Head of Facilities Management

Cobalt Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment is seeking a Head of Facilities Management for a leading Build to Rent investor/developer in the UK. The role is based from the London office and steers a national FM function across a multi-site residential portfolio.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, build scalable FM platforms, and drive governance, cost control, and contractor performance while developing the team to own outcomes across regions.

Qualifications

• Senior FM leadership experience across a large national portfolio.
• Strong line management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to drive standards, governance and cost efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the national Facilities Management function.
• Set FM strategy, operating model and service standards.
• Provide senior oversight of maintenance, compliance, lifecycle planning and asset performance.
• Lead FM input into mobilisation of new developments.
• Drive contractor performance, procurement and value for money.
• Oversee FM budgets, utilities, energy management and cost performance.
• Improve CAFM, data and reporting for governance and decision-making.
• Collaborate with Operations, Asset Management, Development and Health & Safety teams.
• Oversee Building Safety Act responsibilities for Higher Risk Buildings with the compliance team.

Skills

FM leadership

multi-site management

budgeting & cost control

contractor management

CAFM & data reporting

Building Safety Act knowledge

Education

Degree in FM or related field

Tools

CAFM systems

Job description

Cobalt is partnering with one of the UK’s leading Build to Rent investors, developers and operators to appoint a Head of Facilities Management.

This is a senior FM leadership role with responsibility for a substantial national residential portfolio, while being based from the business’ London office.

With an established FM team already in place and a strong pipeline of new developments due to mobilise over the coming years, the focus of the role is to provide leadership, structure and strategic direction as the portfolio continues to grow.

You will lead a geographically dispersed team of experienced FM professionals, combining strong line management with an empowering leadership style. The expectation is not to become the escalation point for every operational issue, but to create clarity, accountability and consistency across the function, developing the team around you and enabling them to take ownership.

Alongside leading the existing portfolio, you will play a key role in shaping how the FM function evolves to support future growth. With further BTR schemes progressing towards mobilisation, this will include ensuring that systems, operating standards, supplier relationships and team structures are scalable and that FM is represented effectively through the development and handover process.

Your remit will include:

• Leading and developing the national Facilities Management function.
• Setting the FM strategy, operating model and service standards across the portfolio.
• Providing senior oversight of PPM, reactive maintenance, statutory compliance, lifecycle planning and asset performance.
• Leading FM input into the mobilisation and operational readiness of new developments.
• Driving contractor and supply-chain performance, procurement and value for money.
• Overseeing FM budgets, utilities, energy management and operational cost performance.
• Improving the use of CAFM, data and reporting to strengthen governance and decision-making.
• Working closely with senior stakeholders across Operations, Asset Management, Development, Technical, Health & Safety and Compliance.
• Providing senior operational oversight of Building Safety Act responsibilities across the relevant Higher Risk Buildings, supported by the wider compliance team.

We are looking for an established FM leader who has operated across a large, multi-site property portfolio and can move comfortably between strategic leadership and operational detail.

You will bring strong experience across hard services, statutory compliance, contractor management, procurement, lifecycle planning and financial management, alongside a track record of leading and developing dispersed teams.

Experience within Build to Rent, PRS, student accommodation, later living or another complex residential environment would be particularly relevant. You will also need a strong working understanding of the Building Safety Act and Higher Risk Building environment and how this applies to the business.

The opportunity is particularly suited to someone who enjoys building high-performing teams and enhancing scaling-FM platforms. With an established portfolio today and further schemes joining the business over the coming years, the successful Head of Facilities will have genuine influence over how the FM function develops through the next phase of growth.

Please note, this role may interview before the closing date of this advert so early applications are advised