Head of Property & facilities

Heathrow Personnel Ltd.; Slough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Heathrow Personnel Ltd. seeks a strategic Head of Property & Facilities to lead the national estate across circa 40 UK sites, including a major head office, ensuring safety, compliance and operational effectiveness.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary team, drive CAPEX initiatives and cost control, and act as the senior SME across property functions. You will oversee a £8 million annual budget, supplier networks, maintenance strategy and sustainability initiatives, shaping standards and

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or professional qualifications in property or facilities management.
• MRICS/MCIOB or equivalent accreditation is essential.
• Experience leading multi-site property/facilities operations.
• Strong governance, compliance and risk management knowledge.
• Capability to manage CAPEX, budgets and supplier performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the national property and facilities strategy across 40 UK sites.
• Establish standards, governance and policy for the estate.
• Ensure safety, compliance and operational readiness of all sites.
• Lead a team of regional managers and CAFM professionals; advise senior leadership.
• Manage annual property budget and supplier/contract performance.
• Oversee CAPEX projects, dilapidations and property lifecycle activities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Financial acumen

Education

MRICS

MCIOB

Building Surveying

Construction

Property or Facilities Management

Tools

CAFM software

Property management systems

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced Head of Property & Facilities to lead the national property and facilities function across approximately 40 UK operational sites, including a major head office and associated vacant properties.

The role is responsible for ensuring the estate remains safe, compliant, cost-effective and operationally effective, covering maintenance, property projects, CAPEX, suppliers, budgets, utilities, sustainability and property lifecycle activities.

You will lead a team of Regional Property Managers, Facilities Management and CAFM professionals, acting as the senior property subject matter expert and key adviser to the wider business.

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Senior Director - Infrastructure, Engineering & Real Estate

Direct Reports:

• 4 Regional Property Managers
• 1 Facilities Manager
• CAFM Supervisor
• 1 Property Support Administrator

Key Responsibilities

Property & Facilities Leadership

• Develop and lead the national property and facilities strategy.
• Establish property standards, policies and governance.
• Ensure all sites remain safe, compliant and fit for operational purpose.
• Act as the senior escalation point for property-related issues.
• Lead and develop the national property and facilities team.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Manage an annual operational property budget of approximately £8 million.
• Lead budget planning, forecasting and financial control.
• Identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities.
• Manage contractor and supplier performance.
• Support contract negotiations and commercial reviews.

Maintenance & Contractor Management

• Oversee planned preventative and reactive maintenance across the estate.
• Manage a network of 100+ specialist contractors and service providers.
• Ensure delivery of more than 4,000 planned and reactive service visits annually.
• Oversee an outsourced 24/7 property helpdesk and utilities consultancy.
• Ensure maintenance supports operational resilience and business continuity.

Compliance, Risk & Assurance

• Ensure statutory and regulatory compliance across the property portfolio.
• Lead property-related safety, audit and compliance activities.
• Manage property risk and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
• Maintain effective compliance records and reporting.

Sustainability & Utilities

• Lead the property utilities strategy and performance.
• Oversee utility consumption, expenditure and efficiency.
• Lead carbon reporting in partnership with relevant corporate teams.
• Support wider ESG and sustainability objectives.

Property Projects & Real Estate

• Support acquisitions, relocations, expansions and other property initiatives.
• Lead dilapidations, site exits and closure activities.
• Oversee leasehold improvements and CAPEX projects.
• Provide technical property expertise across the business.

Systems & Digital Management

• Own and develop the CAFM platform.
• Ensure accurate asset and property data.
• Improve management information and reporting.
• Drive digital and process improvements across property management.

Qualifications

Essential

Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in:

• MRICS
• MCIOB
• Building Surveying
• Construction
• Property or Facilities Management

Desirable

• IOSH Managing Safely
• NEBOSH Certificate

Experience Required

Essential

• Senior leadership experience within a UK-wide, multi-site property or facilities environment.
• Experience managing professional teams and budgets of £5m+.
• Strong senior stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing national contractor and supplier networks.
• Strong knowledge of property compliance, statutory maintenance and risk.
• Proven commercial and financial management capability.

Desirable

• Logistics, industrial, warehousing or distribution experience.
• Corporate real estate experience.
• CAFM implementation or optimisation experience.
• Sustainability, utilities and carbon reporting experience.
• Experience managing property improvement or CAPEX programmes.

Key Skills & Competencies

Leadership: Strategic planning, team development, change management and communication.

Commercial: Budget management, contract negotiation, supplier performance, cost optimisation and business cases.

Technical: Property and facilities management, statutory compliance, risk management, asset management, CAFM, sustainability and lifecycle management.

Behavioural: Leadership, influencing, negotiation, decision-making, problem-solving and stakeholder management.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a strategic, commercially astute property professional with significant experience managing complex, geographically dispersed estates.

You will combine strong technical property knowledge with proven leadership, financial and stakeholder management skills. Experience within a logistics, industrial, distribution or similarly operationally critical environment would be advantageous.