Deputy Corporate Services and Real Estate - EMEA

We are looking for a hands-on, operationally-focused Deputy. This is not a purely strategic role — it is a senior operational position where you will be accountable for the day-to-day delivery of seamless corporate services, pantry & food services, events and facilities across our offices, in an environment where excellence, discretion, and speed of execution are non-negotiable. You will act as the right hand to the head of department, deputising when required, and ensuring our front and back-of-house operations run flawlessly for a demanding internal client base of investment professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Delivery (core focus): Oversee the daily running of all corporate services functions across EMEA: Facilities, Reception, Conference & Client Services, Pantry & Food Services, events and Business Support. Ensure consistently high service standards across all offices — walking the floor, identifying issues before they exacerbate, and driving immediate resolution. Manage and develop on-site teams and office managers across the region, providing clear direction, coaching, and accountability. Act as the senior escalation point for service issues, building incidents, and stakeholder complaints.
• Facilities & Real Estate: Oversee day-to-day facilities operations, including building maintenance, health & safety, BCP, and office moves/reconfigurations. Manage regional capital projects (ex-London) end-to-end: scope, budget, timeline, and quality. Support the Head of Department on real-estate transactions (leasing, acquisitions, disposals) and the London long-term strategy project. Serve as alternate key stakeholder on real-estate matters.
• Food, Events & Hospitality Programming: Oversee daily food service operations across all EMEA offices, ensuring consistency, quality, and variety. Manage the snack and beverage programme: curation, sourcing, rotation, dietary inclusivity (vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal where relevant), and cost control. Partner with caterers, baristas, and food vendors to maintain premium standards and refresh offerings regularly to avoid menu fatigue. Support the internal events calendar: town halls, leadership offsites, team meetings, summer and end-of-year parties, cultural celebrations, and ad-hoc events. Coordinate client-facing hospitality in conference and meeting suites, ensuring flawless execution from booking to service. Benchmark food and hospitality offerings against peers and top-tier financial institutions to ensure the firm remains best-in-class. Manage budgets, vendor SLAs, and feedback loops (employee surveys, Partner feedback) to continuously elevate the programme. Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen management, and health & hygiene standards in every location.
• Vendor & Procurement Management: Own vendor performance across the region — landlords, building managers, caterers, travel providers, security, cleaning, and other service partners. Negotiate and manage contracts, SLAs, and renewals; drive value, consistency, and accountability.
• Governance & Continuous Improvement: Ensure compliance with all local laws, regulations, lease obligations, and internal policies across each jurisdiction. Use data and KPIs to monitor service performance, costs, and utilisation; identify and implement efficiencies. Partner closely with Technology, Finance, HR, and Security to standardise workplace practices across the region.

What We're Looking For

• Must-haves: 10+ years' experience in corporate services, facilities, or workplace operations, ideally within a hedge fund, asset manager, investment bank, or top-tier professional services firm. Genuine interest in food, hospitality, and events — sees these not as administrative tasks but as a craft that shapes culture and employee experience. Proven track record running multi-site, multi-jurisdictional operations across EMEA. Strong operational mindset — comfortable being hands-on and in the detail, while also able to step up strategically when required. Demonstrable experience managing capital projects, fit-outs, and real-estate transactions. Strong commercial acumen: vendor negotiation, budget ownership, and cost optimisation. Excellent people manager — ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable distributed teams.
• The right profile: Calm under pressure, solutions-oriented, and unflappable in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment. High EQ and discretion — credible with senior stakeholders. Detail-obsessed with a "no job too small" attitude — equally comfortable reviewing a lease and fixing a reception issue. Willing and able to travel across the EMEA region as required.