Position: Facilities Services Manager
Location: Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent
Role: Full-time
Company Background
Discovery Park is a leading science and innovation park in the Southeast of England, home to more than 160 forward-thinking companies ranging from ambitious start-ups to global multinationals. Our vibrant community spans the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare, technology, and professional services sectors, creating a dynamic environment where innovation thrives.
Through our dedicated operational and business support teams, Discovery Park Management Ltd (DPML) delivers comprehensive facilities management across the site. This includes the maintenance of buildings, landscaped grounds, and utilities infrastructure, as well as the provision of essential services such as front-of-house reception, cleaning, logistics, security, and event management.
We are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment for all occupiers and visitors, delivering quality services across the park, whilst continuously seeking opportunities to improve and enhance the way we operate.
Our values guide everything we do:
· Inspirational leadership – leading by example and empowering others
· People-focused – treating everyone with respect, care, and professionalism
· Operational excellence – delivering consistently high standards in all we do
· Community spirit – working collaboratively and supporting one another as one team
Main Purposes of the Job
The Facilities Services Manager is responsible for leading the delivery of facilities services across all multi-let facilities and wider estate. The role ensures that services are delivered in line with health and safety requirements, environmental standards, company procedures, relevant legislation and client/tenant requirements. This role is also responsible for maintaining budgetary control and delivering high standards of customer service.
Reports to: Head of Facilities & Engineering
Direct Line Management for:
- Security Manager
- Front of House Supervisor
- Estates Manager
- Cleaning Supervisor
- Internal maintenance
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide overall leadership and direction to the Facilities Services operational managers responsible for Security, Front of House, Estates, Logistics, Cleaning, Grounds Maintenance and Internal Maintenance.
• Support the delivery of the business’s strategic objectives and priorities, ensuring effective communication and collaboration across all teams.
• Set and ensure the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the teams, taking corrective action where required to maintain and continuously improve standards across the buildings and wider estate.
• Empower and coach direct reports to deliver high levels of performance across facilities services.
• Develop and implement service standards and methods to improve overall efficiency and satisfaction levels.
• Support the delivery of contracted soft services for tenants, either directly or through liaison with the Site Operations Coordinator.
• Oversee third party contracts, ensuring the correct standard of service is provided in accordance with the agreed contract.
• Identify opportunities for service improvements and efficiencies, cost savings or commercial gains.
• Maintain a good working knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.
• Proactively identify and manage risk, developing effective controls and mitigation, and deal with issues across sites, escalating where appropriate.
• Maintain a safe working environment within the areas of responsibility and ensure all near misses and accidents are reported and investigated to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Risk Assessments and Method Statements are in place, regularly reviewed and kept up to date.
• Ensure that, across all areas of responsibility, the team is appropriately trained and records are available.
• Develop and maintain excellent client and customer relationships, taking a proactive approach to ensure the highest standards of service in relation to the operational needs of the building and estate.
• Demonstrate strong management qualities to drive performance and engagement across the business and team.
• Manage, motivate, and develop reporting staff through effective induction, training and development, and annual appraisals.
• Manage a complex varied team covering 24/7 operations.
• Prepare and present reports to the leadership team and clients.
• Use data to monitor performance, predict trends and inform service improvements.
• Use relevant management software to plan, track and manage activity and projects.
• Develop a continuous improvement culture through the reporting teams.
• Manage the Discovery Park fleet.
• Implement quality standards across all areas of responsibility.
• Via a suitable subcontractor, manage external maintenance works, including roof repairs, pressure washing, façade cleaning, and other building envelope maintenance tasks.
• Conduct regular inspections of external structures and surfaces to identify maintenance needs, safety hazards, and potential issues requiring attention.
• Coordinate with external contractors, suppliers, and service providers to schedule and oversee maintenance activities, ensuring timely completion and compliance with quality standards.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
As required by the Business and/or directed by Management
Essential
- Previous experience in facilities management.
- Facilities Management qualification, or equivalent work-based experience within a facilities management environment.
- Previous experience managing third parties and contractors.
- Understanding and knowledge of health and safety legislation and environmental protection requirements
- Awareness of workplace health and safety.
- Experience in successful client management and relationships building.
- Ability to provide clear direction, set expectations and drive high levels of team performance.
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to encourage collaboration across teams and align colleagues towards common goals.
- Experience of providing timely and assertive decision making.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues and tenants.
Desirable
- NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent)
- Membership of a relevant professional body
Note: The Job Description is not intended to be all inclusive. The job holder may be required to perform other related duties to meet the on-going needs of the Company
Annual Salary: £50,000.00 DOE
Working Week: e.g. 40 hours per week – 8am to 5pm (inclusive of 1-hour unpaid break each day)
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave plus Public Bank Holidays
- Free on-site parking
- Employee Discount & Recognition Platform (Discovery Perks)
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- 10% Discount at on-site catering outlets
- 10 days company sick pay in any rolling year, after successful completion of probation*
- Workplace pension (3% employer contribution) for those aged between 22 and state pension age.
- On site Gym
Annual Salary: £50,000.00 DOE
Benefits may be subject to change