Head of Facilities

This is an exciting opportunity for a Head of Facilities to join us to develop and deliver our workplace and facilities strategy, ensuring a safe, efficient, sustainable and exceptional environment for colleagues and clients.

The Head of Facilities will be a key member of the business services leadership team and will provide strategic oversight of facilities management, workplace experience, health & safety, business continuity, vendor management and sustainability initiatives.

• Role responsibility
• Facilities Operations
• Oversee all day-to-day facilities management activities within the firm's office.
• Manage contracted and in-house workplace services including catering, document services (post and print), client reception and Records & Archives.
• Deliver a first-class working environment for employees and visitors.
• Implement service improvements and workplace innovations that enhance the employee experience.
• Develop and implement the firm's workplace and facilities strategy.
• Ensure facilities operations support the firm's business strategy, growth plans and employee experience objectives.
• Develop and manage facilities budgets, identifying opportunities for cost reduction and operational efficiencies.
• Oversee procurement and contracted management activities for cleaning, M&E maintenance, stationery, archives
• Health, Safety and Compliance
• Maintain responsibility for all health, safety and environmental compliance matters.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations and professional standards.
• Oversee risk assessments, audits, emergency planning and incident management processes.
• Maintain business continuity and workplace resilience plans.
• Promote a culture of safety and well-being across the firm, driving continuous improvement.
• Supplier and Contract Management
• Manage relationships with landlords, managing agents and key service providers.
• Lead procurement exercises and contract negotiations.
• Establish and monitor service level agreements and performance standards.
• Ensure suppliers meet contractual, regulatory and sustainability requirements.
• Sustainability and ESG
• Drive the firm's workplace sustainability agenda (inc ISO 14001, ESOS and Carbon Footprint measuring and reduction)
• Identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact and improve resource efficiency.
• Support the firm's wider ESG objectives through workplace initiatives.
• Develop sustainability metrics and reporting processes.
• Lead, develop and mentor the facilities team, and third-party contractors.
• Foster a culture of service excellence, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the firm.
• Office Relocation Programme
• Lead the planning and execution of the firm's upcoming office relocation project.
• Manage all phases of the move, including property selection support, workplace strategy, design development, fit-out, mobilisation and post-occupancy activities.
• Act as the primary liaison between the firm and external consultants, landlords, project managers and contractors.
• Develop and manage project budgets, timelines, risk registers and governance frameworks.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and change management activities throughout the relocation programme.
• Ensure business continuity and minimal disruption during the transition to the new office.

About you

• Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;
• Significant senior-level facilities management experience, ideally within a professional services, legal or corporate environment.
• Experience leading complex office relocations, fit-outs or major workplace transformation projects.
• Certified Membership of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management
• A proven track record of leading internal teams and outsourced service providers.
• Strong strategic planning and project management capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Commerciality with strong financial management experience.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation and compliance requirements.
• Experience of workplace design, space planning and occupancy strategies.
• Excellent communication and change management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

At Howard Kennedy we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.

We understand that every candidate’s needs are different If there’s anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable— whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding—please let us know.

We’ll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you.

Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@howardkennedy. com to discuss any support you might need.

Agency Introductions

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time.

Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative.

If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.

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