Director, Building Services and Health and Safety

Job Title: Director, Building Services and Health and Safety

Location: London

Job Type: Permanent

Please note that this advertisement will close on Sunday 17th August

Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.

Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.

About the role:

This is a fantastic opportunity to join LifeArc at an exciting stage of our journey. The Director, Building Services, Health and Safety is a new senior role and will be a member of the Extended Leadership Team (ELT) reporting to the Deputy CEO. The role will oversee all LifeArc Facilities, as well as Health and Safety, in all sites, including London, Stevenage and Edinburgh.

The position will run facilities and health and safety in all current sites and support the planning of LifeArc’s new flagship building in Judd Street. It is expected that the new building will raise the profile of LifeArc, provide great laboratory and office space for LifeArc staff, and will be also used to host events and collaborate with partners in the ecosystem. It is important for the organisation that the building is ready on budget, and on time for our planned move in 2027.

Overall responsibility:

The role’s primary responsibilities are to lead and manage all activities related to the development and successful implementation of building services operations for LifeArc, both in its existing locations as well as the new one in Judd Street. The complexity of the new building and the different space zones (office, lab, event, collaboration and logistics) requires experience of the full range of FM services, both hard and soft, along with experience of supporting facilities for a broad range of activities in a scientific environment

Key responsibilities:

• Work with the Deputy CEO, the Executive team and the Programme Director of Judd Street to secure the effective handover and commissioning of the new facility on time and on budget
• Create transition plans for the move from Lynton House and Stevenage to Judd Street
• Develop the structure for operations for all aspects of building services for LifeArc taking account of the work already completed by the subject matter user groups.
• Plan logistics for the new site
• Engage with the construction team in the implementation of the Building Management System and develop and implement documented procedures for its operation and management on-going.
• Support the specification, procurement and implementation of all systems supporting facilities management and monitoring controls.
• Oversee commissioning, testing and validation of newly installed systems and infrastructure
• Lead and manage the following services, including reviewing options for which should be maintained in house and those to be operated through outsourced provision: building operations and maintenance including building lifecycle planning and reporting, engineering services and maintenance, grounds/ public realm operations and maintenance, public access facilities, event facilities, cleaning, waste disposal, portering, catering, security and reception services
• Lead and support the management of laboratories
• Ensure all building services (HVAC, electrical, lab utilities) are fit for purpose and compliant with regulatory standards
• Establish and maintain robust health and safety protocols
• Develop performance management structures and reporting requirements for facilities management activities including value for money.
• Develop and maintain a building asset management and inventory of equipment, furniture and fittings
• Develop and maintain a long-term capital works and maintenance plan to support LifeArc’s position as a convener of the life sciences ecosystem with requirements for open access, events, reception support and administration.
• Engage with all staff to support induction, training and awareness towards effective security, personal security and safety management for LifeArc staff.

Education & experience required:

• Degree or equivalent in a related discipline and a relevant chartered professional qualification in engineering or the equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience and proven track record of managing a complex property portfolio, staff and budgets. This may have been gained in the public or commercial sector and ideally within a scientific research environment.

Skills & abilities:

• Highly motivated, high achieving leader with significant management experience and an excellent relevant FM background
• Experience in serving as a member of a senior leadership team, contributing to business continuity and crisis management planning
• Strength and quality of leadership and the personal skills required to develop and lead an effective, well-motivated, multi-disciplined facilities team.
• A sound understanding of the legal and financial aspects of major property projects and transactions.
• Wide experience both in the preparation and control of development programmes, building and engineering projects and in managing facility operations and maintenance services.
• Experience in integrating best practices into building refurbishment and ongoing operations (e.g. energy efficiency, green materials, waste management)
• Experience in working with regulatory bodies and certification agencies
• Experience of high specification and high-quality facilities and understand the management and maintenance requirements for such facilities.
• Experienced in health and safety management, managing H&S Audits, and Health and Safety Legislation (COSHH, ISO, OSHA)
• High level strategic planning and organisation skills, including forward planning and forecasting.
• Experience in the delivery of value engineering processes.
• Previous experience of multiple stakeholder projects and the management of end user requirements.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, able to engage with people at all levels inside and outside LifeArc
• Working with local councils and local working parties
• Experienced in project/programme management processes and tools that may be applied to non-construction related activities
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills.

About us:

At LifeArc, our ambition is to make life science life changing. We do this by advancing scientific discoveries beyond the lab, faster, so that they can shape the next generation of diagnostics, treatments, and cures.

Working at the cutting edge of translational science and as the early-stage translation specialists, we progress scientific discoveries on their journey to becoming a medicine, diagnostic or intervention that improve patients’ lives. Our work begins by seeking out innovative science, then helping to develop this to a point where there is a clinical and commercial pathway for others to invest the time and money to take it further forward.

What we can offer you:

Focused on finding life changing solutions for underserved patients, our people thrive in an inclusive, and supportive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. Our multidisciplinary approach guarantees our people growth opportunities, while our culture of innovation and collaboration drives the impact we make delivering on our purpose of ‘putting patients at the centre of everything we do’.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, flexible, equitable and happy work environment so our colleagues can thrive as their truest selves. We act with courage, curiosity, care & commitment to deliver quality & excellence for our patients and each other Join us, and you’ll be given the scope to develop your professional skills and experience in a safe, supportive and challenging environment

Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just right for this or other roles.

We all have potential. At LifeArc, you’ll discover what you can really do with it.