Finance, Infrastructure and Commercial Services (FICS)
Are you a proactive, people-focused professional with a passion for transforming workplaces? Do you excel in communication and stakeholder engagement? The University of Exeter is seeking a confident, forward-looking Workspace Management Lead to champion the creation and improvement of shared workspaces across our campuses. You will ensure our work environments are well-used and well-understood by staff, researchers, and postgraduate researchers (PGRs), enhancing both productivity and the user experience.
This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.
At least 3 days per week on campus (with very occasional travel to other sites), maintaining flexibility to meet operational needs. No routine out-of-hours.
This new full-time post is available immediately on a permanent basis.
About the Role
As Workspace Management Lead, you will work closely with colleagues across Estates, Facilities Management, IT/Digital, academic Faculties, and the Building Management team to drive innovation in how our physical spaces support University activities. You'll collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver flexible, data-driven improvements that align our workspaces with modern ways of working and the needs of our community. By partnering with teams in Estates and Digital, and acting as deputy to the Building Management team, you'll help coordinate a seamless approach to managing and optimizing our offices, labs, and collaboration areas.
This role puts you at the forefront of creating and managing dynamic work environments – from designing new shared spaces to refining how existing areas are used day-to-day. You will play a key part in making sure our workspaces are not only functional and efficient but also places that colleagues enjoy and thrive in each day. It's a chance to shape a forward-thinking workplace culture and see your ideas make a visible impact on the University's physical environment.
Who We're Looking For
We encourage applications from individuals with experience in workspace planning, workplace/occupational psychology, office design or change management, especially those eager to make a tangible difference in a large organisation. This is a great opportunity for someone who understands how workspace design and culture impact collaboration and well-being, and who can combine insight with a hands-on approach to improvement. To succeed, you'll need to be organised and proactive with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills – capable of building trust with diverse groups and guiding them through new ways of working.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
Optimise space usage with data: Drive the roll-out and adoption of the University's workspace booking system (Kadence) and generate actionable insights from its data to inform space strategy.
Lead workspace audits: Plan and conduct regular workspace audits across the University, analysing how our spaces are used, getting to know teams and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Develop guides and resources: Develop and update the University's Workspace Design Guide and curate a staff Workspace Information Hub (SharePoint) to share best practices, standards, and tips for effective hybrid working.
Collaborate to enhance environments: Work in partnership with Estates, IT/Digital, Facilities and academic stakeholders – as well as the Building Management team – to implement changes that improve our physical work environment and support agile, flexible working.
Champion user experience: Gather feedback from workspace users and stakeholders to continuously improve layouts, furniture, and facilities, ensuring our offices and shared spaces remain welcoming, functional, and aligned with the University's needs and Net Zero aspirations.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification on our website for full details of this role.
Further information
The starting salary will be from £43,482 on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Helen Wallace,
The closing date for applications is 5 March 2026.