Deputy Head of Workplace & Facilities Management North & Mid West
Arup
Joining Arup
Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 75 years, guiding us how we shape a better world.
Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!
The Opportunity
This senior leadership role offers the chance to shape and elevate Workplace & Facilities Management (WFM) across Arup’s North and Mid‑West regions. You’ll play a pivotal part in defining the strategic direction of the WFM function while ensuring exceptional operational delivery across a diverse portfolio of offices, including Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Stockton, Manchester, Liverpool, Whitehaven, Sheffield, Leeds, York, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol and Cardiff. Working closely with internal business teams and external partners, you’ll influence how people experience their workplace and drive continuous improvement across all WFM services.
Is This Role Right for You?
If you thrive in a fast‑paced, multi‑site environment and enjoy leading teams through change, this role offers a unique platform to make a meaningful impact. You’ll bring a holistic approach to workplace management, balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on leadership. You’ll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, building strong relationships, and ensuring that every office operates safely, efficiently and in alignment with Arup’s values. This is an ideal opportunity for a motivated WFM professional who wants to shape service excellence across a large and varied regional portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the operational delivery of WFM services across all regional offices.
Oversee WFM involvement in projects, ensuring compliance, process review and successful delivery.
Ensure safe, comfortable and effective working environments for all employees.
Drive optimisation and continuous improvement across WFM services, adopting industry best practice.
-
Manage budgets, stakeholder relationships and a high‑performing, customer‑centric WFM team.
Skills & Experience
Proven experience as a WFM professional with a track record of delivering high‑quality services.
Strong customer service, communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
Proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint; experience with WFM systems is an advantage.
Ability to lead teams with a holistic, solutions‑focused approach.
Commercially aware, highly organised and confident working in a fast‑paced environment.
Desirable Experience
Knowledge of Health & Safety practices, including risk assessments, COSHH and method statements.
Experience managing building maintenance, fit‑outs, churn and related H&S considerations.
Strong client‑facing skills and the ability to adapt thinking to unusual or complex situations.
Comfortable working with processes, reporting and documentation.
Qualifications
NEBOSH qualification (or willingness to work towards it).
First Aid and Fire Marshal training (or willingness to obtain).
Degree and/or relevant professional qualification.
Full membership of IWFM or equivalent professional body.
Not ready to apply just yet or have some questions? Contact Rhian Melaney at rhian.melaney@arup.com - Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.
What We Offer you
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.
Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.
We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.
We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.
Different People, Shared Values
Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.
Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.
We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Rhian Melaney at rhian.melaney@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.
Our Application Process
To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/
Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.
Recruitment Agencies - We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.
Closing Date 9th February 2025 - We may close the role earlier than the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications, so please ensure you apply early.
#LI-DNI