Facilities Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Place of work

Queen’s Gate House, MPW London, Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7

Hours of work

40 hours per week, working 5 out of 7 days. Due to the nature of the business this will include some flexible working hours, which will include some evening and weekend work as required by the business.

Benefits

Life assurance, income protection, annual season ticket loans, matching employee-employer contribution pension scheme, professional development opportunities

Holiday entitlement

30 days                                                                              

Responsible to

CEO and School Principal

Appraisal

CEO

MPW London - Queen’s Gate House

Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) is an independent education provider and one of the best known and most well-respected independent college brands in the UK.

Queen’s Gate House is a historic event and conference venue in the heart of Kensington, which supports the needs of the corporate, educational, and training sectors. Formerly known as Baden-Powell House, it was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 and has operated as an events venue since 1987.

The building was purchased by MPW in Summer 2021. Since then, we have undertaken an ambitious refurbishment programme that has transformed the building to include a boarding facility, a new social space, and a state-of-the-art-teaching rooms.

Event spaces range in scale from the expansive Event Hall, which can accommodate up to 300 guests in a variety of configurations, to individual meeting rooms, which are used as break-out spaces, or for stand-alone conferences, training, or interviews.

Job Purpose 

We are seeking a highly organised and experienced Facilities Manager to oversee the maintenance and operation of our multi-use facility in central London. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of our premises, including overseeing support services, line managing front facing reception, managing maintenance schedules, overseeing repairs, coordinating with external contractors and being the first point of contact for our tenants in the building. The Facilities Manager will play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and comfortable working environment for our employees, students and range of visitors who hire function rooms. The position is front of house/customer facing and a smart, professional appearance is required. 

Main duties and responsibilities: 

The Facilities Manager will assume responsibility for the oversight of our in-house services, safety, and security of any and all persons in the building while on duty, in line with relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, and that appropriate records are kept to support regular inspections and internal audits.

Building management: 

• Manage day-to day operations of all building services
• Develop and implement facilities management policies and procedures to ensure the effective operation of the premises.
• Oversee the maintenance and repair of building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and security systems.
• Coordinate with external contractors and service providers for maintenance, repairs, and renovations and ensuring appropriate quality and performance supervision
• Conduct regular inspections and site-related risk assessments to identify maintenance needs and safety hazards
• Take equipment audit
• Maintain an adequate inventory of parts and order items as necessary
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, optimizing spending while maintaining high standards of service delivery
• Resolve most queries independently, providing advice and recommending alternative courses of action as appropriate
• Stay current with industry trends and best practices

Health & Safety:

• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and industry standards.
• Ensuring that appropriate reporting/record management meets full compliance.
• Carry out and supervise water hygiene.
• Ensure fire safety checks are completed regularly (e.g., alarm testing and servicing, fire drills and evacuations)
• Act as a fully qualified First Aider for the premises

Event and Commercial Activity:

• Coordinate event arrangements for any internal events as well as external party hire of QGH spaces and facilities.
• Manage space planning and allocation, including venue space layout and furniture and supplies procurement.
• Manage and assist with room set up of functions, ensuring all areas of the hall are in line with function requirements. This includes the setting up and operation of the AV system in place.

Staff Management:

• Supervise facilities staff
• Develop and maintain relationships with in-house caterers, housekeeping, suppliers, and regulatory agencies.
• Onboard any new staff

Conduct regular performance management reviews and appraisals 

General 

Carry out any reasonable request from Management within the general scope and purpose of the position, including portering 

Person Specification 

Qualifications:

• This role would be suited to an individual with a bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or other related field.
• Certification in facilities management (e.g., CFM, FMP) is desirable but not mandatory.
• Proven experience in facilities management is essential, preferably in a commercial or corporate environment.
• Proven ability to analyse and resolve operational problems and emergencies
• Strong knowledge of building systems, maintenance practices, Health and Safety, and Building Regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and facilities management software.
• Full up to date First Aid qualification
• IOSH qualification
• NEBOSH qualification desirable

Skills and Personal Qualities:

• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong leadership and management abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to build and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Good diagnostics and problem-solving skills
• Ability to deal sensitively and appropriately with a range of challenging situations, and diffuse potential misconduct or conflict incidents arising between staff, students or visitors as required

Additional Requirements:

• Availability to respond to emergencies and address facility issues outside of regular business hours.

 Premises alcohol and entertainment licence to take over.

To apply please click the 'Apply' button above and email : recruitment@mpw.ac.uk .

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on an ongoing basis.