• Job Description

  Req#: C9292-25-0214?language=en&page=138&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  We are seeking an experienced and driven Head of Facilities (Band 8a) to lead the operational delivery of high-quality soft FM services across the Trust, including catering, portering, domestic, security, car parking provision and housekeeping. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring these essential services run smoothly, efficiently, and in support of excellent patient care.

  Main duties of the job

  The successful candidate will have a strong track record in managing large operational teams, ideally within a healthcare or similarly complex environment. We are looking for someone with great energy, a can-do attitude, and high personal drive. You must have excellent people management skills, a solid understanding of contract management, and the ability to manage HR-related issues with confidence and sensitivity.

  This role works as part of a wider facilities leadership team and alongside a counterpart Head of Facilities, providing mutual support and ensuring consistent service delivery across all sites. You will report directly to the Strategic Head of Facilities and Property Services and will be expected to take strategic direction and translate it into effective operational practice. Participation in the facilities on-call rota is also required, providing senior cover to maintain service continuity outside of standard working hours.

  This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and hands-on facilities professional to join a supportive team and make a tangible difference to the patient and staff experience. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

  About us

  Our Organisation

  The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford, and St Margaret's Hospital in Epping.

  We employ 3,500 staff and serve a local population of around 350,000 people living in west Essex and east Hertfordshire, centred on the M11 corridor and the towns of Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Epping. Our extended catchment area incorporates a population of up to 500,000 and includes the areas of Hoddesdon, Cheshunt and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.

  Our Values

  The Princess Alexandra Promise to our patients as identified by our 3 values which will contribute to improving our patient experiences:

  Patient at heart - Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts

  Everyday excellence - Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both

  Creative collaboration - Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care

  The Trust believes in investing in all our staff and rewarding high standards of care whilst building for excellence and in return we expect our staff to uphold the Trust values to the highest level.

  Details

  Date posted

  19 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8a

  Salary

  £53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum, plus 5% high cost area supplement

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  292-7197158-E&F

  Job locations

  Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Hamstel Road

  Harlow, Essex

  CM20 1QX

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please see the attached Job description and person specification. These documents are available to download at anytime.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please see the attached Job description and person specification. These documents are available to download at anytime.

  Person Specification

  Education and Qualifications

  Essential

  • Evidence of on-going professional development in commercially related fields within public or private sector

  Desirable

  • First degree or equivalent professional experience in Soft FM

  Experience

  Essential

  • Extensive experience of managing the day- to day running of soft facilities in a hospital (or equivalent) environment.
  • Has experience working with teams carrying out activities such as competitive tendering and marketing activities
  • Has worked collaboratively across challenging senior groups with differing viewpoints to resolve commercial negotiations
  • Experience of managing change at a senior level
  • Extensive HR experience

  Desirable

  • Dealing and finding practical solution to complaints

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Ability to assimilate and communicate highly complex, sensitive and contentious information across a wide range of subjects including, finances, risks, compliance and governance
  • A skilled communicator, ability to present and engage large audiences confidently and professionally
  • Knowledge of NHS guidelines on nutrition, hydration
  • Knowledge of NHS guidelines on cleaning standards
  • Knowledge of NHS standard contract, terms and conditions

  Desirable

  • Corporate governance
  • Professional education and training, workforce planning, recruitment and retention

  Key Skills

  Essential

  • A calm, caring and empathic attitude towards patients, visitors, relatives & colleagues which is aligned with the NHS Values
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Writing and presentation skills
  • Budget and resource management
  • Developing and implementing policies, guidelines and projects from initiation to completion
  • Ability to prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and work independently
  • Ability to take strategic direction from senior management
  • Effective self-management and motivation
  • Effective communication within all levels across organisation
  • Working co-operatively with others to achieve goals
  • To lead and contribute to groups to refine ideas through discussion and negotiation
  • To analyse complex issues and rationalize them into programmes and timetables appropriate for achieving divisional objectives
  • Flexible approach to work and working hours - Happy to directly support front line service delivery, as required, in line with personal competences
  • Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious and emotional needs and beliefs
  • Good previous attendance record
  • Professional appearance and behaviour
  • Ability to travel within the locality and wider afield for business purposes
  • Participate in the Trust's on-call rota to provide senior operational support and leadership out of hours and attend site if required.
  • Satisfactory enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure with check against vulnerable groups barred lists

  Person Specification

  Education and Qualifications

  Essential

  • Evidence of on-going professional development in commercially related fields within public or private sector

  Desirable

  • First degree or equivalent professional experience in Soft FM

  Experience

  Essential

  • Extensive experience of managing the day- to day running of soft facilities in a hospital (or equivalent) environment.
  • Has experience working with teams carrying out activities such as competitive tendering and marketing activities
  • Has worked collaboratively across challenging senior groups with differing viewpoints to resolve commercial negotiations
  • Experience of managing change at a senior level
  • Extensive HR experience

  Desirable

  • Dealing and finding practical solution to complaints

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Ability to assimilate and communicate highly complex, sensitive and contentious information across a wide range of subjects including, finances, risks, compliance and governance
  • A skilled communicator, ability to present and engage large audiences confidently and professionally
  • Knowledge of NHS guidelines on nutrition, hydration
  • Knowledge of NHS guidelines on cleaning standards
  • Knowledge of NHS standard contract, terms and conditions

  Desirable

  • Corporate governance
  • Professional education and training, workforce planning, recruitment and retention

  Key Skills

  Essential

  • A calm, caring and empathic attitude towards patients, visitors, relatives & colleagues which is aligned with the NHS Values
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Writing and presentation skills
  • Budget and resource management
  • Developing and implementing policies, guidelines and projects from initiation to completion
  • Ability to prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and work independently
  • Ability to take strategic direction from senior management
  • Effective self-management and motivation
  • Effective communication within all levels across organisation
  • Working co-operatively with others to achieve goals
  • To lead and contribute to groups to refine ideas through discussion and negotiation
  • To analyse complex issues and rationalize them into programmes and timetables appropriate for achieving divisional objectives
  • Flexible approach to work and working hours - Happy to directly support front line service delivery, as required, in line with personal competences
  • Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious and emotional needs and beliefs
  • Good previous attendance record
  • Professional appearance and behaviour
  • Ability to travel within the locality and wider afield for business purposes
  • Participate in the Trust's on-call rota to provide senior operational support and leadership out of hours and attend site if required.
  • Satisfactory enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure with check against vulnerable groups barred lists

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Additional information

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Address

  Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Hamstel Road

  Harlow, Essex

  CM20 1QX

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Address

  Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Hamstel Road

  Harlow, Essex

  CM20 1QX

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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