Head of Facilities Management in London

Head of Workplace, Corporate Real Estate & Facilities needed for a large global corporation to provide 14-month cover across a varied international office portfolio. This is a senior role covering corporate real estate, workplace strategy, facilities management, office projects, front of house services and travel oversight. The successful candidate will take responsibility for a global office portfolio, working closely with senior leadership, internal stakeholders, external advisers and service partners. The role will suit someone with strong corporate real estate and workplace experience, particularly around lease renewals, office relocations, refurbishments, fit-outs, portfolio planning and commercial property matters. Facilities experience is also important, although the day-to-day FM and travel functions are supported operationally by an experienced internal manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the corporate real estate and workplace strategy across a global office portfolio.
• Lead and coordinate lease renewals, lease reviews, property negotiations and related commercial property activity.
• Manage relationships with landlords, managing agents, legal advisers, surveyors, consultants and external property specialists.
• Oversee office relocations, refurbishments, reconfigurations, fit-outs and workplace improvement projects.
• Manage capital projects, ensuring work is delivered to agreed budgets, timelines and operational requirements.
• Work closely with senior leadership on workplace planning, space utilisation, cost control and future office requirements.
• Provide leadership across facilities management, front of house, office services and workplace operations.
• Ensure high standards of service delivery across all office locations.
• Oversee health & safety, risk, business continuity and operational compliance across the office portfolio.
• Take responsibility for premises-related budgets, cost management, supplier performance and reporting.
• Support the ongoing development of workplace policies, processes and service standards.
• Provide strategic oversight of corporate travel, travel supplier relationships and duty of care arrangements.
• Use data and reporting to support decisions around workplace performance, cost, space and supplier management.

Experience Required

• Senior experience in corporate real estate, workplace, property, premises, estates or facilities management.
• Strong exposure to lease renewals, lease negotiations, office relocations, refurbishments or fit-out projects.
• Experience managing a multi-site or international office portfolio would be highly advantageous.
• Good understanding of commercial property processes, including landlords, managing agents, surveyors, legal advisers and external consultants.
• Strong facilities management knowledge, with the ability to oversee service delivery across workplace, front of house and office operations.
• Experience managing budgets, supplier contracts, service partners and senior stakeholder relationships.
• Confident working with senior leadership and able to provide clear commercial and operational advice.
• Good understanding of health & safety, risk, business continuity and workplace compliance.
• Travel programme or travel risk experience would be useful, but is not essential if the candidate has strong workplace and corporate real estate experience.
• Comfortable joining a business on a fixed-term maternity cover basis and taking ownership quickly.

Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates are likely to come from corporate real estate, workplace, property, premises, estates or senior facilities backgrounds within large, complex organisations. This may include financial services, insurance, legal, professional services, corporate headquarters, global businesses or other high-quality office environments. This is not a purely operational facilities role. The successful candidate must be able to operate commercially and strategically, particularly around leases, office projects, relocations, costs, landlords, advisers and senior stakeholders.