Full job descriptionOur client is seeking an experienced Head of Property & Facilities to lead the national property and facilities function across approximately 40 UK operational sites, including a major head office and associated vacant properties.
The role is responsible for ensuring the estate remains safe, compliant, cost-effective and operationally effective, covering maintenance, property projects, CAPEX, suppliers, budgets, utilities, sustainability and property lifecycle activities.
You will lead a team of Regional Property Managers, Facilities Management and CAFM professionals, acting as the senior property subject matter expert and key adviser to the wider business.
Reporting Structure
Reports to: Senior Director – Infrastructure, Engineering & Real Estate
Direct Reports:
*4 Regional Property Managers
*1 Facilities Manager
*CAFM Supervisor
*1 Property Support Administrator
Key Responsibilities
Property & Facilities Leadership
*Develop and lead the national property and facilities strategy.
*Establish property standards, policies and governance.
*Ensure all sites remain safe, compliant and fit for operational purpose.
*Act as the senior escalation point for property-related issues.
*Lead and develop the national property and facilities team.
Financial & Commercial Management
*Manage an annual operational property budget of approximately £8 million.
*Lead budget planning, forecasting and financial control.
*Identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities.
*Manage contractor and supplier performance.
*Support contract negotiations and commercial reviews.
Maintenance & Contractor Management
*Oversee planned preventative and reactive maintenance across the estate.
*Manage a network of 100+ specialist contractors and service providers.
*Ensure delivery of more than 4,000 planned and reactive service visits annually.
*Oversee an outsourced 24/7 property helpdesk and utilities consultancy.
*Ensure maintenance supports operational resilience and business continuity.
Compliance, Risk & Assurance
*Ensure statutory and regulatory compliance across the property portfolio.
*Lead property-related safety, audit and compliance activities.
*Manage property risk and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
*Maintain effective compliance records and reporting.
Sustainability & Utilities
*Lead the property utilities strategy and performance.
*Oversee utility consumption, expenditure and efficiency.
*Lead carbon reporting in partnership with relevant corporate teams.
*Support wider ESG and sustainability objectives.
Property Projects & Real Estate
*Support acquisitions, relocations, expansions and other property initiatives.
*Lead dilapidations, site exits and closure activities.
*Oversee leasehold improvements and CAPEX projects.
*Provide technical property expertise across the business.
Systems & Digital Management
*Own and develop the CAFM platform.
*Ensure accurate asset and property data.
*Improve management information and reporting.
*Drive digital and process improvements across property management.
Qualifications
Essential
Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in:
*MRICS
*MCIOB
*Building Surveying
*Construction
*Property or Facilities Management
Desirable
*IOSH Managing Safely
*NEBOSH Certificate
Experience Required
Essential
*Senior leadership experience within a UK-wide, multi-site property or facilities environment.
*Experience managing professional teams and budgets of £5m+.
*Strong senior stakeholder management skills.
*Experience managing national contractor and supplier networks.
*Strong knowledge of property compliance, statutory maintenance and risk.
*Proven commercial and financial management capability.
Desirable
*Logistics, industrial, warehousing or distribution experience.
*Corporate real estate experience.
*CAFM implementation or optimisation experience.
*Sustainability, utilities and carbon reporting experience.
*Experience managing property improvement or CAPEX programmes.
Key Skills & Competencies
Leadership: Strategic planning, team development, change management and communication.
Commercial: Budget management, contract negotiation, supplier performance, cost optimisation and business cases.
Technical: Property and facilities management, statutory compliance, risk management, asset management, CAFM, sustainability and lifecycle management.
Behavioural: Leadership, influencing, negotiation, decision-making, problem-solving and stakeholder management.
The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be a strategic, commercially astute property professional with significant experience managing complex, geographically dispersed estates.
You will combine strong technical property knowledge with proven leadership, financial and stakeholder management skills. Experience within a logistics, industrial, distribution or similarly operationally critical environment would be advantageous.