Senior Account Manager

The Vacancy

Senior Account Manager – National Role

(North-Based Preferred: Manchester/Leeds)

Competitive salary + excellent benefits

At WPS we have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Account Manager to take a lead role in delivering exceptional operational, technical and client-focused solutions across a key national account. This senior position is ideal for a commercially astute, people‑centred leader who thrives on building relationships, delivering excellence, and identifying future business growth opportunities.

While the role is national, we are ideally seeking someone based in the North of England, (Manchester or Leeds is ideal.)

Experience working within university or campus environments is highly desirable.

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About the Role

As a Senior Account Manager, you will provide strategic leadership, robust technical oversight, and first‑class service delivery across a diverse and dynamic portfolio. You’ll lead multi‑disciplinary teams, manage stakeholder relationships at all levels, and ensure first‑rate M&E and fabric service provision.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong operational and technical FM experience, coupled with the commercial confidence to run a P&L, influence stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement.

We are particularly interested in individuals who:

• Have university or campus FM experience (desirable but not essential)
• Possess strong technical FM knowledge, with relevant qualifications
• Are natural networkers, relationship-builders and client partners
• Have an ear to the ground and proactively spot new business opportunities
• Enjoy supporting growth through insight, connections, and reputation-building

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Key Responsibilities

• Provide visible leadership and set the standard for service excellence across hard FM delivery
• Lead, motivate and support a multi‑diverse team, ensuring strong performance, engagement and compliance
• Build and nurture strategic relationships with key client stakeholders, presenting confidently on complex topics
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, safety, environmental and Wates Professional Standards, driving a Zero Harm culture
• Oversee commercial performance, P&L management, budgeting and reporting
• Manage suppliers, specialists and ensure dynamic MI, KPI and SLA performance
• Act as a trusted adviser to the client, always exploring ways to add value
• Maintain strong market awareness and support future work generation by identifying new opportunities and networking across the sector

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What We’re Looking For

• Strong technical background, ideally supported by a recognised qualification (e.g., IOSH or equivalent)
• Demonstrable experience managing multi‑disciplinary teams in complex environments
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and change‑management skills
• Financial and commercial acumen with experience running budgets and P&L
• University/campus FM experience desirable but not essential
• A proactive mindset, always scanning for innovation and business growth
• Flexible to travel nationally, with preference for those based in Manchester/Leeds

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What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Travel covered to any of our sites
• 22 days holiday + bank holidays
• Extensive learning & development support and clear progression pathways
• Industry‑leading family leave benefits (26 weeks fully paid maternity, 8 weeks fully paid paternity)
• A supportive, inclusive environment backed by Investors in People Gold accreditation

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant’s criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks.

To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.