Facility and Workplace Strategy Manager

Facility And Workplace Strategy Manager

The Facilities & Workplace Strategy Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for a portfolio of leased and owned properties across the U.S. and Canada. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality facilities servicesincluding maintenance, safety, vendor management, and tenant supportwhile aligning with client goals, regulatory standards, and workplace experience objectives. The manager leads a team of Assistant Facility Managers, Reception Ambassadors, and a Spatial Data Analyst, fostering a culture of responsiveness, inclusion, and operational excellence. In addition to facilities operations, this role is responsible for tactical and strategic space planning to optimize occupancy, support evolving business needs, and enhance employee experience. Key responsibilities include layout development, move coordination, space utilization analysis, and maintaining the integrity of CAD floor plans and occupancy data. The manager collaborates closely with corporate real estate stakeholders and leverages platforms such as CMMS, AutoCAD, and Power BI to deliver data-driven insights and continuous improvement. This position requires strong analytical skills, financial acumen, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in delivering efficient, scalable, and future-ready workplace solutions.

Key Relationships

• External relationships: this role will interact with the client, client staff, landlords and other client vendors.
• Internal relationships: this role will oversee Assistant Facility Managers, Reception Ambassadors and a Spatial Data Analyst and collaborate with other coworkers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of assigned facilities, ensuring delivery of best-in-class services across custodial, life safety, engineering, landscaping, snow removal, pest control, water treatment, and general maintenance through principal, managing agent and landlord contracts.
• Ensure all services are delivered in alignment with client expectations, C&W policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Supervise and develop a cohesive technical and administrative team, fostering a culture of responsiveness, professionalism, inclusion, and safety. Provide effective hiring, coaching, performance management, and motivation.
• Maintain a strong field presence to support operational excellence and team engagement.
• Oversee all vendor and contractor relationships, including scope development, quote review, purchase orders, scheduling, on-site supervision, and performance validation.
• Ensure all contracts are reviewed regularly, competitively bid as required, and that invoicing aligns with contract terms.
• Utilize CMMS and other C&W/client platforms to manage work orders, preventive maintenance, and asset tracking. Extract and analyze data to inform staffing, capital planning, and maintenance strategies.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of all site-specific documentation and compliance reports, including manuals, logs, safety documentation, insurance certificates, and regulatory filings.
• Respond promptly and positively to tenant and occupant needs, ensuring issues are resolved in accordance with service level agreements and client objectives.
• Prepare and manage operating and capital budgets, forecasts, and financial reports. Ensure compliance with financial controls and meet performance targets.
• Support the development of long-term capital plans and cost-reduction initiatives. Make informed recommendations for capital investments and facility improvements.
• Promote a culture of safety by providing training, resources, and leadership that ensures environmental health and safety standards are met or exceeded.
• Understand critical systems and assets, their operational impact, and associated risks. Ensure appropriate preventive maintenance, change management, and contingency planning are in place to support 100% uptime.

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Facilities Management, Real Estate, Construction Management, or a related field;
• 57 years of experience in facilities or property management, preferably in a commercial, high-rise, or campus environment.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience in a facilities setting.
• Strong understanding of facilities operations, construction, vendor management, financial oversight, occupancy planning, space management, landlord contracts and corporate real estate.
• Experience with CMMS, work order systems, and building management systems (BMS); Yardi experience a plus.
• Proficient with AutoCAD and CAFM/IWMS systems (e.g., iOffice, TRIRIGA), including CAD floor plans and space allocation data.

Additional Qualifications

• Industry certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), IFMA, or BOMA credentials are a plus.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings and floor plans.
• Proficiency in contract language and management agreements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and (Power BI (preferred), Tableau).
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial tracking.
• Strong understanding of space planning principles, workplace strategy, and utilization metrics.
• Experience managing move coordination and service requests.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop user documentation and apply policy and procedure effectively.
• Familiarity with BOMA standards and poly-lining methodologies

Physical Work Requirements

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions:

Environment: This job operates in a professional office or commercial building environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Ability to perform work wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if required. May require regular travel outside between properties in varying weather conditions.

Physical: Considerable physical activity. May involve movement between departments, floors, and properties to facilitate work. The employee may also be regularly required to stand for prolonged periods of time and drive or fly for up to 4-5 hours a day between various assigned client locations. Should maintain the ability to speak clearly so others can understand you as well as the ability to read and understand the information presented orally and in writing.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents. Regularly required to utilize vision abilities, allowing reading of printed material, drawings and schematics.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Scheduling

Most schedules work typical business hours based on location assigned. Based on client need; may be required to work extended periods of time without relief when responding to priority/emergency situations (including overtime type assignments); Must be willing and able to support after-hours/weekends building-related activity as required. The role may be assigned and must be able to respond to client callbacks for regular repair and/or emergencies events.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Conditions of employment

All offers of employment are contingent upon: Legal Documentation establishing identity and eligibility to be legally employed in the US/United States Citizenship, Drug Testing, Criminal background check, Clean DMV record (for related driving roles), Education verification, and Reference checks.

Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.