Facilities Manager

National Trust

The National Trust plans to invest in conservation over the next 10 years ensuring we continue to care for the 20 miles of fascinating waterway running through rural and urban Surrey. As part of this we are developing new ways of working to ensure we look after our properties and waterways effectively and efficiently.

To help delivery our strategy, we now have an exciting opportunity for an experienced operational facilities leader to join us at the National Trust.

If you are passionate about leading a facilities team in an organisation that cares for and maintains its historic places and properties, keeping them attractive and safe for our staff, volunteers and visitors to enjoy, this role would be perfect for you.

What it’s like to work here

This is a broad and complex role working across one of the more unusual properties at the National Trust, 20 miles of fascinating waterway running through rural and urban Surrey which comes with its own bespoke needs.

It is a diverse area with each day there will be a new scenario to encounter. It’s about being part of something different, where our cause is at the heart of what we do and where our decisions are always based on thinking now & forever, loving our places, welcoming everyone and making it happen.

What you’ll be doing

This role will be based at Dapdune Wharf in the centre of Guildford where you will be responsible for facilities management and maintenance management across the portfolio, from Godalming to Weybridge. Your role will be to ensure the compliance and maintenance of in-hand buildings including various lock cottages, wharfs and boathouses along the navigations, Weir House and Shalford Mill.

Utilising your technical expertise in facilities management, and working within National Trust procedures and conservation guidelines you’ll be overseeing essential maintenance including arranging reactive repairs calling on the Building Surveyor when needed and tracking compliance tasks to ensure safe, sustainable and cost-efficient operations are delivered on time and to a high and appropriate standard. You’ll oversee the offices including rooms let for internal and external meetings. There are close ties with the let estate and some support work to the Estate Manager around the commercial rentals on the waterway will be necessary.

You will be responsible for promoting Health and Safety awareness across your portfolio and for ensuring effective environment management is sustained.

You will be in charge of delegated budgets including the management and ongoing review of external contracts. You will have a holistic view of facilities management across your properties, creating and implementing a strategic plan of work, to be able to prioritise, react to unplanned maintenance, analyse performance, provide reporting and statistics and to support your recommendations for more efficient ways of working.

To succeed in this role, we are looking for a strong communicator who can influence and inspire people and to negotiate well. You will be supported by a skilled internal consultancy and property conservation teams and work closely with the Navigations Foreman, Head Lengthsman and Experience & Visitor Programming Manager and their teams to ensure we meet and where possible exceed all compliance and best practice across the property.

We are looking to build greater partnerships locally improving and developing some sites and linking them by water, encouraging water sports and boating while developing the benefit the navigation can provide around mental and physical health to the community and visitors. We have a sizable local population along our 20 miles some of whom discovered our charm during lockdown exercise and retaining and growing new and diverse visitors is a key driver for us.

As a Navigation Authority we have responsibilities beyond normal NT compliance, and operate to specific Acts of Parliament for both the Wey Navigations and the Godalming Navigations, so focused thinking and attention to detail are essential in this role. New bespoke software for collecting boating licences and mooring fees is about to be introduced so a solid understanding of both IT and GDPR are going to be needed.

Who we’re looking for

Applications from internal employees who are under notice of redundancy are assessed against the minimum criteria required for the role. All other applicants may be assessed against other criteria in the advert and role profile.

Any employees under notice of redundancy who meet the minimum criteria will progress to the next stage. In your application please provide details of how you meet the criteria for this role:

• Leadership skills including coaching, team motivation and communication
• Understanding and experience of operational property management and maintenance supported by relevant vocational experience or professional qualifications such as the Institute of Work and Facilities Management – Member Level 4 Certificate.
• Experience of record management and information systems for example the Property System and Compliance tracker, Vantage
• Good experience of broad compliance and risk management relating to facilities management. Knowledge of Health and Safety, CDM regulations, Emergency Procedures, Fire and Security procedures and legislation
• Awareness and or understanding of the core purpose and strategic priorities within a Charity organisation
• Experience of working in business, customer service and / or visitor attraction environment
• Good People skills and puts importance on outstanding customer service, enabling strong relationships to be built and maintained both internally and externally.
• Experience of managing budgets, finances, projects and contracts/contractors
• Excellent Written and verbal communication skills including influencing, negotiating and presentation