Office Facilities Manager in Sunderland

Arriva is a leading European passenger transport partner, operating in 11 countries across the UK and Europe. With around 35,000 colleagues delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys each year, we connect people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably. With strong roots dating back to 1938 and an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, Arriva is focused on building a strong and sustainable future.

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Office Facilities Manager to lead the day‑to‑day facilities management operations across our UK office locations, with primary responsibility for our Doxford Park headquarters and support for our offices in London and Derby. This is a varied and hands‑on role responsible for creating and maintaining safe, compliant, efficient, and professional workplace environments for colleagues and visitors.

You will oversee facilities operations, maintenance activities, contractor management, workplace projects, compliance, procurement, and office services, whilst ensuring the highest standards of customer service and workplace experience. You will also provide leadership to our Office Services and Reception teams, ensuring consistent service delivery and professional front‑of‑house standards across all locations.

This role will be on a hybrid working basis, a minimum of 3 days per week in the Sunderland office, with the remainder focused on where you can best deliver for your colleagues while maintaining a healthy work‑life balance.

• Manage the day‑to‑day operation of our Doxford office facilities and provide support across our London and Derby locations.
• Coordinate planned and reactive maintenance activities, ensuring issues are resolved effectively and to agreed service levels.
• Develop scopes of work, service specifications, and contractor requirements for facilities services, maintenance programmes, workplace improvements, and projects.
• Lead contractor procurement activities, including tender reviews, supplier selection, and service agreement implementation.
• Manage and monitor contractors and service providers, ensuring work is delivered safely, compliantly, and to the required quality standards.
• Oversee key service providers including cleaning, waste management, security, maintenance, workplace services, and specialist contractors.
• Support office refurbishments, workplace improvements, office moves, and space planning projects.
• Ensure facilities operate safely and compliantly by supporting health and safety activities, contractor controls, risk management processes, and workplace inspections.
• Promote a positive health and safety culture across the office estate.
• Support sustainability and ESG initiatives, including utility monitoring, waste reduction, recycling improvements, and environmental reporting.
• Maintain accurate compliance records, contractor documentation, service agreements, and workplace reporting.
• Monitor facilities expenditure, raise purchase orders, review invoices, and support budget management activities.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, landlords, contractors, and building management teams.
• Lead and develop the Office Services and Reception teams, ensuring exceptional customer service and workplace support.
• Collaborate closely with the National UK Bus Facilities Manager to deliver consistent facilities standards, governance processes, and operational improvements.

You’ll be a highly organized and customer‑focused facilities professional with experience managing office environments and multiple stakeholders.

• Experience in Facilities Management, Workplace Management, Office Management, or a similar environment.
• Experience managing contractors, suppliers, maintenance programmes, and workplace services.
• Experience preparing service specifications, scopes of work, and supporting procurement or tender activities.
• Good understanding of health and safety legislation, contractor management, and workplace compliance requirements.
• Experience delivering workplace improvement projects, refurbishments, or office moves.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and reporting tools.
• Experience managing Reception, Office Services, or Administrative Support teams.

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities across different locations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, practical, and solution‑focused approach.
• Confidence managing contractors, reviewing service delivery, and driving continuous improvement.
• Commercial awareness, with the ability to identify cost‑effective solutions and deliver value for money.
• The ability to work independently whilst collaborating effectively with wider Facilities and Property teams.
• Strong people management and leadership capabilities.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high workplace and compliance standards.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and maintaining exceptional workplace environments across our UK office portfolio. You’ll have the chance to influence workplace experience, drive operational excellence, and contribute to projects that make a real difference for colleagues and visitors alike.