UAL is a hotbed of creativity, innovation and invention across the knowledge economy. Drawing together six Colleges with international reputations in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts, UAL is a fundamental part of the UK’s creative ecology. Ranked second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Ranking, UAL is hugely international, with a reputation that attracts over 21,000 students from 130 countries, creating a vibrant, multi-cultural community environment.
Now is an exciting time to be joining UAL to take up this role. Following the creation of the UAL Strategy 2022-2032, a 10-year Estates Strategy has been developed. We have just completed the delivery of a new campus for the London College of Fashion at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and are delivering a new campus for London College of Communication (including a new hub for University Services), thus rehousing circa 50% of the UAL population over the period. We are embarking on a period of estate consolidation ensuring that the UAL estate is fit for purpose, sustainable and provides world-class facilities and experience to our students, staff and partners.
Reporting to the Director of Estates, the role of the Associate Director Facilities Management is to strategically lead, manage and develop customer-focused facilities services aligned with the Universities strategic aims.
The scale and breadth of the role is significant. The team comprises circa 120 in-house team members with a further 150 staff delivering services through external contracts across UAL’s diverse portfolio of campuses and sites across London. The annual operating budget across hard FM and soft FM is c. £17m, and the team also works very closely with colleagues in the capital projects team on the successful operationalisation of new buildings and campuses.
The successful candidate will have a proven track record of leading facilities management services across a large-scale, complex and diverse organisation. You will have a positive approach and track record of successfully inspiring and leading a large team of in-house staff and external partners in the delivering a broad range of customer-focused facilities services.
With excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, the appointed candidate will need to have a demonstrable ability to operate successfully with a multitude of internal colleagues as well as external stakeholders. It is crucial that potential candidates are aligned to UAL’s strategy and purpose.
The role offers a fantastic career opportunity to lead the facilities services provision for a world-renowned university with an extraordinary London estate portfolio. The Candidate Brochure can be viewed here.
For a briefing discussion please contact our retained advisors Michael Hewlett (michael.hewlett@mrgglobal.com / 07972579938) and (Sally Brockway (sally.brockway@mrgglobal.com / 07842315696) at MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and should be sent to michael.hewlett@mrgglobal.com and sally.brockway@mrgglobal.com.
UAL is committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments for all staff and students to work and learn – a university where we can be ourselves and reach our full potential. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and Staff Support Networks. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and caring responsibility.