Soft Facilities Management Manager

Defra Group Property (DgP) manages the provision of Facilities Management services to Defra’s executive agency; the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). APHA uses a wide range of specialist facilities as part of its aims to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.

These specialist facilities include biocontainment laboratories across the UK with the main laboratory campus being located at Weybridge. The Defra Weybridge site is the largest facility in terms of size and complexity across the Defra network and is currently going through a process of major investment (over £1b) and redevelopment in order to enhance its scientific capability.

The site is at the forefront of research and diagnostic testing for animal and zoonotic diseases and leads on disease outbreak response for Defra.

The DgP Technical Services team at Weybridge fulfil the role of Intelligent Client Function (ICF) for FM services across DgP’s Science Estate.

Job description

We are looking for a Soft Facilities Management Manager to facilitate the smooth running of the Operations Team at the Weybridge site. You will be responsible for managing the client side interface, and providing office management support to the Operations Team. In addition to core supporting functions, this varied role offers opportunities for personal development including managing minor projects, working with our supply chain to ensure the delivery of soft services, and managing operational site coordination activities.

Key responsibilities:

• Managing soft services, including grounds maintenance and the cleanliness of site, catering, front of house, pest control and land management;
• Monitoring management information (data and transactional activity) identifying trends, to ensure the Operations team is working to defined processes and procedures;
• Producing weekly and monthly operational reports and communicating outcomes to the business;
• Engaging with the APHA business by running weekly and monthly client meetings and ensuring actions from meetings are completed;
• Holding weekly Facilities Management meetings with the FM provider, tracking work items and their progress;
• Liaising with IFM to provide visitors and staff with site security passes;
• Acting as the main point of contact for customers and stakeholders of the Weybridge site, including managing any complaints or issues raised by local residents and ensuring issues are resolved;
• Managing small to medium projects;
• Contributing to the Business Case Proforma (BCP) process; and
• Providing general support to the head of operations team, managing and tracking work and actions as needed.

Person specification

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Experience of providing an efficient support function within a Facilities Management or building services environment, with customer facing experience;
• Experience of coordinating a complex portfolio of services and tasks together with managing small to medium sized projects;
• Excellent organisational and time management skills will be the ability to prioritise tasks;
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal;
• The ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and work well within a team; and
• Evidence of continually improving processes, policies and ways of working.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,857, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £9,681 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Salary: £35,857.00-£38,551.00 per year

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 328703