Head of Facilities

Description of role and key responsibilities: The role: The Head of Facilities is first and foremost the custodian of the workplace experience. The role exists to create and sustain a positive, energising and inclusive working environment that enables our people to thrive, encourages an entrepreneurial spirit, and delivers an outstanding experience for clients and visitors. Through thoughtful leadership of space, services and teams, the role balances experience, resilience and compliance, ensuring that our workplaces are safe, well‑run and compliant, while never losing sight of the fact that facilities exist to serve people and the business. Key responsibilities: Workplace Experience & Culture • Create an environment in which colleagues feel welcomed, supported and proud of their workplace. • Act as a visible role model for Investec's values and generosity of spirit, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement within the facilities and reception teams. • Champion the workplace as a driver of connection, creativity and productivity, ensuring spaces support how teams work today and how they want to work tomorrow. • Ensure an exceptional front‑of‑house and client experience across all locations, with reception and facilities services reflecting professionalism, warmth and attention to detail. Facilities Operations • Oversee day‑to‑day facilities operations across all jurisdictions, ensuring services are reliable, responsive and aligned to business needs. • Ensure effective helpdesk and reception services, with a strong focus on user experience, prioritisation and clear communication. • Oversee planned preventative maintenance programmes to ensure critical systems are dependable, safe and unobtrusive to the working environment. Space Planning & Workplace Design • Take a strategic view of space utilisation, ensuring offices are flexible, well‑designed and support collaboration, focus and wellbeing. • Oversee office layouts, refurbishments and fit‑outs, ensuring consistency with Investec branding, ergonomics and functionality. • Work with architects, designers, contractors and suppliers to deliver high‑quality workplace solutions that enhance the colleague and client experience. • Plan and manage internal moves and changes with minimal disruption and clear communication. Team Leadership & Development • Lead, coach and develop the facilities and reception teams, creating a high‑performing, service‑oriented and engaged team. • Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback and support professional development. • Encourage innovation and continuous improvement, empowering the team to suggest and implement better ways of working. Health, Safety, Risk & Compliance (Enabling Foundations) • Ensure full compliance with health & safety, fire safety and environmental legislation across all jurisdictions. • Maintain statutory records, risk assessments and emergency procedures, ensuring they are robust, current and proportionate. • Act as the Appointed Responsible Person for water services and ensure completion of all statutory safety checks. • Lead accident and incident reporting and investigation, ensuring learnings are shared and improvements implemented. • Develop and maintain emergency response and evacuation procedures, ensuring colleagues are informed and confident. Contract & Supplier Management • Oversee third‑party suppliers and managing agents for the facilities team, ensuring services are delivered to agreed standards and represent value for money. • Build constructive, professional relationships with suppliers that support service quality, innovation and continuous improvement. • Ensure appropriate contractor risk assessments are in place. Security • In liaison with the London Security team, manage access control and CCTV systems, ensuring security measures are effective while remaining proportionate and user‑friendly. • Support investigations and incident reviews as required. Business Continuity & Resilience • Identify and manage facilities‑related risks that could impact the business or colleague experience. • Maintain and test facilities components of the Business Continuity Plan, ensuring readiness and resilience during disruptions. Out‑of‑hours Support • Act as first point of contact for facilities‑related emergencies and critical issues outside normal working hours, ensuring timely and appropriate response. Essential criteria: Core skills and knowledge: • Proven experience in a leadership role with a strong service and people focus. • Ability to balance operational discipline with creativity and commercial awareness. • IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent); Fire Marshal and First Aid at Work certification. • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. • Organised, resilient and able to prioritise effectively under pressure. • Sustainability and innovation awareness. • Confident user of standard office systems and technology.