The Building and Operations Manager oversees the safe and effective running of our 11,000 square foot building in Central London. The space is multifunctional, housing a library, event spaces and team offices. This role leads on health and safety, fire safety and security, and is responsible for creating a comfortable and secure working environment for our team.

A core feature of this position is ensuring the successful running of events, exhibitions and programmes from an operational perspective, coordinating with programme workstreams and managing our Front of House team. The role is pivotal in creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and takes the lead on making spaces as accessible as possible.

Ahead of planned capital works in 2027, this role will also support the redevelopment planning and due diligence efforts, coordinating site visits and responding to building-related queries.

Role Responsibilities

Building

• Responsible for the upkeep of the building, coordinating maintenance site visits, managing cleaning suppliers, and ensuring ad hoc repairs are completed on a timely basis.

• Maintain the Foundation’s furniture and electrical equipment, ensuring regular checks are done and that an accurate inventory is maintained.

• Ensure the building and its contents are secure and oversee all keyholding procedures.

• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including Islington Council and neighbouring premises, on any building-related matters.

• Acting as the first point of contact for anyone visiting the building, and coordinating post and deliveries.

Programme Support

• Support project leads with the delivery of exhibitions, events and workshops, including liaising with technical teams and organising furniture and equipment.

• Manage the Foundation’s Front of House team, facilitating training as required and ensuring the delivery of an excellent visitor experience.

• Overseeing the safety of all events, ensuring risk assessments are completed and any mitigating actions are fully implemented.

• Gather and disseminate feedback on programme activity to facilitate the continuous improvement of Freelands Foundation programming from an operational perspective.

Operations

• Monitor and implement suitable health and safety, fire safety and security procedures, including promptly dealing with incidents and ensuring all staff receive the required training.

• Being the initial point of contact and reacting to any out-of-hours issues as they occur, such as fire alarms and security breaches.

• Implement appropriate insurance cover, including building, contents and cybersecurity.

• Manage the organisation’s IT hardware and the day-to-day relationship with the organisation’s IT Support provider.

• Oversee the budget for utilities, repairs, maintenance and equipment.

Freelands Foundation contribution

• Identify and undertake such tasks that are needed to deliver this role’s responsibilities.

• Work in cooperation with colleagues across the organisation, providing support and cover as needed within available time and resources.

• Undertake organisational training as required.

• Work within the organisation’s agreed policies and processes, confirming such with a senior manager where clarity is needed.

• Uphold the organisation’s values and mission in all internal and external interactions undertaken on behalf of Freelands Foundation.

Role Requirements

Essential

Experience

• Leading the day-to-day maintenance of a public building.

• Ability to manage third-party suppliers in achieving deliverables on time and within budget.

• Experience managing a Front of House team in a creative venue.

• Overseeing outsourced IT Support providers and onsite troubleshooting, with knowledge of the Microsoft Suite essential.

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of health and safety, fire safety, safeguarding and security policies and procedures.

• Financially literate with the ability to manage budgets and process invoices.

Skills

• Highly organised with experience of implementing effective operational systems.

• Excellent time management, planning and coordination skills, able to manage multiple priorities and work calmly under pressure and to a deadline.

• Ability to work collaboratively and form good working relationships internally and externally.

Attributes

• A proactive and collegiate approach to problem-solving.

• A positive response to deadline-driven project working.

• Strong support for our mission to champion art education.

• A strong belief in the intrinsic value of art.

Desirable

Experience

• Significant experience managing a heritage building, used as both an events and office space.

• Involvement in previous capital projects, including planning and operational readiness.

• Optimising the visitor experience in a visual arts context.

Knowledge

• Broad understanding of art making within the context of art education.

• Knowledge of the Cyber Essentials accreditation and cybersecurity preventative procedures.

Qualifications

• Health and Safety qualification, such as IOSH / NCRQ / NEBOSH.

• Fire warden and first aid trained.

Terms

Salary: £40,000 per annum.

Hours of work: Full-time, 40 hours per week.

Working pattern: Typical working hours will be Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. Due to the nature of the role, some early morning and evening work will be required, for which TOIL can be claimed.

Location: Freelands Foundation offices in Central London. Due to the building-based requirements of this role, this is a full-time onsite role.

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract.

Visa sponsorship likely status: Unfortunately, sponsorship is not available for this role.

Deadline for applications: 12pm, 23 April 2026.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus UK public holidays and discretionary office closure (currently one week in the summer, and between 25 December – 1 January inclusive, subject to project demands).

• Employer pension contributions of 6%.

• Critical illness insurance, group income protection and life assurance schemes.

• Annual training budget available for approved work-related training.

• Cycle to work scheme, with on-site lockable bike rack and shower available.

• Well stocked staff kitchen with dedicated eating area.

• Access to our art education library.

Additional Information

The appointment is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Only candidates who pass the check will be offered employment.

Freelands Foundation is committed to anti-racism and to addressing inequality in the art sector. We warmly welcome applications from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates, as individuals from these backgrounds are currently underrepresented at all levels of our organisation.

AI Tools, such as ChatGPT, can be useful for exploring thoughts but we ask that the words you share with us are your own. Responses that feel overly generic or artificially generated may not reflect the individuality we value and could affect how your application is perceived or result in it being rejected.

If you require adjustments for any part of the recruitment or selection process, including an alternative format for the job description or job advert, please contact recruitment@freelandsfoundation.co.uk and we will be happy to accommodate your access requirements.