Job Summary
As a CBRE Business Unit Leader, you will be responsible for leading the day-to-day delivery of the Business Unit (BU). This incorporates driving rapid sustainable growth, statutory compliance and governance, the management and development of staff, (operational, sales, contract support and management), the continual development of our customer base and full operational responsibility for the BU.
This role sits within our GWS Local facilities management business where we serve many single-asset and localized portfolio clients. We deliver locally led solutions powered by operational and service excellence, deep expertise in the self-delivery of technical and hard services, and the highest standards of client care.
What You'll Do
Strategic Planning and Review:
- Develops business and sales strategies aligned with market trends and economic forecasts.
- Builds strong customer relationships and external networks to promote CBRE in the marketplace.
- Aligns resources to support the growth of the business, balancing investment and returns.
- Monitors and drives performance through key KPIs and financial metrics.
- Delivers comprehensive BU reviews with validated data and insights.
- Prioritises the success of CBRE, the Division, and the BU in all decisions.
Quality and Safety Management:
- Promotes a culture of quality, safety, and innovation.
- Leads by example in communication and professional standards.
- Identifies safety trends and implements proactive interventions.
- Ensures compliance with mandatory processes, including audits, risk assessments, and incident reporting.
People Management:
- Maintains visibility and accessibility to the team.
- Ensures timely induction and training for all direct reports.
- Ensures team understands scorecard targets, objectives, and demonstrates continual achievement against these targets or their perceived general performance.
- Coaches and develops team members, fostering a growth mindset.
- Drives talent and succession planning for the Business Unit, building a robust succession plan for management roles, using development programmes and local activities to ensure ready and able candidates are available.
- Encourages teamwork and recognizes achievements through formal and informal channels.
Customer Relations:
- Represents CBRE GWS | Local in a professional and credible manner to customers and the public.
- Focuses on ensuring excellent service levels are maintained at all times, delivering value to customers.
- Is accessible and responsive to customers at all times.
- Accountable for ensuring the GWS | Local Client Care Framework is deployed throughout the Business Unit, including quarterly business review meetings, strategic workshops, relationship workshops, and professional reporting standards.
- Organizes specific high level social engagements with suitable customers in line with any existing company policy that builds and strengthens non-work environment relationships.
Business Development and Marketing:
- Is accountable for the sustainable and profitable growth of the business, including new sales and organic growth across all three revenue streams: maintenance, extra works, and projects.
- Accountable for cultivation and tender activity including sales and operational resourcing, governance and sign-off, document and commercial reviews, and presentation and pitching standards.
- Identifies and targets suitable quality and volume of work to meet sales targets and support long term, sustainable growth.
Operational Management:
- Ensures robust contract reviews are led by AGM's / AD's / Heads of Project's with an appropriate level of check and challenge.
- Ensures high site standards including front and back of house areas
- Accountable for mobilisation and transition activity, ensuring that customer expectations are met and that all mobilisations are signed off at the appropriate level.
- Ensures fair treatment of suppliers, professional supplier management and arbitration of disputes.
- Works closely with the procurement team to ensure maximum use of preferred suppliers and ensure robust back-to-back contracts, and performance focused contracts are in place.
Financial Management:
- Achieves revenue, profit, and working capital targets without compromising service quality.
- Maintains cost control and resource efficiency.
- Ensures accurate financial reporting and forecasting, including long term planning.
- DOA, financial, and commercial sign-off as dictated by local governance protocols.
What You'll Need
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience. Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA or similar) are advantageous but not essential.
- Extensive leadership and operational experience within the relevant industry or function.
- Demonstrated success in managing teams, driving business performance, and delivering strategic outcomes in comparable roles.
- Proven ability to lead through complexity and change in dynamic environments.
- Demonstrates exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Highly responsive and accessible, with strong organizational and analytical capabilities. Effectively conveys complex information to diverse audiences, including senior stakeholders.
- Builds and sustains high-performing teams through active coaching, feedback, and development planning. Adapts leadership style to suit individual and situational needs.
- Confidently leads meetings, delivers presentations, and represents the business in client-facing or high-stakes environments.
- Persuasive communicator with the ability to influence outcomes and drive alignment across functions.
- Proactively identifies and capitalizes on business opportunities with minimal direction. Applies critical thinking to evaluate complex situations, balancing multiple perspectives to make sound decisions.
- Possesses advanced understanding of financial principles and commercial drivers. Conducts in-depth financial analysis to inform strategic decisions. Influences profitability through effective negotiation and business planning.
