Section Head – Facilities Special Projects

BDO Unibank, Inc; Mandaluyong; On-site; PHP 6,000,000 - 10,000,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO Unibank, Inc. is seeking a high-level Section Head – Facilities Special Projects to steer planning, governance, procurement, and delivery of strategic facilities programs.

You will oversee interior fit-out, workplace transformation, and base-build projects with international exposure, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and engaging senior executives. Lead procurement strategies, risk management, and governance while driving value and quality across a global portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or related field is required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience delivering interior fit-out, workplace, or base-build projects.
• Significant international project delivery experience with multinational clients is required.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and engage senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of facilities-related capital projects including interior fit-outs and base-build work.
• Develop strategies and governance frameworks to meet business objectives and operational needs.
• Manage procurement, tendering, and contracting activities with international consultants and vendors.
• Oversee risk, quality, safety, and reporting for the project portfolio.
• Present updates to executive leadership and ensure alignment with corporate goals.
• Mentor teams and ensure cross-functional coordination across project delivery and facilities operations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Procurement strategy

Contract management

Risk management

Executive communication

Multinational exposure

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Position Summary

The Section Head – Facilities Special Projects is responsible for leading the planning, governance, procurement, execution, and successful delivery of strategic facilities and workplace projects across the organization. This role oversees a portfolio of high-profile interior fit-out, workplace transformation, renovation, expansion, and base-build projects while ensuring alignment with business objectives, operational requirements, and stakeholder expectations.

The position requires a highly experienced project delivery leader with significant international exposure who can effectively manage multidisciplinary teams, international consultants and contractors, and engage confidently with senior executives, including C-suite stakeholders. The role is accountable for delivering projects to the highest standards of quality, safety, functionality, governance, and value creation.

The successful candidate will possess strong commercial acumen and demonstrate the ability to think beyond conventional approaches, developing innovative procurement, contracting, and project delivery strategies that optimize project outcomes, manage risks, and support organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Project Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of facilities-related capital projects, including interior fit-out, workplace transformation, commercial developments, renovations, and base-build projects.

• Develop project execution strategies and delivery frameworks to achieve business objectives and operational requirements.

• Establish and maintain robust project governance, risk management, quality assurance, and reporting processes.

• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with approved quality standards.

• Drive continuous improvement in project delivery methodologies, standards, and best practices.

• Provide strategic direction on complex project challenges and develop practical, business-focused solutions.

Stakeholder Management and Executive Engagement

• Act as the primary point of contact for senior business stakeholders, project sponsors, and executive leadership.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior officers and key business leaders across the organization.

• Facilitate project steering committees, executive reviews, and governance meetings.

• Present project updates, recommendations, risks, and mitigation strategies to executive leadership and C-suite stakeholders.

• Ensure stakeholder expectations are managed effectively throughout the project lifecycle.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to management on facilities development and workplace transformation initiatives.

Governance and Executive Reporting

• Develop and maintain project governance frameworks appropriate for a senior corporate environment.

• Prepare concise and business-focused project reports, dashboards, and presentations tailored for executive audiences rather than technical construction professionals.

• Provide regular reporting on project performance, financial status, risk exposure, key decisions, and portfolio health.

• Translate complex technical and construction matters into clear business impacts and recommendations for senior management.

• Ensure compliance with corporate governance requirements, approval processes, risk controls, and audit standards.

Commercial Strategy, Procurement and Delivery Innovation

• Develop and implement project procurement, tendering, and contracting strategies aligned with project objectives, market conditions, budget requirements, and organizational governance standards.

• Evaluate and recommend the most appropriate project delivery and contracting models, including Design-Bid-Build, Design and Build, Construction Management, EPC, Framework Agreements, and other alternative delivery approaches.

• Challenge conventional methods and identify innovative, commercially advantageous solutions that enhance value, reduce risk, improve quality, and accelerate project delivery.

• Lead procurement and tendering activities, including bid packaging strategies, contractor prequalification, tender evaluation, negotiations, and award recommendations.

• Develop commercial strategies that maximize competitive tension while ensuring project certainty and quality outcomes.

• Assess contractor capability, market conditions, supply chain risks, and industry trends to inform procurement decisions.

• Manage commercial risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle and ensure appropriate allocation of risk among stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.

Consultant and Contractor Management

• Lead the engagement and management of international consultants, contractors, specialist vendors, and professional service providers.

• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure adherence to contractual obligations, scope, budget, and schedule requirements.

• Manage consultant and contractor performance, issue resolution, negotiations, and dispute management where necessary.

• Foster collaboration across multidisciplinary project teams and external stakeholders to achieve project objectives.

• Ensure design, construction, and operational requirements are fully integrated throughout project delivery.

Team Leadership and Capability Building

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team comprising:

  • Project Managers

  • Planners

  • Construction Managers

  • Facilities and Building Operations Personnel

• Establish team objectives, performance measures, resource plans, and development programs.

• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Develop succession planning and capability-building initiatives within the team.

• Ensure effective coordination between project delivery and facilities operations functions.

Operational Integration and Handover

• Ensure projects are planned and delivered with minimal disruption to ongoing business operations.

• Lead transition, commissioning, operational readiness, and project handover activities.

• Ensure completed projects meet operational, maintenance, and lifecycle requirements.

• Drive alignment between project outcomes and long-term facilities management objectives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.

• Professional registration, chartered status, project management certification, or equivalent professional credentials are highly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum of10 years' experiencein the successful delivery of high-quality interior fit-out, workplace, commercial, hospitality, mixed-use, or base-build projects.

• Proven track record of managing large-scale and complex facilities and construction projects from conception to completion.

• Significant experience delivering projectsoutside the Philippinesfor reputable multinational organizations, corporate clients, or institutional clients is required.

• Demonstrated experience managing and coordinating international consultants, contractors, and specialist vendors.

• Strong experience working within multicultural and geographically dispersed project environments.

• Proven experience engaging with senior leadership teams and presenting project updates to executive committees and C‑suite stakeholders.

• Experience managing project governance, portfolio reporting, procurement, tendering, and commercial management functions.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary project delivery and facilities management teams.