[Hiring] Real Estate & Facilities Management Director @team.blue Global

Role Description

team.blue has approximately 65 sites across Europe, ranging from flagship offices with 400+ employees to sub-10-person locations. Until now, site management has been handled locally within business units, with no group-level strategy, policy, or oversight. An external advisory programme has recently concluded an audit of the estate and commenced the delivery of an initial optimisation initiative. This role is established to take ownership of that work, lead its completion, and build the enduring group-level RE&FM capability that ensures the estate is managed with consistency, commercial discipline, and a focus on employee experience going forward.

The Director will step into existing momentum rather than a blank page, and will be expected to provide continuity of the optimisation programme while simultaneously standing up a sustainable internal function. The role provides a direct service to divisional leadership and site management across team.blue, acting as the expert centre for all real estate and facilities matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Optimisation Programme Continuity:
  • Take full ownership of the estate optimisation initiative commenced by external advisors and lead it through to delivery.
  • Conduct a structured handover from the external advisory team.
  • Assess the current state of the programme and establish a clear delivery plan.
  • Lead active workstreams, including lease renegotiations, site consolidations, and exit processes.
  • Ensure momentum is maintained and outcomes are delivered without disruption.
  • Report progress to the CGFO and senior leadership regularly.
• Divisional Client Service:
  • Establish a model for expert, responsive support on all real estate and facilities matters.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for divisional leaders and local site managers.
  • Develop a clear service model defining support levels and request management.
  • Engage divisional stakeholders proactively to understand their needs.
  • Provide guidance on lease renewals, relocations, fit-out requirements, and facilities standards.
  • Balance group-level cost and consistency objectives with operational needs.
• Estate Strategy & Portfolio Management:
  • Develop and own team.blue’s real estate strategy.
  • Maintain a live, accurate view of the portfolio.
  • Produce a forward-looking estate roadmap aligned to divisional growth plans.
  • Establish clear criteria for site retention, exit, investment, and consolidation decisions.
• Policy, Standards & Governance:
  • Design and implement group-wide RE&FM policies and standards.
  • Establish governance mechanisms, including portfolio reporting and compliance tracking.
  • Define health, safety, and workplace compliance standards.
  • Develop a facilities management framework for local delivery.
• Employee Experience & Workplace:
  • Define team.blue’s workplace experience proposition.
  • Lead workplace design standards for fit-outs and refurbishments.
  • Establish employee feedback mechanisms to improve workplace experience.
  • Champion inclusive workplace design.
• Cost Management & Commercial:
  • Own the group RE&FM cost base and drive cost reduction.
  • Establish spend transparency across facilities expenditure.
  • Lead negotiations with landlords and service providers.
  • Build business cases for capital investment.
• Vendor & Contract Management:
  • Establish and manage a preferred supplier framework for facilities services.
  • Drive standardisation of contracts and service level agreements.
  • Manage key vendor relationships and performance.
• Function & Team Leadership:
  • Implement the operating model for the RE&FM function.
  • Build and lead the team over time.
  • Establish ways of working and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in corporate real estate, facilities management, or workplace strategy.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering an estate optimisation or rationalisation programme.
• Experience managing a large and geographically dispersed portfolio of sites.
• Background in cost reduction and commercial optimisation of real estate portfolios.
• Experience building or significantly transforming an RE&FM function.
• Prior experience in a group or central function role with accountability across multiple business units.
• Experience working in or alongside private equity-backed businesses is advantageous.

Skills & Capabilities

• Ability to pick up an in-flight programme and lead it through to delivery.
• Clear and confident communication, including at the executive and board level.
• Strong commercial acumen and financial literacy.
• Ability to build a function from limited infrastructure.
• Excellent stakeholder management across the group centre and divisional clients.
• Programme and project management capability.
• Structured problem solving and data-driven decision making.
• Resilient and pragmatic; comfortable with ambiguity.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in leasehold and vendor contexts.
• People leadership and team development, including virtual teams.

Personal Attributes

• Credible from day one; able to build trust quickly.
• A service-oriented mindset; understands the function exists to support divisions.
• Collaborative and relationship-oriented.
• Entrepreneurial; comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
• Pan-European cultural sensitivity and a willingness to travel.
• High standards of professionalism, accuracy, and attention to quality.

What Success Looks Like

• In the first 90 days:
  • Structured handover from external advisors completed.
  • Key divisional stakeholders met and relationships established.
  • Operating model recommendation developed and presented to CGFO.
  • Optimisation programme continuing at pace under internal ownership.
• By the end of year one:
  • First phase of optimisation initiative substantially delivered.
  • Group RE&FM policy framework approved and implemented.
  • Live portfolio view established.
  • Target operating model implemented.
  • RE&FM function recognised as a credible partner.
• Over the medium term:
  • Material reduction in real estate cost per head.
  • Demonstrable improvement in employee satisfaction with the workplace.
  • A rationalised and right-sized estate aligned to operating model.
  • A professionalised RE&FM function operating as a genuine business partner.

Right to Work

At any stage, please be prepared to provide proof of eligibility to work in the country you’re applying for. Unfortunately, we are unable to support relocation packages or sponsorship visas.

ESG

“At team.blue, our commitment to caring for the environment and each other is at the heart of everything we do. Our latest impact report showcases our ongoing ESG efforts and ambitious sustainability goals. Interested in learning more about our dedication to making a positive impact? Check it out here.”

Diversity & Inclusion

“Everyone is welcome here. Diversity & Inclusion are at our core. Far above any technical competence, we value respect, openness, and trusted collaboration. We do not tolerate intolerance.”