Facilities & Workplace Experience Manager

Job Description

Ikigai provides extraordinary space for individuals and organizations in a sustainable, community-oriented environment, helping them feel balanced and productive. We are a beautifully curated collective of shared office spaces in Kenya. At Ikigai, we cultivate an environment where meaningful human interactions are nurtured to encourage impactful and profitable connections between ideas, individuals, and businesses. Ikigai is not just another shared office space but a place where community and the collective are at the heart of everything we do. At Ikigai, you have a beautiful and secure space to work from, social areas to connect with your peers and strangers to create fruitful relationships that help push your business forward, events and workshops in our tree-filled gardens or boardrooms, and a coffee bar to keep you productive.

About the role

Ikigai's Facilities & Workplace Experience Manager is responsible for overseeing Ikigai's location facilities-related operations with a primary focus on maintaining beautiful and efficient spaces for our members. You are the right person if you:

• Enjoy wearing many hats.
• A leader and the planner/organizer in your group of friends.
• You multitask better than anyone and prioritize like a genius.
• You are completely at home with problem-solving and coming up with solutions at a moment's notice.
• You run a team that buzzes behind the scenes, ensuring the location facilities run like well-oiled machines.

The role reports directly to the Head of Operations. This job is a healthy mix of project management, facilities management, procurement, and people management.

Everything you do will be in the interest of creating and sustaining an authentic and thriving group of spaces and businesses. Everything

Role Goals and Objectives:

• Emulate Ikigai's core values and strive to achieve our mission and live the Ikigai culture.
• Oversee the smooth running of all Ikigai location facility-related operations.
• Maintain the working conditions of infrastructure at Ikigai's coworking space locations, and ensure facilities are secure and functioning efficiently.
• Ensure an environment that is safe and problem-free for all members and staff to work under the best conditions.
• Plan and coordinate fit-outs and renovations, manage the maintenance of supplies and equipment to fulfill health and safety regulations, and continuously examine the different location facilities for quality control purposes.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Facilities Management/Location Maintenance and Repairs:

• Manage facilities and operations by using and continuously improving tools, processes, systems, and technology (e.g., Hubspot, project management platforms), including:
• Implementing and optimizing facilities, project, and task management systems for the department.
• Creating, updating, and implementing the Ikigai operations processes manuals.
• Overseeing record keeping for the facilities department (contracts, service level agreements, directories, schedules, requisitions, etc.).
• Oversee the smooth running of all facilities-related operations, including: Handling maintenance with a proactive, preventative approach.
• Developing and executing a preventative maintenance schedule for building, equipment, and soft services.
• Maximizing the uptime and availability of key facilities assets such as the Wi-Fi network, printers/copiers, meeting rooms, and other shared resources, and keeping location teams aware of facilities issues that may impact members.
• Managing support services such as housekeeping, groundskeeping, security, parking, and technology, ensuring all facilities meet government regulations and environmental, health, and safety standards.

Location Fit Out/Renovation Management:

• Oversee project management of location fit-outs, renovations, facility upgrades/refurbishments, and new site developments/expansions.
• Create detailed budgets for projects and internal initiatives based on sound assumptions (historical information, researched costings, etc.), reviewing, value engineering, tracking, and reporting on expenditure.
• Coordinate project teams, attend and coordinate site meetings and project coordination meetings, and follow up on project deliverables.
• Oversee project timelines and follow up to ensure completion on schedule.
• Oversee procurement of materials and services required for projects.

Procurement and Service Provider Management:

• Oversee procurement of facilities and project-related products and services for Ikigai.
• Manage procurement processes and conduct reviews and modifications to the processes where required.
• Ensure Ikigai is receiving value for money from suppliers and continually review this.
• Approve purchase requisitions for operations and location-related inventory and stock.
• Oversee registry of purchased assets.
• Manage and maintain relationships with suppliers and service providers.
• Build and maintain relationships and negotiate with local vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors to maintain/improve and implement high-quality, relevant, and desirable amenities and facilities for members.
• Conduct due diligence, prequalification, negotiation, and approval of suppliers and service providers, and establish and maintain contracts with approved suppliers.
• Oversee management of service providers and subcontractors.
• Lead regular service provider and subcontractor meetings to ensure sound and high-quality work delivery.

Team Management:

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, management, coaching, and performance management of the facilities team.
• Foster effective collaboration between the facilities and location teams by developing, communicating, and enforcing a clear escalation matrix for issue resolution.
• Ensure clarity of set goals, KPIs, and standards for the team to ensure operational excellence across all locations.
• Build capacity within the team through coaching, skills development, professional development opportunities, and continuous feedback.
• Build a positive team culture in the facilities department in line with Ikigai's culture code through weekly department meetings and wellness meetings with direct reports.

Finance & Strategy:

• Lead Facilities department strategy development in the annual company strategy process, oversee department strategic projects, and periodically report on progress.
• Manage department financials, including: Creating detailed budgets based on sound assumptions (historical information, researched costings, etc.).
• Tracking and reporting on expenditure during the monthly business review meetings.
• Reviewing facilities-related costs and ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency, minimizing costs as much as possible while maintaining Ikigai standards.
• Providing cost projections and financial justifications for upcoming projects, maintenance cycles, and facility upgrades.
• Ensuring adequate insurance coverage and minimizing claims related to construction and facilities.

Sustainability:

• Lead energy-efficiency programs (lighting, HVAC, renewable integration), monitor and reduce consumption, and track/report carbon footprint and emissions.
• Implement water conservation (low-flow fixtures, rain harvesting) and manage waste segregation, recycling, composting, and sustainable procurement.
• Ensure all construction/renovation uses eco-friendly materials and methods; extend asset lifecycle through proactive, preventive maintenance.
• Develop and update internal sustainability policies and procedures; track regulatory changes.
• Engage staff and vendors in sustainability practices, set and track KPIs (energy, waste, carbon), report progress to leadership/stakeholders, and drive innovation through smart technologies and circular economy initiatives.

ROLE QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Requirements:

• 5+ years' experience in facilities/project/operations management or relevant position.
• Well-versed in building, construction, and facilities management best practices, including the ability to interpret floor plans.
• Comfortable with HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and other building systems (working knowledge is a plus).
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to plan and manage resources; P&L experience is a plus.
• Professional certifications in Health & Safety, Project Management, or Facilities Management are an added advantage.
• Experience in procurement processes and management.
• Proficiency with data analysis, forecasting, and budgeting.
• Experience in customer relationship management and dedication to providing great service.
• Experience managing and leading a team, including coaching and capacity building.

We are looking for:

• Passion for and understanding of Ikigai's mission and values, and passion for entrepreneurial communities.
• Must have strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Highly detail-oriented and solution-driven.
• Strong interpersonal relationship and leadership skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset; you are a quick learner and self-starter who works well in a fast-paced, start-up/ growth stage environment.
• You are adaptable and innovative; you own your mistakes and move on.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and project management software.
• Demonstrate integrity, dependability, responsibility, accountability, self-awareness, work ethic, empathy, and professionalism.