Job Description
12 months contract with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• The Interim Head of Facilities Management (FM) and Capital Projects (including Corporate Health & Safety, Emergency Planning, and Business Continuity) is responsible for leading and managing strategic delivery across the Council and its partner services.
• This role directs the internal governance and operational oversight for FM services, capital projects (including energy and carbon reduction initiatives), and ensures statutory compliance and readiness in health & safety, emergency planning, and business continuity.
• The postholder will play a critical leadership role in shaping the Council’s property and safety landscape, working closely with senior leadership and external stakeholders to ensure robust, effective, and value-for-money service delivery.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Develop and implement strategic frameworks for FM, capital projects, and corporate health & safety.
• Ensure FM operations align with contract, procurement and energy efficiency standards, including net carbon zero initiatives.
• Lead the Council’s capital program strategy covering education, corporate property and energy projects.
• Provide strategic leadership for health & safety policies, ensuring alignment with current legislation and Council priorities.
• Ensure major incident planning meets the standards of the London Resilience Standards and Civil Contingencies Act.
• Oversee property asset management, ensuring legislative compliance and long-term investment planning.
• Lead major capital developments, delivering projects on time, to budget, and to specification.
• Advise senior leadership on health & safety, emergency planning and property matters.
• Develop robust FM arrangements for all Council and partner-occupied premises.
• Deliver capital programmes and FM functions through effective contract and project management.
• Ensure timely maintenance and inspections of all Council-owned assets.
• Manage budgets (revenue and capital) to support strategic aims.
• Lead investigations of serious incidents and oversee continuous health and safety performance monitoring.
• Ensure continuity planning and reactive response measures are in place and effective.
• Provide regular reporting on performance and compliance to Members and senior officers.
• Contribute to the departmental leadership team and wider corporate decision-making.
• Continuously improve the division’s structure, operations and external contract management.
• Represent the Council with external stakeholders and Government agencies as needed.
• Ensure the division is structured and resourced to deliver its objectives.
• Oversee recruitment, training, development, and performance of staff to deliver a high-quality service.
• Foster a culture of accountability, development and continuous improvement.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, especially in local authority property management.
• Provide high-quality, timely advice and support to senior officers and Cabinet Members.
Skills/Experience:
• Significant experience in local/central government or similar large-scale public sector organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and advise senior officers and elected Members.
• Strong record of leading complex, cross-departmental projects.
• Experience of drafting and presenting Committee reports.
• Proven capability in developing and delivering strategic plans for property and FM services.
• Robust financial management experience, including direct budget oversight.
• In-depth knowledge of FM and H&S legislation and regulations.
• Strong project management skills, including business process analysis and cross-functional leadership.
• High level of interpersonal skills, political awareness, and understanding of Council-wide challenges and equality duties.
Additional Information:
• Degree in Facilities Management or a related field.
• Chartered membership or accreditation with CIWFM or similar professional body.
• PRINCE2 or equivalent project management qualification.
• IOSH/NEBOSH qualification in health and safety management.
Requirements
• Significant experience in local/central government or similar large-scale public sector organisation. • Demonstrated ability to influence and advise senior officers and elected Members. • Strong record of leading complex, cross-departmental projects. • Experience of drafting and presenting Committee reports. • Proven capability in developing and delivering strategic plans for property and FM services. • Robust financial management experience, including direct budget oversight. • In-depth knowledge of FM and H&S legislation and regulations. • Strong project management skills, including business process analysis and cross-functional leadership. • High level of interpersonal skills, political awareness, and understanding of Council-wide challenges and equality duties.