2023 Senior Appointment’s Programme – Facilities Directorate

University of Leeds

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in joining us at the University of Leeds.

These are unique opportunities to join the Facilities Directorate (FD) as a new senior team is being formed. After many years of service, over the past few years, senior colleagues have retired or moved onto top-flight positions, and we are looking for a new team to help shape our future.

The Facilities Directorate is one of a number of professional services within the portfolio of the Chief Operating Officer, which, by providing a responsive and excellent service to students and staff, plays a significant role delivering the University’s ten-year Strategy; Universal Values, Global Change.

The University of Leeds wants to make a difference to the world, and this boldness and ambition makes it a dynamic place to work, with a genuine desire to innovate at its heart. Our commitment to transformational change across the University, including in digital innovation and learning spaces, will improve the experience of our students and colleagues and make us fit for the future.

Here in the Facilities Directorate we like to approach life differently, and are looking for candidates who genuinely like to innovate and work in partnership to find solutions.  One of the first tasks will be to create a coherent team to lead where people will learn from each other and be encouraged to share ideas. We believe that this will enable us to better serve the needs of students and colleagues across the University, and have re-grouped teams under these roles to make them more effective.

These roles are brand new and not only reflect a restructured FD but also position us to more efficiently deliver the University Strategy. The FD is key to enabling that Strategy, providing the fabric of the University by stitching together all the services that enable students and staff to thrive and succeed.

The Facilities Directorate’s new three-year Business Plan entitled ‘Our Way Ahead’ focuses on building communities, both within the service and across the wider University and beyond. This is a strategic yet very practical working document which sets out our aims and objectives and how we will deliver them. It identifies key initiatives –  including Net Zero by 2030, a programme to ‘reimagine’ the campus, and the development of inspirational learning, teaching and workplace spaces – and is underpinned by the University’s values as well as a commitment to developing an inclusive culture that ensures everyone feels valued. This is important.

After a challenging few years, there is a renewed energy to encourage and enable our teams to work collaboratively, through developing skills and expertise and by promoting a culture of partnership working between the Facilities Directorate, our academic colleagues and other Professional Services.

The University is shortly launching its new employee engagement survey, the results of which will give us an important insight into how colleagues see the University now and into the future, this insight will be critical to our work moving forwards. As we look to provide increased learning space and develop our campus masterplan for the future, we will be looking to this role to continue to build on our partnership with Leeds University Union to understand and consider the student voice in our plans.

These roles build on great work and solid foundations. Our FD people are hugely diverse, highly skilled, and everyone cares very much about getting it right. With this approach, we will go from strength to strength.

Finally, the successful candidate will need to be innovative, creative and strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, demonstrating our University Values in all operational activity, strategy and planning. There are exciting times ahead for both the Facilities Directorate and the University and we look forward to receiving your application.

Rachel Brealey
Chief Operating Officer

Ann Allen
Director of Campus Innovation & Development 

About us

The University was founded in 1904, but our origins go back to the nineteenth century with the founding of the Leeds School of Medicine in 1831 and the Yorkshire College of Science in 1874.

Today, we are one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, and globally renowned for the quality of our teaching and research.

We are a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, and part of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), which comprises 23 research-intensive institutions spanning six continents.

The strength of our academic expertise, across a wide breadth of disciplines, offers a wealth of opportunities for our students and staff, and has a real cultural, economic, societal, and environmental impact around the globe.

Our new institutional strategy, ‘Universal Values, Global Change’, sets an ambitious, transformative roadmap for the next 10 years. It is a blueprint for a values-driven university, rooted in our desire to make a difference in the world – one that harnesses expertise in research and education to help shape a better future for humanity, working through collaboration to tackle inequalities, benefit society and drive change.

The University’s core values are:

  • Integrity: We are open and honest in our words and actions.
  • Inclusivity: We are a community where everyone is welcomed and belongs.
  • Compassion: We are caring and considerate in our words and actions.
  • Collaboration: We work together to achieve our goals and ambition.

Following the largest online discussion held at Leeds, our staff, postgraduate researchers and students helped co-create our core values and behaviours, which are now being adopted across the University.

Our strategy

Further information about the University and our Strategic Plan 2020-2030, can be found here: https://spotlight.leeds.ac.uk/strategy/

Our strategy identifies three core areas of focus:

Culture – recognising that collaboration rather than competition is fundamental to yielding excellence in research, education and societal impact.

Community – recognising the importance of diversity, partnership and innovation in forging strong communities internally and externally.

Impact – recognising the need to develop the next generation of global citizens and to focus our research efforts on areas in which we can be truly globally leading, while harnessing the potential of digital innovation to enhance both.

The roles

Director of Campus Innovation - Masterplanning and Asset Management (AQ1755)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is a senior role responsible for oversight and development of the campus masterplan, innovative and sustainable use of space and using the assets of the estate efficiently and effectively and in a way that supports the University to achieve its ambitious academic strategy.

Main duties and responsibilities

Development of an innovative masterplan which creates a sense of belonging and purpose and to include

  • Development of a 15 years campus development plan.
  • Development of an approach to using outside space to compliment indoor space, to enable curation of the outdoor space, to encourage movement through green corridors, to create active frontages and to put people first and vehicles second through an innovative servicing strategy.

Development of imaginative and innovative spaces and buildings in away that is inclusive and engages across the University communities, however also challenges historic concepts on space and use of space and to include

  • New approaches to workspace management and development of an efficient and diverse space strategy which is inclusive however drives efficiency in the way workspace is used with changes based on research and evidenced best practice.
  • Development of a catalogue of ideas to showcase best practice in use of spaces and to inspire future innovation and change.
  • Development of new design concepts to support changes in formal and informal teaching and learning space aligning to academic needs, pedagogical change and sector innovation.
  • Development of research and innovation space to support the Universities ambitious approach to collaborative research and innovation.

Development of a 15 year capital plan to enable major development proposals including re-imagining existing buildings and multi faculty transformational projects which may include

  • Supporting as required any proposals to raise funding. through property bonds or other funding models
  • Disposals of property assets and rationalization of the campus.
  • Development of a development partner arrangements.

Development and delivery of the universities ambitious environmental sustainability and biodiversity targets including

  • Working in collaboration with academic colleagues to develop a new university environmental sustainability strategy.
  • Working in collaboration with academic colleagues to develop a new bio-diversity strategy.
  • To develop and deliver an investment strategy for off-site renewables.
  • Rationalization of the estate to support the Universities net zero targets.

All estate management and asset management activity including

  • All property transactions including lease negotiations, and property disposals.
  • All town planning matters.
  • All property management and commercial aspects of the farm.
  • Ensuring all data and terrier information is correct and properly managed.

To engage with City and regional partners with a focus on place and place making, promotion of the city as a great place to live, work, play and study; to work with Nexus promote the University’s role in innovation within the city and the region.

To lead, develop and manage teams leading on sustainability, development managers (to be appointed) space, asset management.

To provide leadership across the FD through being an active member of the FD Senior Management Team, encouraging a culture which empowers colleagues to achieve their potential and holds colleagues to account for key deliverables.

To lead and develop high level collaborative work with senior leaders internally including Faculties, cross collaborative groups, Services and LUU  and externally where appropriate in the definition of service requirements and delivery against those requirement.

To act as deputy for the Director Campus Innovation and Development as required

PERSON SPECIFICATION

What will you bring to the role?

Experience

  • A degree or equivalent qualifications/experience which may include but not exclusively membership of the RICS, ICE, RIAS/RIBA.
  • Significant senior level experience in an appropriate discipline which may include but not exclusively asset or property management, investment management, architecture, masterplanning, town planning, engineering, interior/workspace design or similar.
  • Experience of working in complex environments with multiple demands and stakeholders.
  • A proven ability to engage effectively with multiple groups with differing demands and expectations and to reach consensus through evidence based debate and discussion.
  • A proven ability to think and plan strategically and a track record of successfully translating strategy into reality.
  • Significant experience of managing large scale and complex projects with a track record of driving successful organisational and cultural change.
  • Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to persuade others at all levels.
  • Financially astute, with understanding of funding opportunities and experience in negotiating complex property transactions.
  • A proven experience in successfully building and leading multi-disciplined teams.
  • The ability to work collaboratively and across boundaries with evidence of success in developing strong working relationships and networks internally and externally and at all levels of an organisation.
  • Demonstrable ability to work effectively under pressure and in challenging work environments with multiple stakeholders and tight deadlines.
  • Excellent analytical skills with an ability to solve complex problems using own initiative, sound judgement and political awareness.

You may also have:

  • A curiosity for the role of place making and the built environment in supporting communities to create a sense of belonging.
  • Experience of working in Higher Education at a senior level.
  • A passion for developing a sustainable environment and a believe in bio-diversity.
  • A knowledge of working within a conservation environment including brutalist buildings.

Director of Campus Innovation - Infrastructure, Construction and Delivery (AQ1757)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

This a senior role responsible for all campus infrastructure construction, refurbishment and reimagining buildings, project management, engineering and hard facilities management, net zero delivery and power.

This role will be expected to bring new ways of thinking and innovation into the delivery of construction projects, procurement and smart campus to support the delivery of the £150mil net zero program.

A particular focus for the role will be to lead a program for the sympathetic refurbishment of the Universities large brutalist buildings which are central to the character of the campus.

The role will be expected to introduce efficient ways of working, demonstrating value for money in everything that is done. The focus should always be on how the campus supports the University to achieve its ambitious academic strategy.

Services include: Construction, project management, minor works, program office, net zero delivery, engineering, repair and maintenance, utilities

Main duties and responsibilities

All construction projects from small refurbishments to major new buildings and refurbishments in a compliant and cost effective way to include

  • Refurbishment of research space, teaching and learning spaces and workspaces.
  • Strategic approach to procurement of all advisors, contractors including framework arrangements to ensure appropriate skills are available in a compliant and cost effective way.
  • Delivery of all engineering and infrastructure projects.

To ensure that all work is compliant with health and safety requirements and that all staff have appropriate and up to date health and safety training.

To provide oversight to a Program Office to ensure that

  • Reporting is undertaken in an efficient and effective way.
  • Data management is effective and efficient.
  • Change programs are prioritized and management effectively and efficiently.
  • Program management tools are introduced and adopted consistently across the whole of the Directorate and align with all University change program tool kits.
  • Support is provided for the Capital Committee and papers and business cases are prepared in a timely and professional way.

To introduce the use of digital tools to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the design, delivery and management of any new or refurbished building to include

  • Use of BIM in an effective way.
  • Use of digital opportunities for project management.
  • Use of digital to support smart campus technology.
  • Us of digital to better understand the existing estate, services and hard facilities.

To develop a strategy for the effective delivery of the £150m net zero program including

  • An innovative and compliant approach to procurement.
  • An approach that can demonstrate clear value for money.
  • That can be delivered whilst the university remains an active functioning campus.
  • Proposals for a digital twin to use resources more effectively, support the smart campus prospect and support the reduction in carbon.

To provide leadership in the delivery of hard services facilities including M&E and repair and maintenance ensuring that

  • They are delivered in an efficient and effective way.
  • Can demonstrate value for money.
  • Prioritise spend in a way that supports the Universities academic strategy.
  • Are delivered in a way focused on the requirements of the users and not the service.
  • Are effectively monitored against KPIs.

To provide leadership to the procurement and delivery of utilities to all University buildings including

  • Strategies for the purchasing of utilities.
  • Representing the University in all matters relating to the GSC and the combined authority (jointly run between the University and the Leeds Hospital Trust).
  • Strategies to ensure that back up facilities for loss of power are adequate and link to the Faculty business continuity plans.
  • Working closely with academic colleagues to deliver the off-site power facilities and offsetting options.

To bring leadership to a new department bringing teams from across the FD together. To ensure that there is a cohesion and respect across the department and that through collaboration a high quality of services can be delivered.

To provide leadership across the FD through being an active member of the FD Senior Management Team, encouraging a culture which empowers colleagues to achieve their potential and holds colleagues to account for key deliverables.

To lead and develop high level collaborative work with senior leaders internally including Faculties, cross collaborative groups, Services and LUU  and externally where appropriate in the definition of service requirements and delivery against those requirement.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

What will you bring to the role?

Experience

  • A degree or equivalent qualifications/experience which may include but not exclusively membership of the RICS, ICE, RIAS/RIBA, CIOB, CICES, PMI.
  • Significant senior level experience in an appropriate discipline which may include but not exclusively construction, architecture, procurement engineering, cost management, program or project management or similar.
  • Experience of working in complex environments with multiple demands and stakeholders.
  • A proven ability to engage effectively with multiple groups with differing demands and expectations and to reach consensus through evidence based debate and discussion.
  • A proven ability to think and plan strategically and a track record of successfully translating strategy into reality.
  • Significant experience of delivering large scale and complex construction and refurbishment projects.
  • Experience in the use of digital to deliver new ways of working within construction or facilities management including effective use of BIM and other technologies.
  • Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to persuade others at all levels.
  • Financially astute, with experience in negotiating complex construction contracts and dealing with disputes effectively.
  • A proven experience in successfully building and leading multi-disciplined teams.
  • Experience of leading large multi-disciplined departments with a mix of professionally qualified and non-professionally qualified colleagues and bringing such departments together to work as a single team with a single culture.
  • Experience in leading large service focused teams, introducing change to improve service delivery and introducing improved customer focus and service.
  • The ability to work collaboratively and across boundaries with evidence of success in developing strong working relationships and networks internally and externally and at all levels of an organisation.
  • Demonstrable ability to work effectively under pressure and in challenging work environments with multiple stakeholders and tight deadlines.
  • Excellent analytical skills with an ability to solve complex problems using own initiative, sound judgement and political awareness.

You may also have:

  • A curiosity for the role of digital delivery to deliver better quality outcomes across the construction industry.
  • Experience of working in Higher Education at a senior level.
  • A passion for developing a sustainable environment.
  • A knowledge of working within a conservation environment including brutalist buildings and the specific construction and engineering challenges.

Director of Campus Innovation - Campus Services, Experience and Commercial (AQ1759)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

The campus is integral to the experience of students, staff, and visitors. It can create a sense of place and of belonging. How the services supporting the running of the campus are delivered can impact on the way everyone experiences the campus. This senior role has been created to bring together the soft fm and the commercial services so that they can be delivered with a sense of collaboration and can be aligned to the purpose and needs of everyone who experience the campus and associated functions.

Services include:

Cleaning, security, helpdesk, AV team; room booking systems; sport, print, nursery, events business continuity, marketing and communication.

The post holder will work closely with the Director of Residential Services and user initiatives should be delivered across all services.

Main duties and responsibilities

Leadership of all the services to ensure that they deliver a user focused service which offers value for money including

  • Co-creating with the Faculties a service user focused strategy.
  • Services are aligned to initiatives to support new ways of working, new proposals for pedagogy, new ideas for collaborative research.
  • A strategy for the curation of services across the campus.

To ensure that all service deliver is compliant with all health and safety and legislation.

To develop a strategy for commercial services which support the principles of great service, efficiently run which will maximize returns.

To develop strategies to support the curation of activities on the campus, supporting other services including IT and student services to ensure that student and staff gain the most from their experience using the campus.

To work closely with the LUU to develop strategies to use the campus to support the well-being of students.

To introduce the use of digital to support development and delivery of excellent services and experiences and to enable the department to evidence quality of service and experiences.

To provide leadership across the department to develop a coherent and collaborative approach to services, stakeholder engagement and quality of delivery. To introduce a consistent approach to quality management and adoption of an accredited quality management system.

To embed concepts of co-creation; curated experiences and circular economy across all aspects of service delivery.

To lead communication strategy across the FD and from the FD across the University.

To ensure that all services within the department have effective marketing strategies to support their objective of delivering a first class experience and through this maximise commercial returns.

To lead on culture and people strategy across the FD.

To embed a quality management approach within the team which can be used across the FD.

To provide leadership across the FD through being an active member of the FD Senior Management Team, encouraging a culture which empowers colleagues to achieve their potential and holds colleagues to account for key deliverables.

To lead and develop high level collaborative work with senior leaders internally including Faculties, cross collaborative groups, Services and LUU  and externally where appropriate in the definition of service requirements and delivery against those requirement.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

What will you bring to the role?

Experience

  • A degree or equivalent qualifications/experience.
  • Significant senior level experience in an appropriate discipline which may include but not exclusively facilities management, retail, leisure, sport, commercial activities, hospitality, customer service or similar.
  • Experience of working in complex environments with multiple demands and stakeholders.
  • A proven ability to engage effectively with multiple groups with differing demands and expectations and to reach consensus through evidence based debate and discussion.
  • A proven ability to think and plan strategically and a track record of successfully translating strategy into reality.
  • A proven ability to deliver commercial returns.
  • Significant experience of managing large organizational and cultural change to improve service delivery.
  • Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to persuade others at all levels.
  • Financially astute and able to negotiate sound commercial contracts.
  • A proven experience in successfully building and leading multi-disciplined teams.
  • The ability to work collaboratively and across boundaries with evidence of success in developing strong working relationships and networks internally and externally and at all levels of an organization.
  • Demonstrable ability to work effectively under pressure and in challenging work environments with multiple stakeholders and tight deadlines.
  • Excellent analytical skills with an ability to solve complex problems using own initiative, sound judgement and political awareness.

You may also have:

  • A curiosity for the role of experience planning and curation of spaces.
  • Experience of working in Higher Education at a senior level.

Terms of appointment

We are a large and diverse organisation – with more than 9,200 staff from more than 100 different countries, and one of the largest employers in Leeds. In addition to a competitive salary which will be negotiated with the successful candidates, we offer a range of generous benefits for our employees, which include:

  • 26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – that’s 42 days a year!
  • Generous pension benefits and maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
  • Flexible working opportunities – not every job needs to be in the office 5 days a week.
  • IT provision and support when working from home.
  • Access to a vast selection of professional learning opportunities, including over 16,000 courses on LinkedIn Learning.
  • Extensive self-development programme.
  • A range of wellbeing services, including discounted healthcare.
  • A raft of offers for shopping and leisure.
  • Travel discounts and sustainable Cycle to Work scheme.
  • On-campus childcare facilities.

Ways of working

The University’s approach has been shaped by a number of principles, including enhancing the student experience, supporting research and promoting staff wellbeing. These principles reflect the diversity of people and roles across the University, and help us to build flexibility and increase inclusivity whilst ensuring the University’s needs remain at the heart of our practice.

We know many of us would like to work more flexibly, and we are keen to support our staff, improving job satisfaction and wellbeing.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisements.

The closing date for applications is noon on 3 April 2023.

AQ Reference:
AQ1755 (Director of Campus Innovation – Masterplanning and Asset Management)
AQ1757 (Director of Campus Innovation – Infrastructure, Construction and Delivery)
AQ1759 (Director of Campus Innovation – Campus Services, Experience and Commercial)

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (maximum of three pages) outlining how you meet the experience criteria of the person specification.
  • Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

Should you wish to discuss the roles in strict confidence, please contact Sophie Rees on sophie@andersonquigley.com, +44(0)7719 313 982 or Ed Pritchard on ed@andersonquigley.com, +44(0)7980 817 927.

Timetable

Closing date 3 April
Longlist meetings w/c 10 April
Shortlist meetings w/c 1st May
Informal sessions with Ann (AQ1759) w/c 8th May
Panel interviews (AQ1759) Monday 15th May
Informal sessions with Ann (AQ1757) w/c 15th May
Panel interviews (AQ1757) Monday 22nd May
Informal sessions with Ann (AQ1755) w/c 15th May
Panel interviews (AQ1755) Wednesday 24th May