Head of Workspace Design and Construction

Ready to shape how HSBC designs and delivers workspaces worldwide?

Why HSBC

HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world. Guided by our purpose of opening up a world of opportunity, our ambition is to become the world’s most trusted bank globally, putting customers at the heart of everything we do. This role is to be based in either London or Hong Kong on a hybrid basis. 

The Role

Real Estate Services (RES) sits within Global Procurement and RES Infrastructure in the Global Chief Operating Office (GCOO) and shapes and delivers HSBC’s real estate strategy globally. This role sets HSBC’s workspace strategy and global design standards while overseeing the delivery of capital projects across a global portfolio. It brings structure and oversight to how workspaces are designed, built and evolved to support business needs, colleague experience and long-term portfolio strategy. You’ll own the global construction management contract landscape and provide strategic oversight of key supplier relationships and service delivery. Success means clear global frameworks that are adopted consistently, strong governance across the project lifecycle and a prioritised capital programme aligned to the Financial Resource Plan (FRP). The role is based in Hong Kong or London on a hybrid basis and reports to the Global Head of RES as part of the central global leadership team.

What you'll be doing

• Define and embed the global framework, policies, operating procedures and service delivery model for the Workspace Design and Construction (WDC) service line


• Own and govern the global WDC Management supplier strategy including service contracts with Mace, Turner and Townsend and Newmark


• Establish assurance, governance and project management oversight across the full design and construction lifecycle


• Oversee global WDC capital expenditure budget (FRP) planning and prioritisation across the programme portfolio


• Own global retail and workspace design standards and govern adherence to quality, consistency and sustainability outcomes


• Shape construction supply chain strategic sourcing in partnership with Procurement to support consistent delivery and sustainability outcomes


• Embed workspace strategy and change management to support adoption of new workspace concepts and ways of working


• Create robust delivery and risk management standards including clear identification, management and escalation of risks


• Deliver key portfolio performance reporting through dashboards and executive reporting to senior leadership


• Partner across RES, Global Procurement and wider GCOO teams to align strategy, policy and delivery including RES data and technology future state architecture

What we're looking for

• Bring extensive experience across workspace strategy, design and construction across a global portfolio balancing cost, risk and performance


• Demonstrate substantial experience governing global supplier relationships and operating models with accountability for service delivery


• Show proven capability in real estate financial performance including budgeting, forecasting, capital allocation and cost optimisation


• Apply established risk management practice aligned to a risk framework and compliance expectations


• Influence senior stakeholders through clear communication, strong narratives and decision support at executive level


• Operate as a trusted advisor in complex global organisations with credibility across multiple functions and geographies


• Build accountability in matrix teams while reinforcing high standards of delivery and performance


• Bring a strong change and transformation mindset focused on simplification and digitisation


• Hold relevant professional qualifications in a design discipline and a project management discipline or bring equivalent demonstrable professional expertise

Shaping HSBC’s Global Workspaces

This is an opportunity to set the direction for how HSBC designs and delivers workspaces at global scale. The role connects strategy with execution - translating standards, governance and portfolio priorities into projects that work for colleagues and the business. You’ll work with senior leadership and global suppliers to strengthen consistency, sustainability and risk management across delivery. If you want to shape the next phase of HSBC’s workspace design and construction agenda we’d welcome your application.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our recruiters directly.