Overview
Senior Manager: Maintenance Jobs in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa at Cliffview Primary_Northcliff Johannesburg
Title: Senior Manager: Maintenance
Company: Cliffview Primary_Northcliff Johannesburg
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Company Description
At Cliffview, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom. Our approach combines a strong academic foundation with opportunities in sport, culture, creativity and personal development. We encourage every learner to discover their strengths, build confidence and participate fully in school life.
We are committed to creating a supportive environment where learners feel valued, encouraged and inspired to achieve their potential. Through academic excellence, sporting opportunities, cultural experiences and personal growth, we aim to equip our learners with the knowledge, skills and values they need to embrace the future with confidence.
With a proud history and a clear vision for the future, Cliffview Primary School continues to grow as a school where learners are encouraged to learn, grow and reach for the stars.
Role Description
The Senior Manager: Maintenance is responsible for the strategic and operational management of maintenance and asset management functions across the school’s real estate portfolio, including school buildings, swimming pool facilities, and multipurpose centers. This role ensures all facilities are safe, compliant, well-maintained, and operationally efficient, while managing budgets, contractors, and a team of maintenance staff to deliver high standards of service across all sites.
Key Responsibilities
Asset Management & Strategic Planning
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive asset register for all properties, including buildings, swimming pool infrastructure, multipurpose centers, plant, and equipment.
• Create and manage a long-term capital maintenance and lifecycle replacement plan (5–10 year horizon) to optimize asset value and minimize reactive spend.
• Conduct regular condition surveys and audits to assess asset health, prioritize investment, and inform budget planning.
• Develop preventive maintenance schedules (PPM) for all critical building systems, pool plant, and equipment.
• Support capital projects, renovations, and refurbishments from planning through to completion, liaising with architects, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
Equipment Servicing & Compliance
• Oversee servicing, inspection, and certification of all critical plant and equipment, including HVAC, boilers, electrical systems, fire safety systems, pool filtration/chemical dosing systems, and multipurpose center equipment (e.g., sports flooring, AV, stage rigging).
• Ensure full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements (health & safety, pool water quality standards, fire safety, legionella control, LOLER, PUWER, etc.).
• Maintain accurate service records, certificates, and compliance documentation for audit readiness.
• Manage relationships with specialist contractors and service providers (pool engineers, HVAC technicians, electrical/mechanical contractors).
Operational Maintenance Management
• Lead day-to-day maintenance operations across all sites, ensuring rapid response to reactive repairs and minimal disruption to school operations.
• Manage the helpdesk/work order system, ensuring jobs are logged, prioritized, and completed within agreed SLAs.
• Conduct regular site inspections across school buildings, pool facilities, and multipurpose centers to identify and address maintenance issues proactively.
• Ensure swimming pool plant rooms and multipurpose center systems are operated safely and efficiently in line with manufacturer and regulatory guidelines.
Team Leadership & People Management
• Lead, manage, and develop a team of maintenance technicians, caretakers, and pool plant operators across multiple sites.
• Set performance objectives, conduct appraisals, and identify training and development needs (including technical certifications).
• Manage staff rotas, ensuring adequate coverage across sites, including holiday periods and emergency call-outs.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement within the maintenance team.
Budget & Contract Management
• Develop and manage the annual maintenance budget, including reactive, planned, and capital expenditure.
• Tender, negotiate, and manage contracts with external contractors and service providers, ensuring value for money and quality of service.
• Monitor and report on maintenance spend against budget, identifying cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety or service quality.
Health & Safety and Risk Management
• Act as the responsible person for health & safety compliance across the maintenance function, including pool safety and plant operation.
• Conduct and maintain risk assessments (including fire risk, and pool-specific risk assessments) for all sites.
• Ensure emergency procedures (fire, pool evacuation, plant failure) are documented, tested, and understood by staff.
• Liaise with insurers, regulatory bodies, and local authorities as required.
Stakeholder & Reporting
• Act as the primary point of contact for Heads of School, Business Managers, and Senior Leadership on all maintenance and facilities matters.
• Provide regular reports on asset condition, maintenance KPIs, compliance status, and budget performance to senior leadership.
• Support wider Estates strategy, sustainability initiatives, and energy efficiency projects.
Qualifications
• Degree or equivalent in Facilities Management, Engineering, Building Services, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Relevant professional certifications desirable.
• An Honours degree or higher qualification is required.
Experience
• Proven experience (5+ years) in a senior facilities/maintenance management role, ideally across a multi-site portfolio.
• Experience managing swimming pool plant operations and compliance is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in asset management, capital planning, and lifecycle costing.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and multi-disciplinary maintenance teams.
• Experience within an educational or public sector estate is an advantage.
Skills & Competencies
• Strong technical knowledge of building services, mechanical/electrical systems, and pool plant operations.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Strong understanding of local health & safety legislation and compliance frameworks (adjust to relevant jurisdiction).
• Proficient in using helpdesk systems and asset management software.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, able to manage competing demands across multiple sites.
Working Conditions
• After hours or emergency call-out response.