International Schools Partnership Careers

ISP Regional Head of Property - Iberia Role Profile

Purpose of Role

As ISP’s Regional Head of Property, you will be responsible for managing capital expenditure (CapEx) investments and ensuring the effective operation, maintenance, and compliant management of the Group’s expanding regional property portfolio. Your role will balance cost management with environmental impact. You will play a crucial role in planning and delivering school infrastructure expansions, enhancements, health and safety projects, and renovations. This position requires strong relationship-building skills to engage effectively with individual school leaders, external stakeholders, regional management, and divisional or group headquarters, delivering positive outcomes at local, regional, and international levels.

The Regional Head of Property – Iberia reports directly to the Regional Operations Director – Iberia.

ISP Principles

1. Begin with our children and students. Their success is our success. Well-being and safety are essential for effective learning. We consistently identify potential health and safety issues, acting promptly and following up on all concerns.

2. Treat everyone with care and respect. We support one another, embracing both similarities and differences, and promote the well-being of ourselves and others.

3. Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the most important aspects that will drive positive change, applying school policies and embodying our community's shared values.

4. Be financially responsible. We make financial decisions carefully, prioritizing the needs of our children, students, and schools.

5. Learn continuously. Our drive for improvement motivates us to engage actively in personal and professional development, as well as in school improvement initiatives.

ISP Regional Head of Property Key Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership and Management

• Support and advise school heads and functional managers on all aspects of facilities and project management.
• Interact with colleagues, partners, and contractors across various levels, including senior leadership teams, management, and external professionals.
• Adhere to business policies, rules, and procedures, including health and safety, equal opportunities, governance, and financial policies.
• Ensure compliance with the organization’s Code of Conduct in service delivery to staff and the community.
• Maintain close contact with governmental and local agencies to ensure adherence to regulations.
• Continuously improve the energy efficiency of our schools and foster a culture of environmental protection within the school community.

2. Estate and Building Management

• Establish and manage a regional maintenance plan in accordance with ISP policy.
• Create and oversee a regional facilities management committee per ISP guidelines.
• Conduct routine visits and inspections of school sites.
• Review, draft, and tender soft and hard facilities management contracts as needed.
• Manage complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems across the estate, including alarms, air conditioning, and energy management systems.
• Ensure a transparent and competitive tender process for external service suppliers.
• Develop effective Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for facilities maintenance and service management.
• Plan and manage facilities maintenance budgets and energy efficiency procedures.
• Investigate equipment malfunctions and design technical solutions.
• Manage preventive maintenance systems to avoid future malfunctions or hazards.
• Focus on ESG strategies to achieve the company’s objectives, including energy-efficient operations and waste reduction.

3. Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

• Serve as the primary contact for local and regional authorities.
• Ensure 100% compliance in all schools.
• Align ISP regional policies and procedures with local compliance requirements.
• Implement a routine inspection system to maintain compliance of safety systems, such as fire alarms and security checks.
• Oversee risk assessments related to physical infrastructure and ensure the adoption of safe work systems.
• Monitor KPIs for compliance services and escalate performance issues as necessary.
• Conduct periodic audits of regional schools to ensure legal and policy compliance.
• Lead facility audits to plan enhancements and maintenance tasks, reporting health and safety concerns.
• Provide guidance on facility-related health and safety issues and offer training when needed.
• Oversee incident investigations at ISP locations and update policies in response to local law changes.
• Support school facilities teams during emergencies.

4. Infrastructure Enhancement and Project Management

• Collaborate with Heads and the Regional Operations Director to prioritize the 5-Year Infrastructure Development Plan for each school.
• Lead annual capacity analysis surveys for schools.
• Support Heads and the Regional Operations Director in drafting project proposals.
• Manage projects to ensure completion within established timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Inspect construction and repair work to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations.
• Engage with project leaders to address facility-related issues in acquisitions and CapEx projects, ensuring plans are realistic and well-resourced.

5. Procurement Services Management

• Manage and support schools and regional team on procurement processes in compliance with the regional procurement policy.
• Ensure our eSourcing tool is used for all procurement porcesees according to policies.
• Contract Manage through our eSourcing tool, ensuring all key contracts are correctly uploaded to anticipate and identify opportunities to change suppliers, renegotiate conditions or anticipate to renovations in a planned manner.
• Create a suppliers repository and identify suppliers integration opportunities among regional schools
• Find new suppliers to enrich tenders and ensure best value for money.
• Create comparatives ensuring all quotes are homogeneous in quantity and quality.
• Negotiate final agreements with suppliers.
• Drive yearly regional central procurement initiatives (Books, Stationary, Agendas, Notebooks, etc.).
• Monthly report regional or schools initiatives and savings, as well as tracking identified initiatives.
• Proactively and continuously search for new saving opportunities.
• Communicate, acknowledge and celebrate success.

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

• Professional qualification in Architecture, Engineering, or Business (University Degree).
• A Master’s degree in Facility Management, Asset Management, or Property Management is a plus.
• Over 10 years of Facilities Management experience, preferably in a multi-site environment.
• Experience in project management, including the management of new buildings.
• CapEx management experience.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all organizational levels and influence key stakeholders.
• Methodical and highly organized approach to executing tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and strong writing, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Positive, proactive, passionate, and results-oriented professional eager to progress within a global organization.
• Experience in cross-functional teamwork and working in a matrix organization.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; proficiency in Portuguese is an advantage.
• Strong diplomacy and consensus-building skills to establish trust and credibility.
• Ability to handle confidential information with maturity and discretion.
• Capacity to take initiative and solve problems with minimal supervision.
• Strong people management skills.
• Willingness to travel occasionally.
• Previous experience in the education sector is advantageous but not essential.

ISP Leadership Competencies

You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do:

1. Collaboration: Actively participate in leading your school or region; foster positive relationships to solve problems and maximize opportunities.

2. Learning & Getting Better: Show personal commitment to learning and support others in their development.

3. Innovation Leadership: Create an environment where new ideas can flourish, inspiring others through the entire creative process.

4. Outcome Driven: Proactively seek solutions and consistently aim to exceed goals, focusing on KPIs.

5. Resilience: Manage setbacks and challenges calmly and effectively.

6. Community Focus: Commit to meeting and exceeding the needs of students and their families.

7. Integrity & Ethical Management: Work ethically and with integrity; help others feel valued and uphold ISP's vision and principles.

8. Leading & Inspiring Others: Support and encourage students and colleagues to achieve their best.

9. Understanding People: Assess talent effectively and articulate the strengths and motivations of individuals within and outside the organization.

10. Influencing & Communication: Inform, influence, and inspire through timely and effective communication.

11. Agility: Adapt to changing circumstances and manage challenges by providing solutions in uncertain situations.

12. Strategic, Commercial & Financial Awareness: Utilize industry knowledge to enhance effectiveness and profitability.

13. Planning & Decision Making: Make informed decisions and effectively plan, organize, and prioritize resources to achieve desired outcomes.

14. Diversity & Equity: Recognize and respect diverse values, behaviors, and practices that promote effective learning and working environments.