Facilities Manager

About this role

Department: Facilities

Reporting To: Chief Financial Officer

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About Walker Books

Walker Books UK is part of the vibrant international Group that includes Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree in the USA and Walker Books Australia. Renowned for its truly original publishing and outstanding quality, the Walker Books Group is home to a wide range of children's and young adult books.

Award-winning authors and illustrators for the group include Angie Thomas, Sydney Smith, M.T Anderson, Patrick Ness, and Jon Klassen. We are also enormously proud to publish beloved family brands including Lucy Cousin’s Maisy, Michael Rosen’s We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram’s Guess How Much I Love You and Martin Handford’s Where’s Wally?

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We're currently looking for a Facilities Manager on a fixed-term contract basis to ensure that the Walker Books offices operate smoothly and efficiently. A key project during the contract will be supporting the planning, coordination and delivery of the company's office relocation in 2027. This is a fully office-based role and will be based in our Vauxhall office.

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Key responsibilities

• Managing the efficient running of cleaning, security, post and reception functions, and providing hands-on support within varying shift patterns where required within a small team, including covering the reception desk and handling mail and courier operations
• Line management of the Facilities Assistant and Mail Room Manager
• Responsible for organising cost-effective maintenance of the building as required, as well as carrying out some maintenance tasks wherever possible
• Support the efficient planning, coordination and timely delivery of the office relocation scheduled for 2027, including facilities readiness, supplier coordination, logistical planning, and the secure decommissioning of the existing office, ensuring compliance with data security, health and safety and environmental requirements to ensure a smooth transition
• Liaising with staff and tenants (including canteen provider) and responding to maintenance requests and requirements
• Managing all aspects of Health and Safety and emergency response procedures for the building
• Liaise with insurance brokers to arrange the company insurance programme
• Maintaining a stock of facilities products - from stationery to catering items
• Liaise with tenants in the building to ensure their rented space is in line with their agreed lease terms, e.g. maintenance, services, etc.
• Organising the supply of office equipment as required and assisting with office layouts
• Organising utility contracts
• Organising the security, cleaning and maintenance contracts
• Support the preparation for and follow-up from book fairs, including international events, ensuring facilities and logistical requirements are coordinated effectively
• Deliver facilities requirements for events requirements including sales conferences, meetings and other staff gatherings

Please note the above is not an exhaustive list and does not necessarily include all the duties the job holder may have to perform. This job description may be amended to meet changing needs of the business.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate evidence of the following skills and/or experience:

• Proven experience in a Facilities Manager or similar facilities/property management role
• Experience managing office operations to ensure a safe, inclusive, efficient and well-maintained working environment
• Strong project coordination skills, with experience supporting office moves desirable
• Experience managing external contractors, suppliers and service providers, including negotiating and monitoring service levels
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation and facilities compliance requirements
• Experience managing facilities budgets and monitoring expenditure
• A proactive and hands-on approach, with a willingness to support both strategic projects and day-to-day operational activities
• Strong communication skills to handle multiple stakeholders including delivering on line management responsibilities

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Why join Walker Books?

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We offer

• A supportive working environment where all voices are respected and creativity is not hierarchical
• 22 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (with annual leave increasing with length of service up to 27 days)
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Health Insurance and Health Cash Plan
• Life Assurance
• Summer Hours
• Remote working for up to two weeks per year
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Plus, other great benefits!

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All children deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities represented in the books they read. As children’s book publishers, it is our goal to ensure that the books and content we publish authentically and joyfully reflect the world around us. As an employer, we are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive working environment where everyone is included, valued, and empowered to do their best and most creative work. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, sex, or any other characteristic protected by law and those not yet protected by law.

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If you have any queries about this role or require any reasonable adjustments for your application or throughout the recruitment process, please let our team know by contacting us at recruitment@walker.co.uk.

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Please note we reserve the right to close vacancies before the closing date where we have received sufficient applications. We recommend submitting your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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