Strategic Soft Landings Lead (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)

Gardiner and Theobald LLP; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Gardiner & Theobald LLP is seeking a Strategic Soft Landings Lead to oversee FM readiness for a major campus project on the Cambridge/London sites. You will champion whole-life operation, coordinate design reviews and handover, and ensure seamless transition from project delivery to operations.

The role requires extensive experience in soft landings within complex, mixed-use estates, ideally including life sciences or campus environments, and strong stakeholder engagement across developers,

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering FM and Soft Landings in complex mixed-use environments.
• Experience with life sciences, research or campus settings preferred.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead Soft Landings and operational readiness for new builds/refurbishments.
• Undertake operational design reviews and recommend improvements for operational outcomes.
• Represent FM stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle and coordinate with project teams.
• Guide commissioning, testing, mobilisation, training, handover and post-occupancy optimisation.
• Develop FM strategies for complex multi-building estates and campus environments.
• Manage service charges, contracts, and budget planning to optimise costs while maintaining service quality.

Job description

Strategic Soft Landings Lead (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)

Department: FM

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: G&T London/Cambridge

Description

The Facilities & Asset Management Advisory team at Gardiner & Theobald LLP are seeking an experienced Facilities Management and Soft Landings professional to support one of our clients with the continued expansion and operational evolution of one of the world's leading science and innovation campuses.

The clients Director of Estates & Facilities will be the key client contact for the role. The appointed individual will act as the operational lead and trusted advisor on all matters relating to Soft Landings, operational readiness, and FM integration across a growing mixed-use estate.

The successful candidate will work closely with the campus expansion development team to ensure that operational requirements, lifecycle considerations, commercial objectives and occupier experience are fully embedded throughout design, construction, commissioning and handover phases.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience delivering Facilities Management and Soft Landings programmes within complex mixed-use environments, ideally including life sciences, research, innovation, higher education, campus or science park settings. They will possess a strong understanding of how large-scale developments transition successfully from project delivery into efficient and commercially sustainable operations.

Candidates should demonstrate experience working across portfolios that may include laboratories, offices, amenity spaces, retail and leisure facilities, public realm and shared campus infrastructure.

Location: The successful candidate will be required to be on site at the campus in the Cambridgeshire area on a regular basis, although there will be some flexibility in offsite working either at the candidates own premises or at G&T’s London office.

About the Role

Key Responsibilities: Soft Landings & Operational Readiness

• Proven track record leading Soft Landings or operational advisory for new build / refurbishment projects.
• Experience of undertaking operational design reviews and making recommendations to improve operational outcomes.
• Understanding of Asset Information Requirements and exchange of information between project teams and operators.
• Experience representing FM and operational stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of commissioning, testing, mobilisation, training, handover and post-occupancy optimisation.
• Ability to challenge design and construction teams to ensure operational excellence and whole-life value.

Facilities Management Leadership

• Deep knowledge of integrated facilities management and best-practice operational models.
• Experience developing FM strategies for complex multi-building estates and campus environments.
• Understanding of hard and soft FM services, lifecycle management, asset management and customer experience.

Commercial & Financial Acumen

• Strong commercial capability with operational experience reviewing, developing and negotiating management agreements, operating agreements, leases and service contracts.
• Ability to provide operational and commercial input into third-party operator arrangements, including leisure, fitness, hospitality and amenity services.
• Excellent understanding of service charge structures, cost allocation methodologies and operational budgeting.
• Demonstrable experience identifying opportunities to optimise campus and building-level service charges while maintaining service quality and competitiveness.

Stakeholder Management

• Exceptional ability to influence and collaborate with developers, consultants, project teams, operators, occupiers and senior leadership.
• Confidence engaging with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong communication, presentation and relationship management skills.

About You

The successful candidate will be commercially astute, highly collaborative and capable of operating effectively across both development and operational environments. They will combine technical FM expertise with strategic thinking and demonstrate a proactive approach to problem solving, operational excellence and continuous improvement in line with the responsibilities required of this position.

About Us

Collaboration, innovation, and support are at the core of everything we do. Our partner-led model allows us to adopt bespoke approaches both in the service we offer to clients and in the development opportunities we offer our people. Within your team you will be given clear direction and positive encouragement at every turn, whilst our commitment to your career development and lifelong learning programmes ensures you have the support, as well as the tools to thrive.

Forward thinking and future focused, we champion social mobility, ethical governance, equality and diversity, creating an inclusive environment where everyone’s unique talents and experiences are valued. Our ESG goals are at the forefront of our business plan, and we are proud to have created social value worth over £12m+ since 2021. Our initiatives include the G&T ESG Committee, dedicated to increasing opportunities and removing barriers for social mobility and equality within the firm, as well as our Next Gen programme which focuses on nurturing the next generation in the industry. Our commitment to realising a more sustainable future is witnessed not only through helping our clients meet their own next zero carbon aspirations but also by reaching our own, with an aim for our firm to be net zero by 2030.