Role Summary
As Country Head, Corporate Real Estate & Services (CRES), this role leads the end‑to‑end strategy, governance and delivery of Standard Chartered’s real estate and workplace agenda across the country. Accountable for the full CRES portfolio, the role spans Health & Safety, Physical Security, Sustainability and Supplier/Partner Management, ensuring a safe, secure, healthy and resilient environment for our customers and colleagues.
Covering all owned and leased sites – including corporate offices, branches, data centres, cash vaults, BCP (sites and ATMs – the Country Head, CRES shapes and executes a forward‑looking, cost‑effective and sustainable real estate and workplace strategy that can be leveraged across the Bank’s global footprint. This includes leading all property‑related projects, optimising space and workplace design, embedding sustainability principles, and rigorously managing risk as the designated risk control owner for the physical environment.
The role collaborates very closely with Business Divisions and Functions to understand demand and deliver value‑adding, commercially sound real estate solutions, including strategic transactions and portfolio optimisation. It requires building and leading a high‑performing team of real estate professionals, orchestrating relationships with large‑scale vendors and preferred suppliers, and influencing senior country leadership to align CRES outcomes with the Bank’s strategic priorities.
The Country Head, CRES will also bring CRES expertise into strategic cross‑functional forums, partnering with the Strategy & Talent and Technology teams to co‑create integrated, digitally enabled workplace and real estate solutions that enhance employee experience, operational resilience and long‑term sustainability.
Role Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the Country CRES Corporate Plan and scorecard to enhance client and colleague experience, transform the portfolio, elevate the brand and drive Net Zero across real estate.
- Shape and deliver the Country CRES strategy, influencing key stakeholders to implement optimal, business‑aligned real estate and workplace solutions.
- Ensure the CRES function is well run, providing a safe, productive and high‑quality work environment for staff and customers across all owned and leased premises.
- Lead the CRES engagement model with the Country CEO, business and functional leaders (CFO, COO, CIO etc) to deeply understand strategic needs and influence business outcomes.
- Manage the full country real estate portfolio and an operating budget of c. USD 180m, optimising space utilisation, cost efficiency and employee experience.
- Oversee core CRES processes (Asset, Project, Safety & Security, Facilities Management), including resourcing, capital planning and delivery of strategic initiatives and environmental targets.
- Build, lead and develop a high‑performing CRES team, fostering the right culture, values, succession planning and continuous learning.
- Set clear objectives, monitor performance, and recognise and reward contributions while supporting CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities and the Group’s people promise.
- Act as Risk Control Owner for all CRES‑related risks (Health & Safety, Security, Business Continuity Management, Property), ensuring residual risks remain within appetite under the Operational Risk Framework.
- Monitor, challenge and report on key CRES risks, maintain regulatory awareness, ensure audit readiness and advise governance bodies on risk, mitigants and controls.
- Provide governance and oversight as second line of assurance, represent CRES in key risk committees, chair relevant forums and ensure robust supply partner governance and performance.
- Role‑model the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct, taking personal accountability for high ethical, regulatory and business conduct standards and effective risk and compliance management in CRES
Role Requirements
- Extensive experience in corporate real estate / workplace / facilities management in a complex, multi‑site organisation (financial services or similar highly regulated environment preferred).
- Proven track record of leading country or regional real estate portfolios, including strategy development, transaction management, projects and operations.
- Strong understanding of Health & Safety, Physical Security, Sustainability and risk management related to the built environment.
- Demonstrated experience as a people leader, with the ability to build, develop and motivate high‑performing teams.
- Experience managing large‑scale vendors and outsourced service providers, with a strong focus on performance management and commercial outcomes.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and partner effectively with senior executives, business leaders and functional stakeholders.
- Strategic mindset with hands‑on execution capability; comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
- Familiarity with workplace innovation, digital solutions and sustainability practices within the real estate domain.
- Relevant university degree in Real Estate, Facilities Management, Engineering, Business or a related discipline; professional real estate / facilities / safety qualifications are an advantage.
What we offer
In line with our Fair Pay Charter, we offer a competitive salary and benefits to support your mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.
- Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits available in some locations.
- Time-off including annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum) and volunteering leave (3 days), along with minimum global standards for annual and public holiday, which is combined to 30 days minimum.
- Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
- Proactive wellbeing support through Unmind, a market-leading digital wellbeing platform, development courses for resilience and other human skills, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first-aiders and all sorts of self-help toolkits
- A continuous learning culture to support your growth, with opportunities to reskill and upskill and access to physical, virtual and digital learning.
- Being part of an inclusive and values driven organisation, one that embraces and celebrates our unique diversity, across our teams, business functions and geographies - everyone feels respected and can realise their full potential.
www.sc.com/careers
