Head of CRES APAC, India, MEA Job at Barclays

Job Description

The Regional Head – Corporate Real Estate Services is accountable for end-to-end strategy, governance, and performance of the corporate real estate and facilities portfolio across APAC, MEA, and India. The role ensures that real estate, facilities, and workplace operations enable business growth, protect people and assets, manage risk, and deliver cost-efficient, compliant, and resilient workplaces. This role serves as a strategic partner to regional and global leadership, balancing commercial outcomes, operational excellence, health & safety, and long-term sustainability across diverse regulatory and cultural environments. This role is pivotal in ensuring that operations are run and change is delivered safely, transparently, efficiently and in a way that demonstrably creates value for the stakeholders.

Job Responsibility

Define and execute the regional CRE strategy aligned to global vision and business objectives
Drive portfolio optimization including expansion, consolidation, lease restructuring and exits
Lead long-term demand planning, workplace strategy, and footprint rationalization
Oversee site selection, lease negotiations, renewals, acquisitions, and disposals
Ensure optimal commercial terms, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance
Manage regional broker, legal, and advisory partnerships
Provide strategic oversight and governance of end-to-end facilities management
Own regional Health & Safety governance, policies, and compliance frameworks
Ensure proactive premises risk management, including life safety, fire systems, structural safety, and statutory compliance
Lead audits, incident management, business continuity, and crisis response in coordination with risk and security teams
Oversee engineering systems and building operations, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, BMS, and critical infrastructure
Ensure operational reliability, preventive maintenance, uptime, and asset lifecycle management
Drive energy efficiency, operational resilience, and sustainability in building operations
Lead governance of third-party service providers, including IFM partners, engineering vendors, and specialist contractors
Establish SLAs, KPIs, performance reviews, and continuous improvement programs
Ensure consistency of service delivery while managing local regulatory and cultural nuances
Ensure delivery of high-quality workplace services aligned to employee experience and productivity
Champion health, safety, well-being, and inclusive workplace standards
Support evolving hybrid and flexible work models
Own the regional CRE and FM budgets (opex and capex)
Drive cost optimization, value engineering, and financial discipline
Establish strong governance, forecasting, and reporting mechanisms
Lead large-scale fit-outs, refurbishments, relocations, and greenfield developments
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to global quality standards
Implement standardized project governance, design, and delivery frameworks
Drive ESG and sustainability initiatives, including green certifications, energy optimization, and carbon reduction
Ensure compliance with local regulations, corporate policies, and global standards
Partner with global ESG, risk, and compliance teams
Support the collaboration of internal stakeholders including CRE & FM teams, operational, and risk management teams to meet client needs and expectations
Enhancing the bank's digital capabilities when current technology is identified as not yet ready to support
Work with senior stakeholders across the organisation to ensure alignment, unblock dependencies and accelerate progress
Shape and communicate clear strategic roadmaps, ensuring coherence across all pillars of the CRES
Manage RCSA process
Ensure compliance to all specified controls, conduct checks & attestation processes
Improve process controls and proactively identify potential issues
Ensure transparency with stakeholders and work on timely remediation of gaps
Establish clear governance around saves and process delivery timelines
Manage and develop capital project proposals and operations aligned to the needs of the bank
Management, development and execution of building, real estate and physical asset security projects and proposals, including workspace, engineering, and facility upgrades
Management of planning, design, procurement, resourcing, reporting and construction processes to ensure deliverables are completed on time and within budget
Identification of potential risks and issues associated to capital projects and development of risk management strategies to mitigate them by monitoring risk exposure and taking corrective action
Management of project budget for real estate and physical security projects by tracking expenses, forecasting costs and identifying cost saving opportunities
Management of stakeholder relations including project sponsors, vendors, regulatory agencies, and the facilities management team to align capital project operations with the bank's objectives
Identification of opportunities to improve the delivery processes for capital projects and implement best practices to enhance project performance
Execution of capital projects that meet agreed quality standards, and are compliant with relevant laws, regulation, and policies

Requirements

20+ years of leadership experience in Corporate Real Estate, Facilities Management, or Infrastructure
Proven track record managing multi-country portfolios across APAC / MEA / India
Experience in MNCs, GCCs, or large enterprises preferred
Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Facilities, Real Estate, or Business (MBA preferred)
Extensive executive‑level experience delivering large‑scale, complex, enterprise change
Strategic thinking, influencing at ExCo level and cross‑functional leadership
Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to simplify complex issues
Strong risk instincts, commercial acumen, excellent judgement and a bias for transparent, evidence‑based decision‑making

What we offer

Wellness rooms
Gyms
Mental health support
Modern workspaces
Collaborative areas
State-of-the-art meeting rooms
On-site cafeterias
Fitness centers
Tech-equipped workstations
Supportive and inclusive culture
Flexible working arrangements
Hybrid working
Structured approach to hybrid working
Incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience
Chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues
Encouragement to embrace mobility

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Head of CRES APAC, India, MEA

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