Corporate Services Director

Job Summary

As the Corporate Services Director at SYNLAB, you will play a pivotal leadership role with oversight of our extensive UK and Ireland estate and critical support functions. You will strategically manage the entire estate, ensuring optimal space utilisation, a stable and secure operating environment, and expertly coordinated handbacks in line with commercial agreements. This includes cultivating key relationships with landlords and local councils to deliver cost-effective solutions, as well as leading the transformation and opening of new premises (laboratory and offices).

You will lead the comprehensive Environment, Health & Safety (H&S) strategy across SYNLAB, ensuring the Executive Team is consistently informed and that the highest safety standards are maintained. You will drive the effective implementation of H&S legislation, fostering a proactive safety culture and cementing a secure working environment across the UK-wide business through robust reporting and management.

Furthermore, you will oversee the efficient management of our supply chain and materials. This involves actively reducing costs, enhancing processes through optimising utilisation rates, minimising stock holdings, and improving stock management and reporting. Your role will also include coordinating operational needs to inform procurement and commercial tendering activities, and rigorously evaluating outcomes against original requirements. This position offers you the platform to deliver appropriate Facilities Management across all sites, capitalising on SYNLAB’s global presence to reduce costs, and strategically managing logistics services by optimising inventory, price, and workforce for efficient sample and document transport.

Essential Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Demonstrable leadership in leading teams through complex change.
• Extensive knowledge of UK property and estates.
• Experience leading a UK-level Health & Safety team.
• Proven senior-level success with strong strategic, operational, people, and commercial capabilities.
• Strong project management, multi-tasking, and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and facilitation skills with stakeholders.
• Adept at strategic, long-term decision-making, prioritising an open and collaborative approach.
• Results-focused leader with excellent client management and communication skills.
• Commercially astute, able to analyse business data and manage budgets.
• Flexible, team-oriented, and thrives in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
• Demonstrable commitment to external partnership working.
• High self-awareness (emotional intelligence, biases) and cultural sensitivity.

Desirable:

• Experience in structuring and completing strategic projects.
• Sound knowledge of the healthcare sector, including public sector tendering and commissioning.

About Us

SYNLAB UK & Ireland work closely with clinicians, hospitals, occupational health providers and clinical researchers to deliver comprehensive pathology services.

We thrive in diverse environments, which is mirrored in our workforce, clients, customers, suppliers, communities, and partners. We believe that an inclusive workplace culture is essential for attracting and retaining talented individuals, and for building a sustainable, high-performing workforce.

Our staff are crucial to our mission of making a positive impact on healthcare. We foster a culture of continuous personal development, providing scientists and staff with the support and resources needed to acquire new skills and advance their careers through learning and development opportunities, coaching, and clear career pathways.

We encourage an open and collaborative culture where leaders act as role models, facilitate two-way communication, engage transparently with staff and stakeholders, and actively seek feedback and suggestions.

Please note that we reserve the right to close any adverts once we have received a sufficient number of applications. If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within two weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

SYNLAB UK & Ireland is committed to equal opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate based on any status or condition protected by applicable UK employment law.