Head of Facilities
When a business has just one location, there’s always going to be a person whose job it is to ensure the building itself and all its functions are running properly. It might be an office manager, plant manager or such like. But businesses with multiple locations need a more strategic, joined-up and budgeted way to run the properties, and that task is fulfilled by the head of facilities.
The role will be a blend of planning the facilities for future needs, ensuring the books are balanced for all the locations and planning maintenance, cleaning, services, safety and so on – in summary, keeping the facilities functional, profitable, legal and sustainable.
Under the head of facilities, management usually acts on a hierarchical basis, more so in larger operations with multiple plants, offices, depots and storage facilities. That means the head of facilities will often be based in the head office and will delegate tasks and goals to facility managers at the locations, but there will also be regular attendance on-site within the region covered.
The skills required
Head of facilities jobs usually demand experience in overseeing multiple locations of an organisation, and successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a strong aptitude for delegation to, and communication with, the various location managers. The job will be a blend of strategic planning and more urgent decision-making – you could be where the buck stops when a location manager needs to troubleshoot a pressing issue and a potentially costly decision has to be made and then justified to the board.
For some positions, however, experience managing a single facility will be a sufficient qualification, as many of the budgetary and management skills scale up straightforwardly.
Head of Facilities Jobs in London
As the UK’s capital and largest city, it should come as no surprise that London offers a wealth of opportunities for those seeking procurement, logistics and supply chain jobs.
Indeed, there’s something for everyone in the Big Smoke, and while the soot and pollution that gave the city its nickname during the Industrial Revolution have mostly disappeared, there are plenty of reminders of days gone by - such as the warehouses and docks that line the Thames.
If you're looking for a Head of Facilities job in London, the city offers something for everyone. And, although the capital is known for its high cost of living, most employers take this into account when setting wages - in most cases, the so-called London allowance will add between £3,000 and £4,000 to your salary.
Whether your sector of choice is financial, media, retail, electronics, medical, manufacturing, telecommunications, transport, automotive or even government or defence, London has it.
From Ford to Sony, Barclays to Metro Newspapers and Sainsbury’s to Warburtons, the list of British, European and international firms that call London home goes on and on.
And don’t forget the companies that specialise in moving people and parcels around. With organisations like the Port of London and Transport for London, several international airports and trains that depart to domestic and international destinations, it takes a lot of people to keep London moving smoothly.
Popular locations
Heads of facilities use Cast UK
At Cast UK, we only deal with high calibre people and positions, so if you’re looking for a head of facilities for your business, please reach out, as we’ll be able to shortlist a superb selection of candidates for your role. If you want us to be your recruitment partner, call us on 0333 121 3345 and speak to one of our consultants.
If you’re looking to take a step up the ladder as a facilities manager and you’ve got the skills and experience, why not click the link below and register with us? We could have just the role for you.
Contact us