Area Facilities Manager - UK and Ireland

Location: Liverpool or East Midlands Gateway, with regular travel across all ten of our sites across the UK and Ireland  

Reports to: Area Managing Director
Direct reports: 6
Job Grade: Manager 4 [M4]

The opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Area Facilities Manager to lead the management of our office, warehouse and depot facilities. This is a varied, high-impact role with responsibility for ensuring our workplaces are safe, compliant, well maintained and aligned with the changing needs of the business, while supporting operational performance and employee experience.

The position will oversee leases, facilities services (Hard and Soft FM), budgets, maintenance and improvement projects, working closely with site as well as business leaders, HSE, Security, Business Continuity, Finance, Legal, Corporate Real Estate, landlords and suppliers. You will also lead the reception team and help create workplace environments that support operational performance, employee wellbeing and employee experience.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the property portfolio, including lease reviews, renewals, negotiations, new premises, lease exits and dilapidations, in partnership with Legal and Corporate Real Estate.
• Assess current and future facilities requirements and develop practical plans that support capacity, business growth and effective use of space.
• Lead the procurement and contract management of facilities services, including cleaning, catering, utilities, pest control and local authority services, ensuring clear service levels, strong supplier performance and value for money.
• Maintain strong supplier and landlord relationships, ensuring suppliers are onboarded correctly, contractual obligations are clear and value for money is achieved, while driving continuous improvement in service quality and performance.
• Own facilities budgets, forecasting and cost control, maintaining accurate records of commitments and identifying opportunities to improve utilisation and reduce cost.
• Partner with business leaders to assess investment needs and deliver improvements that support operations, employee experience, security and health and safety.
• Plan and deliver refurbishment, repair and maintenance programmes, ensuring required inspections, statutory checks and landlord obligations are completed, while promoting preventive maintenance practices that improve asset reliability and reduce long-term costs.
• Conduct regular facilities audits to maintain high standards of safety, security, cleanliness, compliance and sustainability.
• Work closely with the Area HSE Lead to ensure incidents are reported, escalated and investigated appropriately, with corrective actions completed to reduce recurrence.
• Lead and develop the reception team, ensuring a professional service that meets the day-to-day needs of each location.
• Promote sustainable facilities practices, including energy efficiency, waste reduction and responsible use of resources where appropriate.

What success looks like

• Facilities capacity, workplace services and working environments consistently support business and operational needs.
• Lease commitments, supplier relationships and service contracts are proactively managed and deliver value for money.
• Maintenance programmes, statutory compliance and audit outcomes demonstrate strong governance and effective risk management.
• Budgets and forecasts are accurate, well-controlled and delivered within agreed parameters, excluding approved investments.
• Workplaces are safe, compliant, well maintained and provide a positive employee experience across all Area locations.
• Health, safety and security issues are addressed promptly, with effective corrective actions implemented and sustained.

About you

• A number of years’ experience in multi-site or mixed-use facilities management, or in a comparable role with directly transferable experience.
• A NEBOSH General Certificate qualification.
• Experience of acquiring new facilities, managing lease exits and overseeing dilapidations.
• A sound understanding of commercial lease agreements, legal clauses and commonly accepted terms.
• Strong commercial, procurement and negotiation skills, with experience managing contracts, suppliers, budgets and forecasts.
• Proven ability to plan and deliver maintenance, refurbishment or facilities improvement projects.
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage schedules, records and competing priorities.
• A confident, collaborative stakeholder manager who can build effective relationships across a geographically dispersed business.
• A proactive, employee-focused approach and the ability to translate business strategy into an area facilities plan that improves workplace experience and operational effectiveness.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the Area to support all facilities.

Key relationships

• You will work closely with the Area Leadership Team, Area CFO, Area HSE Manager, Security Manager, Corporate Real Estate, Legal, landlords and facilities service providers.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

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