UK Director of Facilities

UK Director of Facilities

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Ipsos

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead facilities strategy and manage large projects across 15 sites.
  • Company: Join Ipsos, a global leader in research with a commitment to excellence.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, pension contributions, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and a focus on diversity and inclusion.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on workplace experience and sustainability initiatives.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in multi-site facilities management and project delivery.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

Are you a strategic leader in facilities and executive services, eager to shape a world‑class workplace for a global research firm? Do you thrive on leading complex projects, driving sustainability, and safeguarding leadership time with impeccable service? Ipsos UK invites you to make a real impact.

As UK Director of Facilities, you will be the senior leader responsible for the end‑to‑end workplace experience across 15 sites and 120,000 sq ft of Ipsos’ estate. You will own the facilities strategy, supplier governance, procurement, and the delivery of large capital projects, while integrating executive support, reception and site administration to deliver a consistently excellent, client‑focused service. This is primarily an on‑site London‑based role with some UK travel, leading a distributed team of facilities professionals, executive assistants, and site administrators, and setting the standard for service excellence, continuity, and resilience.

What You Will Do

  • Define and execute the UK facilities strategy, aligning with sustainability and ESG objectives.
  • Lead large capital projects (refurbishments, fit‑outs) and manage budgets, service charges and commercial negotiations.
  • Oversee facilities operations, executive services and reception to deliver a seamless, high‑quality workplace experience.
  • Partner with landlords, property stakeholders and cross‑functional teams to embed energy reduction and sustainable practices.
  • Champion business continuity, on‑site resilience and incident response; act as senior escalation point.
  • Develop and motivate a diverse, geographically distributed team; invest in learning, succession planning and career development.
  • Drive digital and data‑driven improvements; leverage technology and AI to optimise space planning, maintenance, and service delivery.

About You

  • Proven experience leading multi‑site facilities and executive support services across a distributed estate.
  • Ability to influence senior stakeholders and motivate diverse teams across locations.
  • Track record of delivering major facilities projects on time and within budget (refurbishments, fit‑outs, relocations).
  • Strong sustainability/ESG credentials with experience in energy reduction and environmental management.
  • Expertise in supplier management, contract negotiations, cost control and governance.
  • Data‑driven, with excellent project management and a mindset for digital transformation and process improvement; comfortable with AI‑enabled tools.
  • Commitment to colleague experience, coaching, succession planning and building strong team capability.

Essential Skills

  • Strategic leadership for facilities management and executive services.
  • Health & safety, risk management, statutory compliance and governance.
  • Budgeting, financial planning, procurement and contract management.
  • Operational management of core facilities functions.
  • Supplier management, performance measurement and SLA frameworks.
  • Change management, continuous improvement, and data‑driven decision making.
  • Stakeholder engagement and cross‑functional collaboration.
  • Familiarity with building services and how they impact operations.

Desirable Skills

  • Experience leading a UK/region‑wide multi‑site portfolio.
  • Strong knowledge of energy management and ESG initiatives.
  • Experience managing landlord/property relationships and complex negotiations.
  • Digital mindset with demonstrated AI adoption in facilities or executive services.
  • Professional membership in relevant bodies (e.g., facilities, property, engineering).
  • Availability for occasional travel and willingness to operate in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range of health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities. This role will be based at our London office full time, but with some flexibility.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success – a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Ready to have an impact? Apply now!

About Us

Ipsos is one of the world’s largest research companies and currently the only one primarily managed by researchers, ranking as a #1 full‑service research organization for four consecutive years. With over 75 different data‑driven solutions and presence in 90 markets, Ipsos brings together research, implementation, methodological, and subject‑matter experts from around the world, combining thematic and technical experts to deliver top‑quality research and insights.

UK Director of Facilities employer: Ipsos

Ipsos UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where strategic leaders can thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, sustainability, and a comprehensive benefits package, including 25 days of annual leave and professional development opportunities, Ipsos fosters a culture of excellence and innovation in its London-based facilities management team. Join us to make a meaningful impact in shaping a world-class workplace while enjoying the advantages of working for a globally recognised research firm.

Ipsos

Contact Detail:

Ipsos Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land UK Director of Facilities

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the facilities management field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their sustainability goals and how your experience aligns with their vision. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your project management skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss specific examples of large capital projects you've led, focusing on how you managed budgets and timelines. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of the UK Director of Facilities.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace UK Director of Facilities

Strategic Leadership
Facilities Management
Project Management
Budgeting
Procurement
Supplier Management
Sustainability/ESG Expertise

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in facilities management and executive services. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a strategic leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to motivate and manage diverse teams. Share examples of how you've successfully led projects or initiatives in the past, especially those that involved collaboration across multiple sites.

Highlight Sustainability Experience:Given our focus on sustainability and ESG objectives, make sure to emphasise any relevant experience you have in energy management or environmental practices. We’re keen to see how you can contribute to our commitment to a greener workplace.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Ipsos

Know Your Facilities Strategy

Before the interview, dive deep into Ipsos' facilities strategy and sustainability goals. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their objectives and how you can contribute to shaping a world-class workplace.

Showcase Project Management Skills

Prepare specific examples of large capital projects you've led, focusing on your role in managing budgets and timelines. Highlight any challenges you faced and how you overcame them to deliver successful outcomes.

Engage with Stakeholders

Think about how you've influenced senior stakeholders in previous roles. Be prepared to share strategies you've used to motivate diverse teams and ensure seamless collaboration across locations.

Emphasise Digital Transformation

With a focus on data-driven improvements, be ready to discuss your experience with AI and technology in facilities management. Share examples of how you've leveraged these tools to optimise operations and enhance service delivery.