The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Head of Estates and Logistics, job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO), on a fixed term contract for one (1) year, with possibility of renewal.

The jobholder will provide strategic leadership and oversight of estates and transport services across the KSA Network, ensuring compliant, efficient and value‑for‑money delivery. A core focus of the role is the management of high‑value procurement activity and complex contracts, ensuring adherence to FCDO commercial policies and achieving measurable improvements in service performance. 

This is a senior leadership position requiring strong team‑management capability, sound judgement, and the ability to embed professional standards across a diverse operational portfolio. The postholder will be expected to demonstrate high levels of integrity, accountability and professionalism, working effectively with senior stakeholders, suppliers, and counterparts. 

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership 

• Provide clear leadership and direction to the Estates and Transport teams across Riyadh and Jeddah, ensuring alignment with FCDO strategic objectives, policies, and operational standards. 
• Foster a high‑performing, inclusive culture, ensuring staff are supported, motivated, and managed effectively in line with HR policy. 
• Lead organisational change within the estates and logistics functions, ensuring teams are prepared for future operational requirements, including major capital programmes and sustainability initiatives. 
• Provide senior‑level advice and assurance to the Embassy’s Management Board on estates, health and safety, risk exposure, and service performance. 

Procurement and Commercial Management 

• Provide overall commercial leadership for the estates and transport portfolio, ensuring all procurement activity complies with FCDO commercial policy, local procurement regulations, and value‑for‑money principles. 
• Act as lead contract manager for major estates and maintenance contracts (over £2m per annum), ensuring:  
  • Robust tendering and supplier selection
  • Effective contract mobilisation
  • Regular performance monitoring and compliance
  • Delivery against agreed time, cost, quality and safety standards
  • Oversee the Estates Managers in their management of smaller contracts, ensuring consistency, transparency, and adherence to procurement rules across both posts. 
  • Develop and maintain procurement plans, forward contracting strategies, and risk registers to support long‑term operational resilience.
  • Ensure suppliers are held to account through structured performance reviews, KPIs, and appropriate escalation routes.
  • Identify opportunities for cost reduction, service improvement, and innovation across the procurement pipeline.

Estates and Infrastructure Governance 

• Maintain strategic oversight of the KSA Network’s estates, ensuring both platforms are safe, presentable, and operationally effective. 
• Ensure timely implementation of Property Condition Assessment (PCA) recommendations and maintain strong governance around planned preventative maintenance (PPM). 
• Support the development of long‑term asset management plans, including asset registers, forward maintenance schedules, and capital investment strategies. 
• Lead planning for major estates projects requiring central funding, including estate relocation, perimeter strengthening, and environmental sustainability upgrades. 
• Chair the Health & Safety Committee, ensuring regulatory compliance, accurate documentation and effective risk management. 

Transport and Logistics Leadership 

• Provide strategic oversight of transport services, ensuring compliant fleet management, lifecycle planning, and transition to greener vehicle technologies. 
• Ensure transport governance documents, including the KSA transport policy, remain current and clearly define service standards and usage rules. 
• Oversee driver performance management, training and professional development, including defensive driving and safety requirements. 

Crisis Preparedness 

• Undertake crisis training and act as Deputy Logistics Manager during crisis events. 
• Maintain up‑to‑date logistical crisis response procedures and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into policy revisions. 
• Support wider Corporate Services operations as required, including providing cover for colleagues. 

Leadership and People Management 

• Line manages three direct reports and maintains oversight of their wider teams, ensuring high‑quality delivery of estates and transport services. 
• Embed strong performance management, continuous improvement, and professional development practices across teams. 
• Promote a culture of accountability, customer service, and compliance. 

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future, and this would be at the discretion of the line manager or head of section. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
• Delivering at Pace – Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Seeing the Big Picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.

• 6–10 years of middle management experience in estates, logistics, operations, or programme delivery.
• Demonstrated experience managing procurement processes, commercial activity, and large or complex contracts.
• Strong leadership experience, including managing cross functional teams.
• Proven budget management capability at scale.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely with ability to influence at senior levels.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, able to work independently and under pressure.
• High proficiency in MS Office and strong organisational capability.
• Familiarity with UK health and safety requirements.