Small Works Manager - Weybridge

Defra Group Property (DgP) manages the provision of facilities management services across its Estate including for Defras executive agency; the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). APHA uses a wide range of specialist facilities as part of its aims to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy. These specialist facilities include biocontainment laboratories across the UK with the main laboratory campus being located at Weybridge. The Defra Weybridge site is the largest facility in terms of size and complexity across the Defra network and is currently going through a process of major investment (over 1bn) and redevelopment to enhance its scientific capability. The site is at the forefront of research and diagnostic testing for animal and zoonotic diseases and leads on disease outbreak response for Defra.

The DgP team at Weybridge are comprised of subject matter experts who work to ensure the Property Estate meets Statutory requirements across the complex regulations to which it must adhere and ensures the site is safe and secure. This role will be based at the Weybridge Estate in New Haw, Surrey.

The Weybridge site operates with an outsourced hard and soft Facilities Management (FM) contract. The Small Works Manager is responsible for ensuring robust governance, procurement oversight and successful delivery of all small works, including repairs, refurbishments, minor improvements and additional projects. Reporting to the Head of FM and workplace services, the post holder will manage projects from initial concept through to completion, ensuring quality, compliance, and value for money while maintaining seamless operational continuity across this critical scientific estate.

Key responsibilities

Oversee the end‑to‑end lifecycle of small works projects, from concept definition through delivery and handover.

• Support stakeholders to define requirements and develop appropriate specifications.
• Co‑ordinate all delivery activities with internal stakeholders to minimize disruption to business-as-usual operations.
• Work closely with the FM contractor throughout tendering, evaluation and award processes.
• Manage a Programme of small works to ensure delivery within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Manage a Change Control Process ensuring that retired assets and new assets are notified at the point of Billing
• To contribute to the management of the financial life cycle though the CAFM system. Approving cost estimates up to the value of 10,000 and pre approving higher value works for the Head of team.
• Review FM contractor quotations to ensure they are competitive, compliant and deliver value for money.
• Verify the quality of completed works, ensuring outputs meet the required technical and operational standards.
• Track and monitor revenue and accrued financial positions, providing accurate forecasts to year-end.
• Produce regular progress reports, highlighting performance, risks and mitigations.
• Act as the operational interface between Operations, Projects, and other site stakeholders on all small works activities.
• Liaise with Projects team to ensure small works do not impact major programme delivery or critical site operations.
• Build strong working relationships across the estate to ensure alignment, transparency and effective communication.
• Produce daily and monthly performance reports on the FM provider, identifying trends and highlighting any anomalies to the FM Manager for appropriate action.

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable experience as a Small Works Manager within FM, construction, or engineering environments.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple small projects concurrently.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and build rapport.
• Proven ability to ensure quality, compliance and value for money through structured oversight and contractor management.
• Experience working in a highly regulated, scientific or operational environment.
• Knowledge of government procurement routes and FM service delivery models.