Facilities Manager

The Advocate Group; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Advocate Group is seeking a Facilities Manager to lead day-to-day management of our distribution centre and head office. You will ensure safety, compliance and efficient operation while shaping maintenance standards across multiple sites.

You will drive asset strategies, manage contracts and budgets, and lead capital projects with a focus on cost control and continuous improvement. A proactive approach and UK health & safety expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of facilities management experience in a large distribution, logistics, manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience managing facilities across multiple sites while balancing operational priorities and maintaining standards.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, facilities compliance, statutory inspections and audit requirements.
• Proven experience managing contractors, supplier contracts, SLAs and KPIs with focus on performance and value for money.
• Experience managing facilities budgets, capital expenditure and improvement projects.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach with ability to identify issues and implement improvements.
• IWFM Level 4 or above or equivalent facilities management qualification; IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH General Certificate.
• Membership of IWFM, IOSH or another relevant professional body.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day facilities management across distribution centre and head office, ensuring safety, compliance and operations.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to maintain facilities standards, governance and maintenance planning across sites.
• Develop and implement facilities and asset management strategies aligned with growth and sustainability.
• Manage planned maintenance, statutory inspections, repairs and reactive maintenance while minimising disruption.
• Oversee contractor relationships, SLAs, KPIs and value-for-money service delivery.
• Manage facilities budgets, CAPEX and supplier contracts; identify efficiency improvements.
• Lead facilities-related capital projects such as warehouse improvements and office refurbishments.
• Drive health and safety, fire safety, environmental compliance and audit readiness.

Skills

Facilities management

Contractor management

Budget management

Health & safety

Education

IWFM Level 4 or above

IOSH Managing Safely / NEBOSH General Certificate

Professional body membership (IWFM / IOSH)

Job description

Ready to take the next step in your facilities management career with a globally recognised food and consumer goods business? This is an exciting opportunity to join, a fast–moving organisation with a strong heritage and a focus on operational excellence, continuous improvement and business growth.

As the Facilities Manager, you ll play a key role in ensuring the safety, compliance and efficiency of the company s operational sites. You ll have the opportunity to shape facilities standards, lead improvement initiatives and make a tangible impact across the business.

The Role:

• Lead day–to–day facilities management across a distribution centre and head office, ensuring buildings, infrastructure and equipment remain safe, compliant and fully operational.
• Work closely with the Factory General Manager and wider teams to maintain consistent facilities standards, governance and maintenance planning across both sites.
• Develop and implement facilities and asset management strategies aligned with operational needs, business growth and sustainability objectives.
• Manage planned preventative maintenance (PPM), statutory inspections, repairs and reactive maintenance, minimising disruption to operations.
• Oversee contractor and supplier relationships, monitoring SLAs, KPIs, service quality and value for money.
• Manage facilities budgets, capital expenditure and supplier contracts, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Lead facilities–related capital projects, including warehouse improvements, office refurbishments and infrastructure upgrades.
• Drive health and safety, fire safety, environmental compliance and audit readiness, ensuring standards are consistently met.
• Maintain warehouse infrastructure, including loading bays, dock doors, shutters and racking systems, supporting safe and efficient distribution operations.
• Lead sustainability and environmental initiatives, including waste management, recycling and opportunities to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering and external service providers to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop the facilities team, fostering a proactive culture of accountability, safety and operational excellence.

• Develop and maintain asset registers, identifying maintenance, refurbishment and replacement requirements.

About You:

• At least 5 years experience in facilities management within a large distribution, logistics, manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience managing facilities across multiple sites, with the ability to balance operational priorities and maintain consistent standards.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, facilities compliance, statutory inspections and audit requirements.
• Proven experience managing contractors, supplier contracts, SLAs and KPIs, with a focus on performance and value for money.
• Experience managing facilities budgets, capital expenditure and improvement projects.
• A proactive, solutions–focused approach, with the confidence to identify issues, challenge existing ways of working and implement improvements.
• IWFM Level 4 or above, or an equivalent facilities management qualification.
• IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH General Certificate or a similar health and safety qualification.
• Membership of IWFM, IOSH or another relevant professional body.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.