Facilities Manager - Universities

The Building Manager will take full ownership of a high-profile Central London campus, delivering best-in-class facilities services while managing contractors, compliance, and day-to-day operations. This is a highly visible, front-facing role requiring strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and a proactive approach to maintaining a safe, high-quality environment for students and staff.

Client Details

This opportunity sits within a well-established facilities and property services organisation delivering services to a leading higher education provider in London. Operating as the service partner to a flagship campus near Liverpool Street, the organisation plays a critical role in maintaining a safe, compliant, and high-performing learning environment.

The campus is a prestigious, high-profile site accommodating 600-700 students and housing senior leadership, including executive-level stakeholders. As such, expectations around service delivery, presentation, and operational standards are exceptionally high.

The Building Manager (Facilities Manager) will take full ownership of the site, ensuring all facilities services are delivered effectively through a range of outsourced contractors. This role is central to creating a professional, safe, and engaging environment that supports both staff and students.

This is an excellent opportunity for a confident and personable FM professional who thrives in a front-facing role, enjoys stakeholder interaction, and is motivated to take full ownership of a flagship building.

Description

• Take full operational responsibility for a flagship education campus in Moorgate, ensuring a clean, safe, and well-maintained environment
• Lead the delivery of all facilities management services across the building, with a focus on service quality and user experience
• Act as the primary point of contact for the Campus Director and senior stakeholders, building strong relationships based on trust and performance
• Manage all outsourced soft service contractors including cleaning, security, and waste management
• Oversee hard services provision, including planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive works, and asset functionality (e.g. lifts and critical systems)
• Ensure all statutory compliance and health & safety requirements are met and maintained to a high standard
• Lead and manage on-site teams, including two Facilities Coordinators and two direct reports (support roles transitioning into FM career pathways)
• Motivate, develop, and support teams, fostering a positive and high-performing culture
• Challenge underperformance constructively and escalate issues where necessary
• Proactively manage escalations, resolving issues efficiently while maintaining strong stakeholder confidence
• Oversee contractor performance, particularly during mobilisation phases (e.g. upcoming cleaning and security contracts), ensuring improved service outcomes
• Identify opportunities for service improvement and capital works, contributing to long-term site performance
• Maintain a highly visible presence on-site, engaging regularly with stakeholders and campus users
• Support a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement across all aspects of FM delivery
• Ensure the campus environment supports an exceptional educational experience for students

Profile

• Minimum 2-3 years' experience in a Facilities or Building Manager role
• Strong experience managing FM services within a customer-facing, high-profile environment (education, high-end office, hospitality, or similar)
• Proven ability to manage contractors effectively and drive service improvements
• Confident and professional communicator with excellent stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong leadership and people management capability, with the ability to motivate and develop teams
• Experience managing escalations and maintaining high levels of client satisfaction
• Good understanding of health & safety and statutory compliance within FM
• Highly proactive, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Personable, presentable, and able to operate effectively in a visible, front-facing role
• Culturally aligned with a collaborative, respectful, and service-driven environment

Desirable

• Experience within higher education or student-focused environments
• Background in hospitality or premium service environments

Job Offer

• c. £50k
• Opportunity to manage a flagship, high-profile London campus
• Excellent exposure to senior stakeholders and a dynamic working environment
• Clear opportunity to take ownership and make a visible impact
• Supportive team structure with development opportunities