The Details
Salary: 55,000 - 65,000 £ per year
Job type: Full-time
Based in Stratford, London
Start date: Immediately
About the job
About us
Plexal is the innovation company solving society’s challenges through collaboration with government, startups and industry. The business is closing the gap between organisations – small and large, local and global, private and public – and working towards a common goal: using science and technology to deliver national security and prosperity. It was founded in 2017 as the innovation centre at Here East and is owned by clients of specialist real estate investment advisory company Delancey.
Providing bespoke consultancy services and state-of-the-art workspaces for over 1,000 innovators, Plexal sources the right partners from our ecosystem of 15,000 connections. It supports entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups building emerging technologies and operates across multiple sectors including cyber, healthcare, intelligence and defence, government, public safety, financial services and telecoms.
Expanding on its existing presence in London and Manchester, Plexal acquired a majority shareholding in Hub8 – the Cheltenham network of co-working spaces for cyber-tech, digital and creative startups and SMEs. This is part of an ongoing mission to build the UK’s most connected cyber ecosystem, with GCHQ’s more than 70-year heritage in Cheltenham.
Plexal delivers projects for key government departments and global tech companies including the National Cyber Security Centre, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Amazon Web Services and IBM. The NCSC For Startups alumni of over 60 companies has collectively raised over £430m and created over 700 jobs, while 72 cyber startups that have gone through Plexal’s LORCA accelerators have collectively raised over £300m, generated more than £68m in revenue and hired over 800 people.
The Role’s Purpose
The Head of Facilities at Plexal oversees the day-to-day management of workspace environments across both Stratford and Shoreditch sites. This leadership role ensures that all facilities operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with health, safety, and security standards. The position is responsible for maintaining high standards in all physical spaces, from offices and event venues to specialised areas like innovation labs and makers’ yards, while coordinating service providers and responding to member needs. By fostering seamless operations and an excellent workplace experience, the Head of Facilities supports Plexal’s vibrant community and business objectives.
What You’ll Do
Facilities Strategy & Leadership
- Contribute to the strategy and vision for Plexal’s London Workspaces
- Lead and manage the Facilities team and external vendors/third-party contractors (security, cleaning, electrical, water, HVAC).
- Build and maintain a positive relationship with the office landlords.
- Oversee Facilities budgets, procurement, CAPEX
- Manage all changes to the physical workspace.
Health and Safety
- Responsible for health and safety across all Plexal centres
- Create and maintain H&S policies for workspaces and non-workspace areas (events, kitchens, makers’ yard, innovation lab)
- Ensure compliance with all laws and regulations
Security
- Oversee physical security of Plexal centre
- Liaison with Here East and Olympic Park security
Member Requests
- Address member facilities requests and maintain tracking logs
- Provide updates if immediate resolution isn’t possible
Systems
- Maintain systems and logs for electrical, water, HVAC,
- Maintain lighting and test power outlets/equipment
- Ensure safe and available water supply
- Maintain HVAC systems and logs
Workspace Maintenance
- Maintain physical workspace elements (walls, doors, furniture, green wall, coffee points)
- Manage physical moves within workspace
- Ensure cleanliness across Plexal spaces (workspace, makers’ yard, innovation lab, event spaces)
Adhoc Responsibilities
- Provide backup support for IT team during holidays and sickness
- Assist with carbon reporting where required
Your Skills
- Strong understanding of building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing).
- Ability to manage budgets and negotiate contracts effectively.
- Proficient in facilities management software and systems.
- Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Your Experience
- Familiarity with health & safety legislation and compliance standards.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
Who You Are
- Health and Safety Qualifications essential
- Project Management Qualifications desirable
- A tenacity to deliver with the resilience to deal with difficult situations
- A self-starter that is able to identify and drive change
- Someone who doesn’t mind getting stuck in and will get involved with all aspects of IT
- A team player who enjoys working towards a common goalThis role will require travel to other Plexal sites
BENEFITS PACKAGE
Why us?
Mission: We inherit the mission of UK government and deliver it in an agile and creative fashion.
Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together.
Equality: We strengthen ourselves as a team by embracing the different.
Care: People are at the heart of what we do; we care about our customers, members and colleagues.As a start-up, we thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment dedicated to empowering innovators. We embrace individuals who leverage technology and creativity to tackle our greatest challenges head-on. We strongly advocate for maintaining a harmonious work-life balance, our goal is to ensure every member of our team can authentically be themselves and live their best lives. We firmly believe that innovation and creativity flourish when we cultivate a diverse workforce, comprising highly skilled individuals with a wide range of perspectives to contribute.In return we will offer you:
- Annual bonus scheme
- A generous pension scheme (with a company contribution of up to 10%)
- Private healthcare, life assurance and critical illness cover
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Volunteering day
Plexal is an equal opportunities employer and we actively encourage applicants from individuals from all backgrounds. We are a Disability Committed employer and are willing to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.