Corporate Resources and Business Improvement

The Corporate Resources and Business Improvement directorate is led by executive director Dianne Tranmer. It's responsible for: People Function, Facilities Management, Digital Experience Unit and Technology Group, Information Governance, Executive Support Team and leadership of all our shared services across the GLA Group.

About the team

Facilities Management undertakes the management of GLA buildings by providing amenities, infrastructure and support services to make them a safe and comfortable place to work that complies with legal requirements.

The core sites are City Hall, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square and office space at Union Street. The GLA will be moving staff from Union Street to Palestra towards the end of 2026, with the Facilities Management team leading this project.

About the role

Lead and manage the venues and events workstream comprising a team of 4 staff and specialist contractors for the Authority across the core sites, developing and delivering co-ordinated strategic resource, prioritisation and budget plans across multiple functions

To deliver strategic leadership of the Facilities Management Unit, taking accountability for and operating across all the Authority’s sites and using specialist expertise to advise the Mayor, Assembly Members and senior officers directly in areas of high risk (and often high urgency or legal or reputational sensitivity) to ensure the statutory and other critical and public facing functions of the Authority are met.

What your day will look like

No two days will look the same, however this is an indication of the daily tasks and responsibilities.

• Reviewing overnight incidents, events activity, or duty manager reports across core sites (e.g. City Hall, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square Gardens)
• Prioritising work with the Head of Facilities Management and senior FM colleagues.
• Leading or attending team briefings with Venues and Event Services staff and specialist contractors to allocate resources and confirm daily operational plans.
• Overseeing the venues and events activity, ensuring spaces are correctly set up, staffed, licensed, safe, and commercially optimised.
• Resolving urgent or high‑risk facilities, health and safety, licensing, or reputational issues involving public-facing events or listed heritage sites.
• Meeting with internal stakeholders (Mayor’s office, Assembly Members, senior officers, project teams) to provide expert advice on venues, events, infrastructure, and facilities services.
• Liaising with external stakeholders such as event organisers, contractors, statutory authorities, neighbours, and suppliers.
• Managing landlord responsibilities for events-related lettings, ensuring asset protection, compliance, and income generation targets are met.
• Monitoring service delivery standards across catering, cleaning, waste and recycling, porterage, landscaping, meeting rooms, AV, and broadcasting services.
• Reviewing health & safety compliance, risk assessments, crowd management plans, and emergency or contingency arrangements.
• Making strategic decisions on space utilisation, infrastructure changes, and service improvements.
• Overseeing budgets and expenditure for the venues and events workstream, tracking performance against financial target.
• Managing procurement and contract performance of outsourced services
• Handling or directing responses to service complaints from building users or members of the public.
• Supporting marketing and communications activity related to facilities and venues.
• Participating in corporate projects, leadership forums, or cross-department working groups.
• Carrying out enforcement officer duties when required, including evidence gathering, statement writing, or liaising with legal teams.
• Planning ahead for upcoming major events, seasonal demand, or complex operational challenges.
• After I log-off, being available for out-of-hours escalation as part of the duty manager rota.

Due to the nature of the role, in-person attendance at core sites is required on most days.

Some evening and weekend work will also be required.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Proven track record of successfully leading multi-function facilities management venues and events service delivery at a senior level in a large, complex organisation and providing professional advice to senior staff.

• NEBOSH national general certificate in health and safety or equivalent qualification.

• Level 2 Award for Personal License Holders qualification and possess a Personal Alcohol License under the Licensing Act 2003 or be able to obtain one (for licensable activities on Authority properties).

• Good knowledge and experience of soft services and managing events on high profile and listed heritage sites.

• Good knowledge of health and safety law and practice and statutory legislation in relation to facilities management and an ability to promote best practice on environmental and sustainability issues.  Good practical knowledge and experience of using the HSE publication “The Event Safety Guide” (the purple guide), including crowd dynamics.

• Able to recognise and manage sensitive situations and deal with them using tact and diplomacy.

Please see the full Job Description here

How to apply

Internal recruitment

If you would like to apply for the role you’ll need to submit:

• an online application
• a Word statement (1,500 words) outlining how you meet the essential criteria as well as the competencies outlined in the advert.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Alex Reynolds-Cocroft would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at alexandra.reynolds-cocroft@london.gov.uk

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: 15^th May or 18^th May 2026.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they be prioritised for the next stage in the process.  

If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments, changes, or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing resourcingteam@london.gov.uk (please include the role title and reference number). 

Interview adjustments will be made on a case-by-case basis, but some (non-exhaustive) examples include:   

- Providing extra time in assessments and interviews;    

- Providing questions in advance of the interview;    

- Holding interviews in different formats – such as over the phone or via a video call.  

Additional information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Secondments longer than 6 months

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria before applying. You must: 

• be on a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
• have successfully completed your probation period and be performing to the required standard for your current role; and
• have completed at least 18 months’ service with the GLA 

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.

If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment.  For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.

IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract that is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.

If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.