Job Description

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A great opportunity exists for a suitably qualified candidate to join Savills a FTSE250 listed company and one of the worlds largest international corporate real estate firms as Senior Workplace Strategist, APAC. The successful candidate will be joining the business’ Cross-Border Tenant Advisory (CBTA) team and will be based in Singapore.

The Senior Workplace Strategist, APAC will occupy a senior position within the CBTA team working collaboratively with tenant rep and project management colleagues across APAC on client occupier needs. Reporting directly to the Head of Workplace Strategy, APAC, the position calls for a senior and experienced person with proven track record of success in a similar role and an ability to operate with a high degree of independence. Client engagement at senior stakeholders (C-suite level), data gathering and brief development within a workplace and change management context, development of considered and defensible workplace strategies supported by robust evidence based research and analysis are fundamental to success in the role as are superior communication skills and the ability to translate recommendations and research into actionable reporting and delivery plans and strategies.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Head of Workplace Strategy, APAC on workplace activities directed towards promotion of the Savills brand, occupier services capabilities, thought leadership within the workplace sphere and business development are also key features of the role.

Role Description:

This is a senior role having ultimate responsibility for leading workplace strategy projects across APAC and for delivering successful outcomes on projects within the following work streams:

  • Support our clients harness the synergy between people, process and place; to optimise real estate as an enabler for business development.
  • Occupier accommodation briefs and workplace strategies
  • Development strategy reviews from an occupier perspective
  • Change Management in relation to workplace strategy deployments
  • Research and analysis emerging trends within commercial office design and workplace strategy
  • Work with the Head of Workplace Strategy, APAC and contribute to the writing and release of thought leadership studies and articles which promote and further the Savills brand and experience within the workplace consulting sphere
  • Support CBTA in the development of pitch strategy and development, resourcing and success of regional and global occupier related requirements (tenant representation, workplace and project management)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Workplace

  • Under the guidance and with support of the Head of Workplace Strategy, APAC, the Senior Workplace strategist will provide leadership on workplace deliverables
  • Develop the project approach, resource schedule, programme and deliverables – both at pitch stage and for project kick-off
  • Lead interactive, stakeholder engagement initiatives such workshops, interviews, focus groups, presentations and surveys
  • Direct the production of presentation & report collateral, ensuring a presentation of analysis, ideas and recommendations is comprehensible, concise, coordinated and conclusive
  • Direct and lead data gathering and analysis to ensure conclusions are robust
    • Time Utilisation Studies
    • Space Benchmarking
    • Meeting room occupancy data
    • User group profiling
    • Online workplace experience surveys (either written in-house or provided through third party)
  • Direct and lead development of recommendations for implementation which may include the development of an initial Change Management assessment to support a CM workstream
  • Undertake development strategy reviews providing comment and analysis on:
    • Core configuration
    • Floor-plate configuration, including efficiency analysis etc
    • Planning densities
    • Servicing arrangements
    • Reception lobby configurations
    • Building amenities provision – such as terraces, basement space, showers, lockers & bike storages, shared space such as cafes, conference suites etc.
    • CAT A design
    • Target occupier requirements such as Legal, Tech, Corporate, Financial, Media etc.
    • Fit-out considerations
    • Space planning strategies
    • Base Building Definitions (BBD)
  • Work in a senior/leadership role in development strategy workshops, presenting comments to client and professional teams
  • Mentor and lead intermediate and junior strategists through the project process
  • Take a leading role in pitching for new business and responding to ‘Requests for Information’:
    • Writing fee proposals
    • Fee and resource calculations
    • Proposing methodologies
    • Communicating our ‘USP’
    • Writing relevant case studies
    • Storyboarding and preparing interactive pitch presentations that will engage the audience
  • Continuously challenge, develop and improve our methodologies and strategies through peer review and research
  • Continue to expand on an in-depth knowledge of occupier specific requirements and workplace trends through professional development and research
  • Promote Savills through networking and representation at industry events and professional bodies

Business Development

The Senior Workplace Strategist will play an important role working closely with the Head of Workplace Strategy, APAC assisting the CBTA team in identifying, nurturing and converting cross-border client opportunities in the Asia Pacific region. A sophisticated working knowledge of the pricing, marketing and procurement of corporate real estate services across workplace consultancy would be well regarded.

  • Identify client opportunities and work with regional and global colleagues to develop and deliver initiatives to convert client opportunities
  • Identify client key decision makers and schedule introductions and meetings for appropriate Savills reps to pitch services
  • Work with regional marketing team on development of capabilities statements, pitch documents, marketing materials and collateral to support client pursuits
  • Provide support and content on RFI and RFP responses
  • Win/loss tracking and research learnings and improvements to be made
  • Opportunities development and pipeline management
  • On an as required basis provide oversight and management of existing regional and global corporate transactional accounts and working effectively with regional account managers within the APAC region
  • Effective liaison, communication, management and account leadership of in-country tenant rep, project management and workplace team resources across the APAC region for corporate real estate services requirements and client cross-border opportunities
  • Work with regional and global CBTA team supporting ad-hoc cross-border transactions and acting as client SPOC on an as required basis
  • Understanding and working knowledge of processes, procedures and technology tools which support the delivery of cross-border real estate requirements across different disciplines
  • Identify and convert Savills cross-business revenue opportunities
  • Regional and inter-regional travel on an as required basis providing in-country support to local tenant rep teams on significant transactions
  • Occasional attendance and participation on regular client account conference calls and internal WOS team calls aimed at increasing regional and global connectivity
  • Work with the Head of Workplace Strategy, APAC and the Regional Director to identify and implement continual improvement and innovation programs, systems and procedures
  • Ensure that communication is at all times timely, clear, open and honest and conforming to the highest standards of integrity
  • Timely and accurate portfolio level auditing, tracking and reporting consistent with client account MSA and/or best in class standards
  • Ensure that workplace consulting requirements and engagements are clearly documented and filed in accordance with agreed protocols
  • Organising and attending opportunities to promote the Savills brand and specifically corporate real estate capabilities and coverage at real estate events, industry forums and as part of targeted client entertainment/engagement
  • Superior time management and ability to multi-task
  • Good general real estate knowledge and awareness of current industry movements, news and events

REQUIRED SKILLS:

  • Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop etc),Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Project and Power Bi
  • Ability to space plan and critique space plans
  • Ability to describe and sell a design and planning rationale, highlighting the value adds across options
  • Construction of space budgets / programmes
  • Articulate and confident presentation manner
  • Strong numerical skills
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Good graphic communication skills
  • Good written communication skills
  • Experience deploying and analysing Leesman surveys
  • Experience of writing, deploying and analysing ‘Survey Monkey’ surveys.
  • Experience of other on-line survey providers or methodologies that might be relevant our client work
  • Knowledge of (including space and facility requirements) workplace strategies such as Activity Based Working, Agile Working etc
  • Knowledge of the latest Furniture Solutions (FF&E), particularly relevant for example for an Open Plan Legal workplace
  • Base building specifications (basic knowledge/awareness of HVAC and Building Services, also Building Planning Grids for consideration when considering a highly cellular/enclosed workspace)
  • Knowledge of specific occupier planning requirements such as UK Legal, US Legal, Open Plan Legal, Financial Boutique, Financial Trading and other occupier sectors
  • Knowledge of, including space and facility requirements, workplace strategies such as Activity Based Working, Agile Working etc
  • Base building specifications
  • Knowledge of and accreditation to sustainable building (BREAM, LEED etc) and wellbeing (WELL) ratings systems would be highly regarded
  • Client focused with excellent customer service skills;
  • Strong analytical problem solving skills;
  • Effective and proven client and relationship management skills;
  • Competency in strategic real estate portfolio planning;
  • Excellent personal presentation and a genuine desire and ability to participate in business development activities including industry forums and networking opportunities;
  • RFP responses, interviews and capability presentations;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; and pro-active, self-motivated and positive attitude

Please apply in writing or via e-mail enclosing a CV, and your current salary details to hr@savills.com.sg

Salary details available upon application, commensurate with experience and skills.