Description:
The Workplace Optimization & Business Continuity Manager is a global role within the OCOO organization reporting directly to the leader of Global Real Estate Strategy. Based in London, this position works closely with international teams across multiple regions to deliver data-driven workplace strategies (space planning, occupancy optimization) and ensure organizational resilience through robust business continuity planning (BCP). The role partners with Facilities, HR, Technology, Operational Risk, and business units to optimize space utilization, enhance employee experience, and support compliance with enterprise resiliency policies. Additionally, the role supports resiliency governance by coordinating documentation, testing, and audit readiness under the guidance of the enterprise resiliency function.
Key Responsibilities
Workplace Optimization
- Analyse occupancy and utilization data to recommend space planning and optimization initiatives across global locations.
- Partner with Facilities, HR and Technology teams to align workplace solutions with business needs and support change management for workplace transitions.
- Execute portfolio initiatives including moves/adds/changes, office relocation initiatives and leasing activity.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and regulatory standards in all workplace initiatives.
Business Continuity
- Develop, maintain, and test business continuity and disaster recovery plans for assigned business units.
- Conduct Business Impact Analyses (BIA) and risk assessments, including identification and mapping of Critical Business Services (CBS); document recovery strategies and escalate gaps.
- Coordinate and lead periodic testing exercises (tabletop, functional) to validate recovery strategies and capture lessons learned.
- Provide training and awareness programs on continuity protocols across the organization.
- Assist in incident response for disruptions (e.g. facility outages, severe weather, pandemics) in coordination with response management teams.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and internal business continuity standards; maintain program documentation aligned to enterprise resiliency policy and contribute to maturity improvements.
- Support audit readiness and coordinate responses to audits, regulatory inquiries, RFPs, and exams led by senior resiliency/governance teams.
Qualifications & Experience Required
- 5+ years in workplace strategy, corporate real estate, and/or business continuity within financial services or a similar global organization.
- Strong project management skills and ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
- Proficiency with BCP tools (e.g., Archer).
- Strong analytical capability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and facilitation skills.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Facilities Management, Risk/Operations, or related field.