Facilities Manager - Projects. Field based role in the North West of England

Alternative Futures Group is the North West’s largest Mental Health and Learning Disability charity.

With a strong track record over 30 years, we work locally in the community and through our Treatment and Recovery Centres to provide a wide range of innovative and bespoke care services.

We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives.  Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment.  These principles are really important to us.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family.  If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make.  We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! 

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

Job Purpose

The role holder will report directly to the Head of Estates whilst working closely with the Facilities Manager and the wider team, as well as operational colleagues.

The role holder will be responsible for the delivery of specific ad hoc estates projects, whilst also providing support to the wider Estates team in the delivery of business-as-usual activity to ensure the development of an estate that delivers outstanding outcomes for the people we support, ensuring the portfolio is managed safely, cost effectively and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

This role requires an individual with strong project management capability within an estate’s environment, with a demonstrable track record of delivery of projects on time, to Budget and to the requisite level of quality.

Reporting directly to the Head of Estates, the role holder will: 

• Lead the estates input in the expansion of the existing property footprint.
• Onboard new additions to the estate’s property portfolio efficiently and effectively.
• Work collaboratively with operational colleagues ensuring “best outcomes” are delivered for the people we support in the development and maintenance of the estate.
• Support the wider estates team in the delivery of business-as-usual activities.
• Be visible and on site to ensure the smooth running of projects and the timely resolution of issues. 

Dimensions

Whilst the role currently has no direct reports assigned, the level of project activity and the consequential resource requirements will determine any additional staffing needs. The nature of individual projects will determine this although it is anticipated that project spend will be circa £0.5m+ per annum.

Principal Accountabilities

Estates and Facilities Management 

• Responsibility: Act as the senior estates and facilities professional on project work assigned. 

• Project Plans: Ensure there is a clear and documented estates plan for each project assigned and lead the implementation of these plans to ensure best possible outcomes for the people we support. In the planning and delivery of projects, the role holder must ensure that due consideration is given to operational requirements. 

• Project Performance: Ensure a robust contract performance management framework is in place for each project. 

• Regulatory: Ensure all project work is undertaken in accordance with applicable regulatory and statutory requirements. 

• Resource Management: Manage and co-ordinate both AFG staff and external contractors in the delivery of projects. Where required mitigating actions/plans may need to be taken to ensure that projects are delivered to requirements. 

• Onboarding: With support from the Head of Estates, lead the estates input re. property acquisition (both support with the identification of appropriate property and subsequent due diligence). 

• Expansion: With support from the Head of Estates, lead the estates input re. the expansion of existing estates footprint. 

• Business Cases: Prepare business cases, feasibility studies for consideration by the Head of Estates and onwards by the Executive/Director team. 

• Business as Usual Estates Activity: The role holder will be required to work alongside the Estates Manager and the wider estates team in the delivery of business-as-usual estates activity (including site visits, contract monitoring meetings, supervision of reactive repairs etc.), where project requirements mean the role holder has capacity to undertake this work. 

Financial Management

• Financial Performance: Manage project related budgets, ensuring projects are delivered to Budget, to the requisite quality and to time. 

• Procurement: Work closely with the Procurement team to source potential suppliers for services and ensure those services are sourced on a “Value for money” (VFM) basis, and in accordance with the terms of the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation. 

• Tenders: Working closely with the Procurement function of the Charity, take the estates lead in tender activity where assigned, ensuring that activity is undertaken in accordance with the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation. 

• Cost Reduction/Service Improvement: Lead in ensuring we are continually striving to reduce cost/improve service provision. 

• Commercial Acumen: Commercially savvy to drive continuous improvement opportunities (both financial and operational). 

Sustainability, Efficiency, and Innovation 

• Estates Development: Ensure development activity within the estate takes account of environmental considerations/technological advances in the go-forward design.

Person Specification - Essential Requirements:

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of current and forthcoming regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Skilled and experienced negotiator to ensure “best value” is derived from commercial contracts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Able to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and to work collaboratively with others.
• Strong people management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, dealing with multiple competing priorities across a changing landscape.
• Excellent working knowledge of Office 365 products.
• Takes the initiative, able to work at pace without supervision.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and resolve estate management problems, and to develop and implement practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail and a critical eye.
• Able to develop a robust control framework re. project delivery.
• Commercially astute enabling cost reduction/service optimisation.

Values and Attitudes

• Solution focused with a “can do” attitude.
• “Change agent”, comfortable challenging the status quo.
• Comfortable and skilled operating at both the macro and micro level.
• Comfortable working independently but also as part of a team.
• Accurate and methodical in approach to work.
• “Value for money” mentality.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an estate’s management/estates project management role.
• Experience of working in an environment delivering both planned and reactive maintenance and delivery of capital projects.
• Proven track record of capex project delivery (cost, time, scope).
• Experience of managing complex estates projects (resource, finances, scope).
• Experienced in managing contractors and sub-contractors including conflict resolution.
• Experience in both the development of and management of financial Budgets and Reforecasts.
• Experience in undertaking property related “due diligence”.
• Experienced in the preparation and presentation of business cases for consideration by the Head of Estates.
• Experience of working with a Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) system.
• Able to develop frameworks to understand a problem, identify practical options to solve the problem, and identify the most optimal solution.

Qualifications & Training

• Level 3 Facilities Management qualification.
• GCSE Maths and English

Other

• Full driving license.
• On occasion emergency contact for the properties and therefore may need to attend out of hours.

This role is home based, with occasional travel within the north west of England required. This role is Band II as per our structure