Head of Facilities

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is seeking a Head of Facilities to oversee Soft FM services. This senior leadership role involves operational management, strategic planning, and collaboration with teams to ensure high-quality care delivery. Candidates should have extensive experience in facilities management, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to driving innovation in service delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in estates and facilities senior management within NHS.
• Postgraduate experience in facility management or real estate.
• Proven budget management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of Soft FM services across site.
• Provide operational leadership to service managers and teams.
• Manage external contractors and suppliers.

Skills

Ability to prioritise and manage workload

Sound judgement for complex situations

Strategic and operational thinking

Delivery-focused

Excellent staff management and communication

Strong digital/ICT skills

Education

Degree in facility management or real estate

Project/programme management qualification

Graduate qualification in management

Job description

Overview

Head of Facilities

Barts Health NHS Trust runs one of the largest estates in the NHS, supporting some of the busiest and most complex hospitals in the country. With a strong group model and senior leadership embedded at each site, we are focused on safe, effective, high-quality environments that enable outstanding care across East London. We are recruiting four Head of Facilities (Band 8C) roles to join at a pivotal time. This is a senior leadership role overseeing a wide range of Soft FM services at your base hospital while supporting delivery across the wider group. You will lead services from cleaning and catering to waste, linen, reception and security, which are vital to safety, experience and wellbeing. The role is transformational, with an emphasis on delivering more with less, driving innovation, unlocking efficiencies and reshaping services for the future. You will work with hospital teams, Estates & Facilities, and Trust-wide transformation partners.

Interview proposed date: 3rd, 4th November.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of Soft FM services and project programmes across your hospital site, including clinical service-led and mobilisation projects.
• Provide operational leadership to site-based service managers and teams, ensuring consistent performance management, workforce support, and delivery against Trust standards.
• Manage external contractors, consultants and suppliers, ensuring delivery is aligned with Trust values, policies, and compliance frameworks.
• Hold delegated responsibility for operational and capital budgets, procurement activity, and invoice approvals.
• Work closely with Estates & Facilities Directors, Soft FM Associate Directors and site leads to ensure services meet KPI outcomes, PAM targets, and compliance with national standards including CQC.
• Ensure service models support safe, patient-focused care without compromising clinical delivery.
• Provide strategic input into EFM service planning, digital transformation, and Trust-wide project delivery. Represent Soft FM at senior forums, act as a key escalation point, and deputise for the Director of Soft FM where required.
• Lead risk management, incident investigations, and Datix reporting for Soft FM. Champion workforce development through training, recruitment, and staff engagement. Maintain a senior leadership presence via a 7-day operational rota to ensure robust site support.

About us

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers. We are an improving, high-performing group of hospitals with a world-class clinical reputation, striving to provide safe and compassionate care. Our WeCare values guide how we work together, and we are committed to an inclusive working environment where every staff member belongs.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

Person specification

Experience (Essential)

• Estates and Facilities senior management experience, gained within the NHS or an equivalent environment
• Extensive postgraduate experience in facility management / real estate
• Senior management experience delivering outcomes through collaboration with other organisations
• Proven budget management experience and success in business planning and implementation of strategic plans
• Experience leading operational change while maintaining high standards of quality
• Experience managing teams and individuals; working in a multi-disciplinary Project Management environment
• Operational experience delivering frontline Estates and Facilities services and managing outsourced providers
• Experience leading complex service reviews resulting in performance improvement
• Commercial awareness with experience of outsourced service providers

Desirable

• Facilities senior management experience in similar environments
• Experience using digital programmes and systems to drive efficiency in Soft FM

Skills (Essential)

• Ability to prioritise and manage a demanding workload and resources
• Sound judgement for complex situations, including financial pressures while ensuring clinical and technical compliance
• Strategic and operational thinking, with capacity for innovation and delivering a high-quality environment
• Delivery-focused with attention to governance, risk, NHS guidance and national standards
• Excellent staff management and communication, with ability to lead within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience with presentation and training; strong digital/ICT skills (Microsoft 365, relevant FM systems)

Knowledge (Essential)

• Technical knowledge of catering, helpdesk, cleaning, waste, security and portering services
• Understanding of food hygiene, national cleaning standards and Health and Safety at Work Act
• Experience delivering 24/7 demand-led services and emergency responses
• Knowledge of governance, compliance and risk; NHS targets and related policy
• Understanding of NHS guidance, patient care delivery programmes and programme planning tools

Qualifications (Essential)

• Degree in related subject (facility management, real estate) or equivalent experience
• Project/programme management qualification
• Graduate qualification in management or equivalent senior level experience in a customer-facing environment

Other (Essential)

• High standard of written and spoken English; IT literate (Word, Excel, Email)
• Ability to manage staff training and statutory/mandatory training records
• Commitment to professional development, equality, inclusion and safeguarding of patients
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work with initiative and effectively seek advice when needed

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require submission for Disclosure to the DBS to check for any previous convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered. For more information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Employer details: Barts Health NHS Trust, Royal London Hospital, London, E1 1FR. Website: https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk