Facilities Manager in Guildford

The Facilities team form part of the wider Estates & Facilities department, responsible for managing the built environment within the police owned estate, ensuring the buildings remain compliant, safe and support the effective delivery of policing in Surrey & Sussex. The Facilities teams are responsible for ‘front-end’ service delivery of a wide range of Facilities Management (FM) services on behalf of both Surrey & Sussex Police Forces, supporting our operational officers and staff deliver their respective services.

We are seeking a driven professional with FM experience, who is ready to take their career to the next level. Previous management experience is advantageous but is not a necessity. The Facilities Manager is a key role within the Estates & Facilities Department, and is responsible for leading a team of Facilities Coordinators, who support operational policing through the provision of compliant, comfortable, and effective working environments.

This important customer facing role sets the standard for a variety of services from business as usual activities (including minor maintenance, H&S compliance & auditing, administrative support and contractor management), alongside pre-planned larger projects (including office relocation, refurbishments, and building improvement works). You will be self-motivated to oversee, develop and support your team of Facilities Coordinators empowering them to provide a professional, efficient and effective FM service.

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are a prerequisite to getting tasks completed ensuring our internal and external stakeholders are fully involved and informed. Resilient and innovative, you will ensure that ongoing daily requirements are met by your team, managing scheduled workload against often urgent challenging reactive tasks that may arise, with an ability to adapt to changing priorities of the organisation. Pride and a sense of ownership are vital as you will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of the built environment are safe and presentable at all times, focused on driving forward site improvements, making the buildings under your area of responsibility the best that they can be.

Being a publicly funded organisation, ensuring best value for money is a critical aspect of this role. You will be responsible for overseeing and authorising local expenditure in line with force and procurement guidelines. In addition to supporting operational policing you will focus on ensuring contracted services (including cleaning, grounds maintenance and waste) are delivered to agreed KPI’s and SLA’s, identifying opportunities to make efficiencies and savings wherever possible.

• Oversee the continued professional development through effective management of your staff whilst supporting their health & wellbeing.
• Successfully deliver a wide range of agreed FM services across the portfolio.
• Ensure consistent and best practice processes and procedures are implemented and adhered to.
• Provide safe, compliant and well-presented workplaces meeting the needs of our various stakeholders.
• Undertake scheduled site inspections across all buildings (including fire, health & safety, environmental and security) identifying non-compliance and any opportunities for investment.
• Promote a culture of health and safety, security and environmental compliance and best practice.
• Support the delivery of Capital projects (refurbishments, re-developments and disposals).
• Responsible for the authorising and justification of any local expenditure within approved budgetary limits.

Whilst you will be provided with role specific training, you will need to be inquisitive as you will learn most from actively being involved with your team and Estates & Facilities colleagues. Facilities is a constantly evolving industry, paired with the unique setting of working within the police environment, there are always new challenges, with new solutions to learn. We are seeking individuals with the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• Previous experience of working in a Facilities Management environment delivering a multi-disciplined service across multiple sites.
• Previous experience of leading and developing people.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to adapt style dependant on the audience.
• Proven ability in decision making, prioritising workload, negotiating and using own initiative to solve problems.
• A sound knowledge of workplace health & safety with practical experience of all aspects of FM related legislation (including Fire, Legionella, COSHH, Asbestos, Lone working and working at height).
• Previous experience of undertaking minor building repairs and improvements would be advantageous, but not essential.
• Full driving licence with the ability to pass a police driving assessment.
• Computer literate, including the proficient use of Microsoft software.
• IOSH Managing Safety, or equivalent qualification, is preferable, but if not, there will be a requirement to work towards this within a timeframe to be agreed with your line manager.

This is an opportunity to work in a unique environment which will allow you to develop your FM skills, knowledge and experience in a public service. We are enthusiastic and proud to support operational policing through the provision of workplace environments that enable our officers and staff deliver their service. Benefits include:

• Competitive salary – with annual incremental rises within salary banding.
• Career progression and training opportunities.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to Financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support.
• Sports, social and network groups.
• Opportunity to work alongside front line operational officers.

For further information or to discuss the role please contact: Tracey Lock, Facilities Area Manager: tracey.lock1@surrey.police.uk.