Job Summary

As the Head of Property Africa, will be accountable for driving the end-to-end strategic approach to the Group’s Property portfolio for Country and Africa Cluster. As a strategic role, it will form part of the EMEA Leadership Team and includes the management of the physical environment for clients and staff and by its nature impacts every member of the Bank staff world-wide. The role also includes the management of all projects in relation to the Group’s properties; Group Security, Health & Safety; and Supply Partner Management. This role is the risk control owner in keeping the Bank safe through the provision of a safe, secure and healthy environment for our staff and customers.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy

• Drive delivery aligned to the Bank’s Fit for Growth Program with an emphasis on portfolio optimization, ownership and lease principles as well as rationalizing procurement spend to improve on overall efficiency.
• Property strategies to incorporate robust application of financial modelling to determine optimal decision making for the benefit of the enterprise in addition to market/cluster
• This role is a member of the EMEA Property Leadership Team, with collective responsibility for developing the Property Strategy aligned with the overall Bank strategy.
• Effectively communicate the Property strategy and related initiatives through country teams periodically ensuring alignment and consistency in application across all markets
• Accountable for the development and execution of the Cluster and Country Corporate Plan including the delivery of the property scorecard objectives and outcomes aligned to strategic goals of Workplace Experience, Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability
• Accountable for the development and delivery of Africa property strategies, influencing key geographic and business stakeholders to ensure optimal solutions are implemented specific to site location, demand drivers and functional requirements, e.g., Data Centres, Disaster Recovery sites, etc.
• Drive completion of markets in scope for Project Crown or similar divestment initiatives with respective country teams.
• Rigorously review Property Target Operating Model periodically, ensuring systems, processes and structures deliver against Property priorities and enablers for Property 2.0

Business

• The role is accountable through cluster and country Property teams to ensure all aspects of the Property function are well managed, well operated and provide safe and productive work environment for the group’s staff and clients
• Accountable for Property engagement model with Cluster/Business CEO’s and business leaders to ensure the function has a deep understanding of strategic needs and influence business outcomes beyond express needs
• Accountable for oversight of all markets in Africa. The estate includes all offices, retail facilities, Data Centres and Disaster Recovery sites except where managed directly by a Business Unit
• Managing an operating budget of c. $35m, through geographic teams in the most effective and efficient manner in support of and aligned with the business strategy, through continually improving operating metrics relating to space use, costs and employee experience.
• All capital investment programs in Africa to be delivered in accordance with commercial forecasts relative to cash and P&L. As such, accountable for any change in cash forecasts which will have an influence on Corporate Planning assumptions.
• Responsible for supporting Country Heads of Property with implementing new strategies/policies requiring change adoption with Business, e.g. vacant desk policy, recharges, etc
• Where any major investments requested, responsible for reviewing benefits case including formalizing approvals in line with Bank’s governance process. This could include presentation to Geography leadership on proposition in addition to Group Management where necessary

Processes

• Accountable for the Property geographic operating model and resourcing/budget decisions
• Develop, implement and deliver property strategies and strategic initiatives
• Manage annual Cluster Property budget including capital projects budgets. Ensure agreement of Country and Cluster budgets with key stakeholders
• Lead and empower teams to ensure the Country meets its respective agreed environmental targets

People and Talent

• Play a leadership role accountable for providing clear, effective and supportive supervision and leadership of the Property team
• Lead through example and build the appropriate culture and values. Set appropriate tone and expectations from the team and work in collaboration with risk and control partners
• Employ, engage and retain high quality people, with succession planning for critical role, build bench strength and formulate succession plans for the team
• Develop high performing and collaborative teams and enhance cross-functional relationships
• Set and monitor job descriptions and objectives for direct reports and provide feedback and rewards in line with their performance against those responsibilities and objectives.
• Ensure the provision of ongoing training and development of people, and ensure that holders of all critical functions are suitably skilled and qualified for their roles ensuring that they have effective supervision in place to mitigate any risks
• Review the team structure/capacity plans regularly and feed opportunities into Property Target Operating Model refresh
• Support the Bank’s promise through the active support for team CSR activities

Risk Management

As Risk Control Owner for Property Management and Security Management (including H&S regulations) in country and Cluster responsible under the Group Operational Risk Framework (ORF) for ensuring that the residual risks within the scope of Property responsibilities remain within appetite.  In discharging this responsibility, the Head of Property must:

• Risk control owner for all Property related risks, including Health and Safety, Security and Business Continuity Management
• Responsible for ensuring that the residual risks within the scope of responsibilities for managing the risk control areas of Property remain within appetite at Cluster and Country level
• Act as an escalation between the Country Management Team and Property for Country Crisis Management
• Challenge and verify First Line risk identification and assessments, in line with changes in the internal and external environment
• Identify and report key risks and ensure where outside of the risk appetite they are escalated to the appropriate body for risk acceptance
• Maintain a good understanding of applicable laws and regulations pertaining to Property Risk control areas
• Monitor compliance with and effectiveness of the risk control environment
• Monitor ‘live’ risk issues and events material to the Bank and verify whether appropriate management action is being taken to mitigate their impact
• Advise governance bodies on key risks, the effectiveness of mitigants and controls, and alignment of residual risks with appetite
• Ensure operations in cluster / country are audit ready

Governance

• Act as second line of assurance underpinning Partners responsibilities
• Represent Property in risk committees
• Accountable to ensure Supply Partner governance standards are met and performance of supply partners is meeting agreed service level standards

Regulatory & Business Conduct 

• Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Lead the Cluster Property team to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank’s Conduct Principles: Fair Outcomes for Clients; Effective Financial Markets; Financial Crime Compliance; The Right Environment.
• Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.
• Monitor local regulatory developments and establish local addenda to Property owned Policies and Standards as required

Key stakeholders

• Accountable for senior stakeholder management within the cluster; developing strong partnerships, proactive discovery of upcoming projects that impact the Cluster and/or Country spend, while creating value by influencing stakeholders to make decisions when considering the wider business.
• Key stakeholder interactions are CEOs, CFOs, COO’s CIOs and Business/Function Heads in the market
• Property Leadership Team

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other responsibilities assigned under Group, Country, Business or Functional policies and procedures.

Requirements

Skills and Experience

• Project Management
• Strategic Planning
• Financial Analysis
• Strategic Supply Partner Management
• Business Acumen

Qualifications

• Preferably a bachelor’s degree in real estate, Facilities Management, engineering or other business-related discipline preferred
• MBA or similar advantageous
• Knowledge of the facilities/real estate market as well as a keen understanding of customer service principles
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in seeking out market opportunities and leveraging supplier base to maximum advantage
• Exceptional leadership capabilities and experience managing large multi-disciplinary teams