Group Head of Properties & Maintenance

Group Head of Properties & Maintenance

Location:Papua New Guinea

A leading organisation is seeking a highly experienced Group Head of Properties & Maintenance to lead the operational performance, lifecycle strategy, and technical delivery across a national portfolio of property assets.

This is a strategic leadership role overseeing all property operations, facilities management, engineering services, maintenance planning, capital projects, and contractor performance to ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and high-performing assets across multiple locations.

The successful candidate will drive a data-led, standardised operating model that optimises asset uptime, reduces reactive spend, strengthens risk controls, modernises maintenance practices, and builds a culture of operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Set the property and maintenance strategy for a national portfolio.
• Build and implement operational plans aligned to group objectives.
• Lead the transition toward standardised maintenance practices and systems.
• Drive continuous improvement, technical innovation, and service quality.

Asset & Maintenance Management

• Oversee maintenance planning for critical systems (HVAC, power, lifts, fire, water, BMS).
• Implement asset lifecycle management, condition assessments, and long-term capex plans.
• Lead site audits, refurbishment programs, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Deliver preventive and predictive maintenance through CMMS and data insights.
• Improve sustainability outcomes through energy efficiency, fuel and water management.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Own budgets, forecasts, and cost control across all property operations.
• Lead tendering, vendor selection, and integrated contract management.
• Negotiate service-level agreements and performance frameworks with contractors.
• Deliver measurable cost savings through strategic sourcing and procurement discipline.

Safety, Risk & Compliance

• Champion a zero-harm culture across all sites.
• Ensure facilities meet all legal, regulatory, and internal standards.
• Proactively manage operational risks associated with asset performance.
• Report on critical incidents, compliance audits, and risk mitigation plans.

Leadership & Culture

• Lead multidisciplinary teams across multiple sites.
• Build capability across engineering, maintenance, and site operations.
• Develop high-performing leaders and strengthen front-line accountability.
• Foster strong relationships internally and externally across regions.

About You

You are an accomplished leader in property operations, facilities management, or engineering services, with a strong track record of improving asset reliability, building technical capability, and managing complex operations at scale.

Experience

• 10+ years in facilities, property, engineering, or asset management leadership.
• Experience overseeing multi-site operations in commercial, retail, industrial or mixed-use environments.
• Strong background in maintenance strategy, asset lifecycle planning, and capital works.
• Demonstrated financial acumen and commercial negotiation skills.
• Proven experience building a safety culture and managing compliance frameworks.
• Experience with CMMS, BMS, dashboards, and data-driven decision-making.
• QualificationsDegree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Property, or related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification in Business, Management or Project Management (preferred).
• Relevant professional certifications (IFMA, FMA, PMP, WHS) highly regarded.
• Leadership AttributesHands-on, structured and disciplined operational mindset.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability.
• Calm under pressure, decisive, and solutions-oriented.
• High integrity, accountability, and commitment to service excellence.

Why This Role

This is a transformational leadership opportunity to shape how property operations are delivered at a national level. The role combines strategy, operational leadership, asset performance, and technical excellence with the chance to design the future operating model for a major organisation.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a diverse property portfolio with significant impact.
• Build a modern facilities function with best-practice tools and systems.
• Deliver meaningful improvements in safety, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Develop technical teams and drive capability uplift nationwide.
• Influence strategic decisions relating to capital investments and growth.