability agenda.
• Participate in the Estates Sustainable Development Group, promoting environmental responsibility in mechanical projects.
• Lead service improvement initiatives, including modernisation of infrastructure and adoption of innovative technologies.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency gains without compromising safety or service quality.
9. Emergency Preparedness and On-Call Duties
• Participate in the Estates on-call rota, providing technical support 24/7 for mechanical engineering issues.
• Respond to emergencies and service failures, coordinating remedial actions and ensuring patient safety is not compromised.
• Attend and contribute to major incident responses as required.
• Work outside normal hours when necessary to manage urgent or critical incidents.
Mandatory Responsibilities
• Ensure all work complies with the Health and Safety at Work Act, Data Protection Act, Equality and Diversity policies, and other relevant Trust policies.
• Keep professional and technical knowledge up to date through continuous professional development.
• Protect confidentiality at all times and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Ensure safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults are met.
• Support the Trust’s vision of “Delivering Outstanding Care, Every Time.”
Person Specification – Summary

Essential:
• Degree/HND/HNC in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or relevant subject.
• Management qualification or 2 years’ middle management experience in Estates.
• Incorporated Engineer status.
• 3 years’ post-qualification experience as an Authorised Person for at least two relevant HTMs.
• Strong leadership, project management, and financial management skills.
• Knowledge of NHS estates operations and statutory compliance.

Desirable:
• Chartered Engineer status.
• Previous NHS experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
Impact of the Role

This position is central to the safe and efficient functioning of the Trust’s estate. Failures in the systems under the Estates Manager’s remit can have immediate consequences for patient care, clinical operations, and regulatory compliance. By providing technical leadership, financial stewardship, and operational resilience, the Estates Manager ensures that the Trust’s engineering infrastructure is a foundation—not a barrier—to outstanding healthcare delivery.


This advert closes on Tuesday 9 Sep 2025

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