Estates Manager (Building Manager) in Reading

Location: Hive | 1510/1520 Arlington Business Park | Theale | Reading | RG7 4SA

We’re looking for a hands-on Building / Estates Manager to represent Praxis Facilities Management.

Purpose:

To represent Praxis Facilities Management Ltd (PFM) in a professional and exemplary manner at all times acting as an ambassador in all your activities. To act pro-actively, ensuring all public, tenanted, unoccupied and communal areas of the site are safe and secure, protecting company property and people and meeting the high standards and specification set by the company. To react with an immediate and appropriate response to Health, Safety and security incidents and to ensure that Health, Safety, security and facilities management standards are delivered and maintained. The role will require a hands-on approach and the successful candidate will be expected to be able to competently carry out basic maintenance tasks as and when they arise.

Main Duties:

• Facilities: Ensure all contractors have a valid permit to work, before commencing any works. Assist in managing the contractors on site providing guidance, support and site knowledge and ensuring they work within the site rules and guidelines. To ensure and control the necessary internal quality audits are undertaken and provide a detailed action plan, managing any non-compliance. Collate the site asset register highlighting lifecycle replacement issues. Effectively manage site waste and recycling taking into account environmental and health and safety factors. Maintain accurate tenant records and contact details.
• Health & Safety: Patrolling the site to prevent, detect and investigate disturbances, offences on site, signs of intrusion, ensure security of doors and gates and that no unauthorised personnel enter restricted areas therefore creating a safe and comfortable working environment for tenants, employees and visitors. Responding to emergency situations as they arise, liaising with the emergency services, police, ambulance and fire service to resolve issues and maintain security and service, directing emergency vehicles and other traffic on site. To ensure all site related risk assessments and method statements are monitored, reviewed and updated as per schedule and as necessary. To take responsibility for your own and others health and safety, to carry out your role safely and to health, safety and security legislation and guidelines, using PPE as necessary. Proactively supervise on site health and safety activities, reviewing accidents and promoting safe working practices. Testing the fire alarm systems including the setting and disengaging of the alarm panel, and the activation of the call points, dealing promptly with alarm activations. Oversee all CCTV security systems in line with the ICO and GDPR regulations, including pre-planned maintenance and fault reporting. Reporting of any faults, damage, incidents accurately and in a timely manner. Oversee building evacuations and ensure all fire marshals for tenant demise areas report to you in the event of mass egress from the building. Carry out CCTV camera checks to ensure all cameras and playback features are working correctly. Ensure CCTV release is recorded correctly and released in line with company procedure and ICO guidelines, keeping saved footage for the relevant retention periods.
• Customer Service & Reception: Deliver excellent customer service to customers, colleagues and visitors to the Business Space, at all times. Ensure deliveries, visitors and contractors are properly recorded on site and effective control takes place on access and egress. Reception duties, including meeting and greeting all visitors, answering telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information, logging visitors in and out via the visitors’ book. Maintain good tenant relations. Monitor the standards of cleanliness throughout the estate liaising with the cleaning and landscaping contractors to ensure standards are maintained.
• Letting & Marketing: To assist with any letting and marketing initiatives for the site. Provide access to the buildings for our agents. Carry out viewings where required.

Key requirements:

• Experience working in a customer-facing or public environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with customers, colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Proven leadership and people management experience, including motivating teams, conducting performance reviews, and developing individuals.
• Ability to work collaboratively while also operating independently and making sound decisions under pressure.
• Financially competent, with experience managing budgets and service charges.
• Strong report writing, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety responsibilities; IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent) desirable.
• SIA Licence, NVQ Level 2 (or above) in a relevant FM discipline, or equivalent qualification.
• Physically able to patrol sites and respond to incidents as required.
• Flexible and willing to travel to other sites and company offices when needed.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive salary DOE
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Private Medical Insurance (medical history disregarded)
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• 5% Company pension contribution
• 3x Life Assurance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

Why join Praxis:

This is a great opportunity to join a high-performing, entrepreneurial business where you’ll have real ownership of your site and the chance to make a visible impact day-to-day.

Our Values:

• Professionalism: We consistently seek to exceed expectations. Our people can express themselves fully while upholding the highest standards of conduct, competence, and integrity.
• Ownership: Every asset, challenge, and opportunity is treated as our own. We deliver all real estate services in-house — never outsourcing responsibility, accountability, or blame.
• Entrepreneurialism: We challenge convention and champion imaginative solutions. Rigorous debate is encouraged, and everyone is empowered to make decisions that elevate performance.
• Meritocracy: Results, hard work, and strong ideas matter more than age, tenure, or titles. We are a diverse team that collaborates openly so each person can reach their full potential.
• Action This Day: We do not defer or delay. Anything that can be done today, is done today.