Head of Workplace Nordics

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?
At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.
WSP is one of the world's leading engineering and environmental professional services firms providing technical consultancy to the built and natural environment. We believe that for societies to thrive, we must all hold ourselves accountable for tomorrow. For us, that means creating innovative solutions to the challenges the future will bring to the communities and environments where we live and work across the Nordics.
We are locally dedicated and propelled by international brainpower. We are technical experts and strategic advisors, including engineers, technicians, scientists, planners, surveyors, geo-science and environmental specialists, as well as other design, programme and construction management professionals. Our experts influence and design sustainable lasting solutions in the property & buildings, transportation & infrastructure, earth & environment, industry and power & energy sectors as well as project delivery and strategic consulting services.
We have 8,000 employees in a network of 55 offices across the Nordics united by our values: collaboration, innovation, pride, and passion for our work. And safety and sustainability are embedded in everything that we do.
The Nordic Corporate Real Estate team is primarily accountable for managing the working environment across WSP’s Nordic real estate portfolio.
The main focus of the CRE Team is to ensure WSP’s workplace serves to attract and retain the best talent within our industry by enabling our them to work productively and collaboratively in an enjoyable working environment.
ROLE
Reporting to the Director of Corporate Real Estate (EMEA & APAC), the Head of Workplace (Nordics) is responsible for the strategic development and operational management of WSP’s real estate portfolio across the Nordic region, comprising the following countries: Sweden, Finland and Norway.
The Nordic region represents comprises c.1m sq.ft. and 107 locations (65 offices and serviced offices) and annual operating costs of approximately CAD $62m.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
To continually measure and assess the safety performance of all CRE managed activities and ensure safety remains paramount in the planning and execution of CRE operations with strict adherence to WSP H&S policies & regional legislation.
To develop and implement the regional real estate strategies ensuring alignment to global workplace objectives whilst serving the needs of the regional businesses.
To serve as the senior point of contact for all real estate activities (Nordics) establishing effective working relationships with regional senior managers and internal CRE departments accordingly.
To monitor future lease events to enable effective planning and timely decision making to ensure the estate is always performing optimally for the business.
In conjunction with WSP real estate advisors, lead on all real estate transactions and associated negotiations ensuring commercial optimisation (e.g. lease renewals, acquisitions, disposals, dilapidations, rent reviews, etc.).
To routinely liaise with regional business unit leaders on their future workspace requirements to help inform the real estate strategy.
To facilitate close collaboration between the CRE, Project and FM workstreams to deliver high quality and cost-effective services alongside partnering functions such as IT, Procurement, Finance.
To undertake feasibility studies and cost benefit analysis to support the strategic decision making.
To develop detailed business cases / investment proposals for Executive approval.
To implement systems to monitor occupancy and utilisation levels across WSP’s real estate assets to help inform future decision making.
To co-ordinate and undertake workplace surveys to assess current performance and future service requirements.
To actively contribute to the development of WSP’s workplace strategy, ensuring a working environment that retains and attracts the best talent in our industries whilst maintaining effective cost management and value to our business.
To maintain a knowledge of trends and best practices within the corporate real estate industry.
To identify, evaluate and implement workplace related initiatives that support WSP’s ESG strategic aspirations.
To develop and implement management policies and processes as required to ensure all real estate services are delivered to a high standard of operational efficiency and compliance with national legislation.
To prepare annual and interim opex and capex financial forecasts.
To monitor the financial performance the estate working closely with the Head of Performance to identify cost saving measures and inform future financial forecasting.
Develop and implement a rolling 5-year capital investment programme including the anticipated life cycle requirements of plant and equipment.
Undertake benchmarking exercises to establish performance against industry peers.
Ensure the CRE function is sufficiently prepared to respond to a crisis incidents supported by business continuity plans, policies and testing regimes.

Skills
Procurement

Experience
10+ yrs