At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major life sciences campus, driving transformation and operational excellence.
- Company: Join a leading firm managing critical national infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus potential, and career progression.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence major capital investments and drive cultural change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile scientific environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in regulated environments and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 140000 £ per year.
£120,000 – £140,000 + £6,000 Car Allowance + 15% Bonus (flexibility for exceptional candidates)
Lead a Critical National Life Sciences Campus. This is not a traditional FM leadership role. This is the opportunity to operate as a mini Managing Director for one of the UK's most complex, sensitive and high-value life sciences campuses. We are seeking a high-calibre, strategically minded Key Account Director to take full operational and commercial ownership of a £100M+ flagship account, centred around a major Weybridge-based research and regulated environment.
This role will strongly appeal to leaders from life sciences, pharmaceutical manufacturing, research laboratories, or highly regulated environments—individuals who understand the nuances of compliance, critical infrastructure, and stakeholder complexity in licensed, mission‑critical settings.
The Role
You will take end-to-end accountability for a multi-building estate spanning new and legacy infrastructure, operating 24/7, 365 days a year, with a significant concentration of risk and operational intensity located at Weybridge. The position has evolved to be highly strategic, supported by a senior technical authority, enabling you to focus on:
- Client leadership at senior and ministerial levels
- Driving a complex, multi-year transformation programme
- Embedding cultural and behavioural change across a long-standing workforce
- Balancing long-term capital programmes with day-to-day operational excellence
You will act as the primary client interface, navigating a sophisticated stakeholder landscape while ensuring delivery excellence across engineering, capital projects, workplace services and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Client Leadership
- Act as the trusted strategic partner to the client, engaging confidently at executive and government level
- Manage a highly complex client dynamic: balancing multi-billion-pound refurbishment programmes (5–6 years) with immediate operational priorities
- Command presence and credibility across both board-level and on-the-ground stakeholders
Operational & Commercial Accountability
- Full P&L ownership of a £107M account, with significant risk concentration on-site
- Oversee delivery across:
- Hard FM & critical engineering systems
- Soft services, security, and workplace
- Capital projects (~£36M annually)
- Above-base and minor works (~£39M combined)
Leadership & Organisation
- Lead a senior on-site leadership team including:
- Head of Engineering
- Head of Health & Safety
- Head of Capital Projects
- Drive alignment across wider functional teams (HR, commercial, supply chain)
- Set the tone for a high-performance, accountable leadership culture
Change, Culture & Transformation
- Lead a significant change and transformation programme
- Address legacy behaviours, embed new values and modernise ways of working
- Demonstrate moral courage—tackling issues directly, constructively and visibly
Technical & Compliance Oversight
- Ensure safe, compliant delivery across critical and regulated environments
- Maintain high standards across HTMs, statutory compliance, and critical systems
- Leverage technical experts effectively without needing to be the subject matter expert
Candidate Profile
We are particularly interested in leaders who have operated in regulated, science-led, or mission-critical environments, such as:
- Life sciences & research campuses
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Hospitals, pathology labs, or advanced R&D facilities
Essential Experience & Attributes
- Proven leadership of large, complex, multi-building estates or contracts
- Experience managing both legacy and newly built infrastructure simultaneously
- Strong grounding in change management and cultural transformation
- Deep understanding of regulated environments and compliance frameworks
- Ability to navigate high-stakes, high-visibility client relationships
Leadership Style
- Gravitas, presence and authority—someone who naturally commands respect
- Highly effective communicator with strong interpersonal intelligence
- Capable of balancing strategic oversight with operational detail
- Unafraid to challenge, influence and lead from the front
Additional Considerations
- Technical FM or engineering background preferred, but must be people-first, not purely technical
- Data centre or critical environment experience is valuable if combined with strong stakeholder skills
- Security Clearance (SC) required (or ability to obtain)
Why This Role?
- Operate as a true business leader, not just a contract manager
- Lead one of the UK's most critical and high-profile scientific estates
- Influence major capital investment programmes and long-term strategy
- Drive meaningful cultural and organisational transformation
- Significant scope for impact, visibility, and career progression
Process
- 3-stage interview process (including Teams screening)
- Final stage includes an informal client meet-and-greet (non-assessable)
If you are a strategic leader from a life sciences, pharma, or research background, with experience running large, complex, regulated environments and leading transformational change, this role offers a rare opportunity to define and lead at scale.
Account Director in Weybridge employer: RGH-Global | People Services
As an employer, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. Located in Weybridge, you will have the unique opportunity to lead one of the UK's most critical life sciences campuses, driving significant transformation while enjoying competitive compensation and benefits, including a generous car allowance and performance bonuses. We are committed to your professional growth, offering ample opportunities for advancement within a supportive environment that values innovation and collaboration.
Contact Details:
RGH-Global | People Services Recruitment Team
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