A Head of Facilities leads an organisation's Facilities Management function: its strategy, teams, budgets, contracts and compliance across one or more sites. In the UK the role typically pays £70,000 to £110,000+, rising to £90,000 to £130,000+ in London, and most appointees have ten to fifteen or more years of FM experience.
The Head of Facilities is the senior leader responsible for an organisation's Facilities Management function. The role sits between the operational Facilities Managers who run individual buildings and the executive team that sets the organisation's direction.
It has changed considerably over the last decade. Heads of Facilities are now expected to manage risk, cost, sustainability and workplace experience together, and to explain all four in business terms. This guide sets out what the role involves, what it pays and what employers look for when they appoint one.
What does a Head of Facilities do?
A Head of Facilities leads the strategic and operational management of an organisation's buildings, estates and workplace services. In most organisations the role reports to a Facilities Director, Chief Operating Officer, Finance Director or property lead, and manages a team of Facilities Managers, specialists and contractors.
Leadership
- leading Facilities Management teams and setting the department's structure;
- setting service standards and performance measures;
- overseeing contractor and supplier relationships; and
- developing the next layer of FM managers.
Strategy
- developing facilities and workplace strategy in line with business plans;
- planning long-term maintenance and capital investment;
- leading sustainability and energy improvement programmes; and
- shaping workplace changes such as relocations, refurbishments and hybrid working.
Operations, compliance and finance
- ensuring statutory compliance and health and safety across every site;
- managing operational and capital budgets;
- procuring and managing service contracts, both hard and soft services; and
- business continuity and incident leadership when things go wrong.
Head of Facilities salary in the UK
Based on Maxwell Stephens' 2026 salary guidance, a Head of Facilities typically earns:
- UK typical range: £70,000 to £110,000+
- London: £90,000 to £130,000+
- Corporate and financial services: £100,000 to £150,000+
The size and complexity of the estate matters more than the job title. A Head of Facilities running a multi-site portfolio with a large capital programme will earn considerably more than one responsible for a single office. Bonus, car allowance and pension can add materially to the package at this level. For the full picture by role, region and sector, see our UK FM salary guide.
Experience employers look for
In our experience, most Heads of Facilities have ten to fifteen or more years in Facilities Management, usually progressing through Facilities Manager and Senior Facilities Manager roles. Employers typically look for:
- leadership of multi-site estates or a single complex building;
- responsibility for significant operational and capital budgets;
- a track record of managing contractors and outsourced services;
- experience leading through incidents, audits or major change; and
- evidence of influencing senior stakeholders, not just managing a team.
Technical depth helps, especially where buildings are complex, but at this level judgement under pressure and commercial awareness usually decide the appointment.
Useful qualifications
Experience normally outweighs qualifications for Head of Facilities roles, but many appointees hold:
- IWFM qualifications or membership (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management);
- NEBOSH health and safety certificates;
- engineering or building services qualifications; and
- project management qualifications such as PRINCE2 or APM.
For more on how employers weigh qualifications against experience, see FM qualifications: what employers really look for.
Where Heads of Facilities work
The role is most common in organisations with large or complex estates, including:
- corporate headquarters and large office portfolios;
- universities and further education;
- healthcare and NHS estates;
- commercial real estate and managing agents;
- the public sector and cultural institutions; and
- retail, logistics and multi-site operations.
Head of Facilities vs Facilities Manager vs Facilities Director
- Facilities Manager: runs day-to-day operations for a building or group of sites.
- Head of Facilities: leads the FM function, its people, budgets and strategy.
- Facilities Director: owns organisation-wide property and workplace strategy, often at or near board level.
In smaller organisations the Head of Facilities may effectively be the most senior FM role. In larger ones, the title can sit beneath a Director of Estates or Property. Read the brief, not just the title.
How the role is changing
The Heads of Facilities we place today are expected to do far more than keep buildings running. Carbon reduction, hybrid working, building safety regulation and the use of building data have all moved onto their desks. The strongest candidates can explain a maintenance strategy or a workplace change in terms of productivity, risk and cost, and that is increasingly what separates a shortlist from an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Head of Facilities do?
A Head of Facilities leads an organisation's FM function, overseeing building operations, workplace services, teams, budgets, contracts and long-term facilities strategy.
How much does a Head of Facilities earn in the UK?
Typically £70,000 to £110,000+, with London roles at £90,000 to £130,000+ and corporate or financial services roles reaching £100,000 to £150,000+.
How many years' experience do you need to become a Head of Facilities?
Most appointees have ten to fifteen or more years in Facilities Management, including time as a Facilities Manager or Senior Facilities Manager.
Is Head of Facilities the same as Facilities Director?
Not usually. A Facilities Director typically owns organisation-wide strategy and sits closer to the board, while a Head of Facilities leads the FM function itself. In smaller organisations the two can overlap.
Hiring a Head of Facilities?
A Head of Facilities appointment shapes your estate for years, so it pays to get the brief right before you search. Our Facilities Management executive search team recruits Heads of Facilities and Facilities Directors across the UK, and our Head of Facilities job description template is a useful starting point. Contact us for a confidential conversation.
