UK Real Estate and Workplace Director in London

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

What this job involves:

As Head of Corporate Real Estate & Workplace UK (maternity leave cover) at JLL, you will drive both strategic and operational excellence for our entire UK portfolio, covering Facility Management, client and employee experience, transaction management, and project delivery. Your accountability spans the leadership of multidisciplinary teams, the optimization of supplier relationships, compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations, and the delivery of efficient, high-quality workplace experiences that enable our people and clients to thrive. At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way—for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees—by setting the standard for operational integrity, sustainability, and innovative approaches to real estate and workplace management.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Provide strategic oversight of UK Facilities Management by guiding and empowering the responsible teams. Oversee supplier and contractor management, and ensure that FM teams deliver full statutory, compliance, and regulatory management.
• Work closely with local agents and Transaction Management teams to analyze options at lease break opportunities and handle rent reviews, engaging UK stakeholders to align on lease event strategies.
• Partner with UK Workplace Sustainability Lead to deliver sustainability initiatives set out in the Integrated Management System (IMS) and following ESOS audit findings.
• Manage operational and capex budgets, authorize expenditure, and challenge teams to identify cost efficiencies and value optimization opportunities. Ensure robust forecasting and reporting for all UK sites.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance of JLL CRE UK teams.
• Support significant works, collaborating with landlords and Project Development Services (PDS) teams. Represent UK CRE and business in capital projects for major refurbishments and/or fit outs.
• Regularly update Estates Management, Rates Team, and UK Finance to ensure rent, service charge, and utilities payments are managed efficiently and accurately. Maintain up-to-date dilapidations reports; work with UK Finance to ensure suitable provisions in line with inflation and agree settlement agreements with Legal.
• Work with the space management team on restack requirements and engage business lines to resolve workspace challenges.
• Collaborate with UK internal communications on workplace messaging and support with client events, new business pitches, and JLL internal activities by sharing lessons learned from the estate.
• Engage with the Emergency Response Team during BCP tests and real-world events, contributing to lessons learned and updates to business continuity planning.
• Quarterly reporting to UK Executive and Operations Committees.

Required experience:

• Significant experience leading corporate real estate, workplace, or facilities management operations at a national or regional scale, with direct responsibility for the full portfolio lifecycle.
• Proven expertise in overseeing FM operations—developing PPM schedules, ensuring statutory/regulatory compliance, and upholding health and safety standards through team management.
• Demonstrated success in leading, developing, and performance-managing large, multidisciplinary FM and real estate teams, including all aspects of hiring and professional development.
• Strong background managing supplier and contractor relationships, including SLA/KPI negotiation, performance oversight, and running QBRs.
• Excellent financial acumen with experience in managing operational and capex budgets.
• Experience in lease lifecycle management, including lease breaks, rent reviews, dilapidations reporting, and insurance provision planning.
• Working knowledge of sustainability practices in FM and corporate real estate, including energy, waste, and audit-driven environmental improvements.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, collaborating across Estates, Finance, Legal, Engineering, Sustainability, Communications, and Workplace teams.

Preferred qualifications:

• University degree in real estate, facilities management, engineering, business administration, or a related field.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., MRICS, IWFM, IOSH, NEBOSH, or similar).
• Familiarity with FM technology platforms, data analytics, reporting tools, and smart building solutions.

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!