Retail Facilities and Maintenance Opportunities

Margaret Howell is a contemporary British clothing designer who has worked successfully in men’s and women’s clothing for over five decades. Today, Margaret Howell clothes are sold worldwide with 12 own shops in Europe, over 70 outlets in Japan and an established online business.

We are seeking a highly organised and motivated individual, with strong administrative skills to oversee and manage facilities operations across eight retail stores, the head office, and the production site. This role ensures all health & safety standards are met, contracts are cost-effective, and day‑to‑day maintenance requirements are handled efficiently. The role holder will act as the first point of contact for all facilities‑related issues, coordinate ongoing projects, and provide regular reporting to the Head of Retail. This role is based in Central London and requires travel across all sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for all facilities‑related matters.
• Ensure ongoing facilities work is completed to standard.
• Review external planning permissions and liaise with large companies such as Castle Water and Good Energy.
• Schedule PPMs (Planned Preventive Maintenance) and reactive works, reviewing reports to action any remedials.
• Review and renegotiate contracts related to health & safety (H&S) maintenance and other facilities services, identifying opportunities to improve service quality and identify cost savings.
• Source, appoint and manage contractors and third‑party service providers.
• Manage and track daily facilities operations, including maintenance requests, orders, and administrative tasks.
• Coordinate with shop teams, contractors, and third‑party service providers to ensure work is completed on time and meets requirements.
• Review and approve invoices to ensure they are accurate, within budget, and sent to accounts for payment.
• Provide weekly reports to the Head of Retail, detailing progress, issues, and cost‑saving initiatives.
• Monitor all H&S servicing across all shop locations, liaising with external contractors to arrange appointments, approve quotes and receive completion of work certifications.
• Maintain strong relationships with external contractors and remain flexible to attend sites at short notice if required.
• Conduct internal fire alarm tests, emergency light tests and internal risk assessments and provide relevant training to shop staff.

Other Duties

• Support the retail department with ad‑hoc projects (e.g. receiving and packing deliveries for sample sales).
• Proactively identify and implement improvements to enhance shop operations.
• Have knowledge of fire panels and emergency lights and be able to test the fire alarm/emergency lighting systems across all locations and provide training when necessary.
• Demonstrate understanding of risk and fire risk assessments and be able to conduct annual audits across all shops.
• Carry out minor repairs and installations using power tools where necessary, including: Installing H&S signage, repairing fixtures (e.g. cupboard doors), setting and adjusting lighting timers.
• Maintain and organise the Head Office basement and garage, ensuring all departments adhere to allocated storage areas.

Rewards

• A competitive salary.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 6 weeks with service.
• Generous clothing allowance.
• Significant staff discount.
• Life insurance.
• Contributory pension and salary exchange scheme.
• Personal development grant.
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Birthday day off.
• Volunteering day off.
• IVF support for parents.
• Opportunity to request flexible working (27% of Head Office employees work Part‑time hours).
• Menopause‑friendly.

We actively implement blind recruitment practices to eliminate bias and ensure a fair evaluation of candidates based on their skills, experience, and qualifications. We believe in creating a level playing field for all applicants, and our initiatives reflect our dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.