At OakNorth, we're on a mission to empower ambitious businesses and the communities they serve. Since 2015, we've lent over $21 billion across the UK and US, helped create more than 58,000 new homes and 36,000 new jobs, and supported hundreds of thousands of personal savers — all while driving economic growth in the markets we serve.
At OakNorth, we believe great businesses are built by great people — and great people deserve exceptional workplaces.
We're looking for an outstanding Office & Facilities Manager to take ownership of our office portfolio and create environments where our teams can do their best work every day. This is far more than a traditional facilities role. You'll be the driving force behind the workplace experience across OakNorth, ensuring our offices are safe, secure, compliant, operationally excellent, and a place people genuinely enjoy coming to.
You'll lead workplace operations across our London headquarters, Manchester office, and oversee our New York representative office through local partnerships. Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, you'll play a highly visible role at the heart of the business, partnering with teams across OakNorth and influencing the daily experience of hundreds of employees and visitors.
We're looking for someone who takes enormous pride in creating brilliant workplaces, notices the details others miss, thrives on ownership, and brings energy, pace and a continuous‑improvement mindset to everything they do.
What You'll Be Doing
Own the Workplace Experience
You'll be responsible for creating workplaces that are welcoming, professional, productive and memorable.
- Ensure every OakNorth office operates to an exceptional standard.
- Create outstanding employee and visitor experiences across the UK and US.
- Own workplace presentation, housekeeping and office standards.
- Manage office moves, seating strategies and workplace utilisation.
- Oversee catering, refreshments, meeting room experiences and workplace amenities.
- Lead office enhancement projects and workplace improvement initiatives.
- Partner closely with the People Team to deliver engaging employee events and office experiences.
- Champion workplace policies, including Clean Desk standards and physical security requirements.
Lead Facilities Operations Across the Portfolio
You'll be the single accountable owner for facilities management across OakNorth's office portfolio.
- Act as the primary point of contact for all workplace and facilities matters.
- Build strong relationships with landlords, building management teams, serviced office providers, contractors and suppliers.
- Oversee preventative maintenance, reactive maintenance and improvement projects.
- Ensure offices are safe, secure, operationally effective and professionally maintained.
- Manage supplier performance and hold partners accountable to high service standards.
- Maintain oversight of lease obligations, key contractual milestones and landlord responsibilities.
- Conduct regular site visits, inspections and operational reviews across locations.
- Manage workplace operations for our New York representative office through local partners.
Champion Health, Safety & Compliance
You'll ensure our workplaces meet the highest standards of safety and compliance.
- Own health and safety compliance across all office locations.
- Maintain policies, procedures, risk assessments and compliance documentation.
- Ensure all inspections, certifications and testing programmes are completed and tracked.
- Lead fire safety management, evacuation planning and fire warden programmes.
- Manage workplace incidents, investigations and corrective actions.
- Partner with Risk, People and building management teams to continuously improve workplace safety.
- Deliver practical guidance and training to employees on workplace safety and compliance.
Drive Commercial Value
You'll combine operational excellence with strong commercial management.
- Manage facilities budgets across multiple locations.
- Deliver robust forecasting, reporting and cost control.
- Manage procurement activity and supplier negotiations.
- Ensure contracts deliver excellent service levels and value for money.
- Drive efficiencies while maintaining a premium workplace experience.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a hands‑on workplace leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and genuinely enjoys creating exceptional spaces for people to work.
You'll likely bring:
- Experience in workplace, facilities or office management.
- Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and facilities compliance requirements.
- Experience managing multiple sites and geographically dispersed workplaces.
- Proven success managing suppliers, contractors, landlords and service partners.
- Strong commercial acumen and experience managing budgets and contracts.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.
- Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills.
- A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get things done.
- A genuine passion for workplace experience and creating environments where people can thrive.
Why This Role Matters
This is a unique opportunity to shape the workplace experience at one of the UK's most ambitious and fastest‑growing financial institutions.
You will have the autonomy to make decisions, the visibility to influence senior leaders, and the opportunity to create workplaces that reflect OakNorth's culture, ambition and commitment to excellence.
Location
This is a full‑time, office‑based role based in London.
Travel to Manchester, when needed. Oversight of our New York representative office will be managed remotely through local partnerships.
Given the highly visible and hands‑on nature of the position, you will spend the majority of your time on‑site, building relationships, leading operations and ensuring our workplaces consistently operate at the highest standard.
Benefits & Perks
- 25 days holiday
- Personalised benefits – opt‑in to what matters to you
- Subsidised Private Medical Insurance with Bupa
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Wellbeing and social events
- In‑house Barista Bar in London office
- Support causes that matter to you – Volunteering time off
- Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to work, nursery, gym, electric car scheme)
