Facilities Manager in Abingdon

About Us

We are a team of passionate individuals from 15 countries developing the world’s first biosecurity platform built to combat critical pest threats to human health, food security and the environment.

With a deep commitment to trust, integrity and collaboration, Flyttr has become the trusted partner of governments, industries, philanthropies and communities seeking to make bold advancements on the biggest pest threats of our time.

We work with urgency because lives and livelihoods depend on it.

Successful candidates will find Flyttr to be an exhilarating place to do their best work and will find that every person at Flyttr plays a critical role in a dynamic, exciting, team-oriented culture.

Purpose of the Job

The Facilities Manager owns the day-to-day operation, maintenance and safety of Flyttr's UK site (c.25,911 sq ft across three buildings in Milton Park Oxford) while also supporting facilities projects at Flyttr's international sites and other UK site in Edinburgh, sharing UK best practice to keep standards consistent across the group.

The role leads a small facilities team, sets and drives preventative maintenance planning, ensuring the site meets Good Laboratory Practice and UK Health & Safety compliance at all times, with minimal disruption to business operations.

This is a hands-on and varied role requiring practical maintenance and problem-solving skills alongside contractor management, strategic space and premises planning, and the ability to flex between operational firefighting and longer-term facilities strategy, all while supporting a fast-paced, internationally-operating business.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme, ensure regular building checks, and manage site security and controlled access for employees, contractors and visitors.
• Manage the end-to-end contractor lifecycle for facilities works; sourcing, vetting and onboarding contractors, ensuring RAMS (risk assessments and method statements) and permit-to-work processes are in place before work starts, and monitoring contractor performance, H&S compliance and site conduct throughout.

Maintain an approved contractor list and ensure insurance, competency and compliance documentation is current.

• Resolve laboratory, office and equipment issues within agreed SLAs, acting as lead point of contact for tenders, contractor appointments and on-site project works.
• Investigate and plan for future premises needs e. g. new sites, extensions or reorganisation of existing space, ensuring efficient allocation and utilisation of space and resources.
• Lead the Facilities Team and any assigned volunteers or contractors on projects and day-to-day activities, liaising closely with department leads to minimise disruption to operations.
• Manage the laboratory cleaning team (General Assistants) and office cleaning contracts, providing day-to-day work direction, training and performance management to maintain consistent standards across both.
• Provide facilities management support to international sites and projects, sharing UK best practice and standards to promote consistency and continuous improvement across the group.
• Manage HVAC and electrical distribution systems (400/230V AC), ensuring environmental controls (temperature and humidity) meet requirements for laboratory operations and insect livestock rearing.
• Manage and forecast the departmental budget, including cost comparisons for goods, services and minor works.
• Provide line management and development for the Facilities Team, driving high performance and supporting career growth, and participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota.
• Provide management reports to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), highlighting facilities activity and progress on assigned projects, including international projects.
• Inventory & Asset Management
• Oversee the organisation, storage and inventory of stock and equipment across all on-site, off-site and international storage facilities, keeping the central inventory register accurate and up to date.

This will include laboratory stock as well as office supplies.

• Ensure asset and service activity is correctly recorded through the CMMS and the Facilities Management System (e Maint), with queries responded to within agreed timeframes.
• H&S, Compliance & Environmental
• Own facilities-specific statutory compliance, including the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (PAT and BS 7671 fixed wire testing), and the HSE Approved Code of Practice L8 on Legionella control.
• Manage chemical, clinical and hazardous waste disposal and wider environmental management (e. g. energy, water and waste reduction), in line with COSHH 2002 and Environment Agency requirements.
• Work with the Health & Safety Adviser to support delivery of the site's wider H&S programme including SOPs, risk assessments, fire risk assessments and PPE provision ensuring facilities-related actions are implemented effectively.
• Maintain high standards of record-keeping (certificates and service schedules) for audit purposes, and ensure laboratory walk-in freezers and other specialist equipment meet compliance requirements.
• Maintain awareness of duties under the Building Safety Act 2022 where higher-risk building elements apply.

Skills, Experience, and Education Requirements

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in building or facilities management or building services engineering, with strong technical knowledge of HVAC, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems.
• Proven project management experience, leading contractors and sub-contractors to agreed timeframes, budgets and quality standards.
• Experience managing and leading a team, with strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage suppliers, engineers, colleagues and international stakeholders.
• Track record of ensuring regulatory compliance, managing inspections by regulatory authorities and leading internal audits, underpinned by strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation;
• Experience with CMMS and facilities management systems, and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point.
• Experience planning and managing facilities budgets.
• Comfortable working within regulatory and safety-critical requirements, with the physical stamina for manual tasks such as lifting, bending and standing for extended periods (reasonable adjustments considered in line with the Equality Act 2010).
• Hands-on skills: Strong practical knowledge of building upkeep including basic plumbing, electrical troubleshooting, painting, decorating, and general property maintenance.
• Excellent written and spoken English; full, valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel occasionally to support international sites.

Desirable

• Facilities management experience of laboratory settings.
• Certified Facilities Manager (CFM) or IWFM (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management) qualification.
• NEBOSH or IOSH qualification.
• Hazards and Safety Critical Duties
• Working at heights.
• Lone working.
• Driving on company business.
• Regular manual handling.
• Working with power tools.
• Working with various chemicals.
• Behavioural Requirements
• Commitment to, and passion for, the Flyttr mission and values.
• Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones, adapting working patterns in-line with business requirements.
• Positive, humble, co-operative and professional always.
• Works with urgency and solves things promptly.
• Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable building processes from scratch.
• Values collaboration and works effectively with global colleagues.

Flyttr is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.