Operations Manager - Head of Facilities Management

Pertemps Network Group is supporting the appointment of an Operations Manager – Head of Facilities Management to lead FM delivery at the heart of a flagship Civic Campus. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a complex, high-profile environment where public service, heritage, hospitality, and innovation converge.

In this senior leadership role, you will hold full strategic and operational responsibility for facilities management across a landmark campus comprising civic offices, council chambers, heritage buildings, public-facing spaces, major events, weddings, and a late-night sky bar restaurant operating until 3am. This is a highly visible position requiring strong operational control, political awareness, and a sharp customer focus. You will balance safety, statutory compliance, sustainability, and financial discipline while delivering an exceptional experience for councillors, staff, partners, residents, and visitors.

Reporting to: Civic Campus Venue Director

Responsible for: Operational FM delivery across the Civic Campus, including matrix management of contractors and internal teams

The Role

You will lead a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary FM operation covering security, cleaning, porterage, post and courier services, space planning, moves and changes, and a wide range of contracted services. The role demands a hands-on, proactive leadership style. You will divide your time between strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and regular on-site presence, ensuring standards are maintained across the campus at all times. You will work closely with senior council leaders, elected members, the public, and external partners, requiring confident communication and sound judgement at every level. You will also play a key role in shaping the current and future operational strategy of the Civic Campus, identifying efficiency savings, embedding continuous improvement, and ensuring FM services support wider council objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end operational FM delivery for the Civic Campus, ensuring safe, compliant, and high-performing environments
• Maintain robust emergency response and business continuity arrangements, including compliance with Martyn’s Law, and participate in a senior 24/7 on-call rota
• Engage and influence senior stakeholders, including Cabinet members, councillors, and external partners
• Set and maintain exceptional visitor experience standards across all public-facing areas
• Oversee front-of-house operations, ensuring seamless service delivery for events, civic functions, and hospitality
• Lead the security strategy for 24/7 operations, including crowd control, safeguarding, and event security
• Ensure compliance with heritage and conservation requirements, maintaining strong relationships with conservation bodies
• Champion sustainability, ESG, and net-zero initiatives, embedding these into day-to-day operations and long-term planning

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Leading and developing the operational management team, setting clear objectives, performance standards, and accountability
• Ensuring the FM service is fully resourced, planned, and aligned to the Council’s operating model
• Acting as a primary FM contact for the events team and third-party tenants
• Exercising strong financial control, ensuring FM budgets are rigorously monitored, reported, and delivered within governance requirements
• Producing and managing a Zero-Based Budget, supported by whole life-cycle cost management and robust procurement strategies
• Ensuring all spend is financially efficient, justified, and aligned to delegated authority levels
• Managing supplier contracts to ensure value for money, timely delivery, and high-quality outcomes
• Designing and using performance metrics and reporting platforms to drive continuous improvement
• Supporting the Corporate Landlord function, including service charge arrangements and recharges for commercial properties

About You

You are an accomplished senior FM professional with experience operating in complex, high-profile environments. You will bring:

• A strong track record in senior operational management roles
• Proven leadership of large, multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience working at corporate level, influencing across departments and with external partners
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to manage budgets, projects, and competing priorities
• Confidence operating in ambiguous, high-pressure environments, with resilience and adaptability
• The ability to lead change, manage conflict, and deliver outcomes
• Experience in portfolio, programme, and project management

This is more than an FM role—it is a leadership position at the centre of civic life. You will shape how a flagship campus operates, how people experience it, and how it supports democratic, cultural, and commercial activity. If you thrive on complexity, visibility, and responsibility and want to lead FM at scale with genuine impact this role offers a unique and rewarding challenge.