Head of Workspace Transformation

Here at Standard Life, we guide millions of people through some of life’s biggest decisions. We’re searching for a Head of Workspace Transformation who shares our commitment to putting customers first, aiming high and working together to join our Property & Workspace function.

This is a senior leadership role with accountability for shaping and delivering workspace transformation programmes that align with our future operating model, ways of working and long‑term business strategy. You’ll translate strategic direction into practical transformation initiatives, ensuring our workspaces support productivity, collaboration, cultural development and organisational performance.

If you bring strong experience leading complex workspace transformation programmes, enjoy working across property, people and change agendas, and thrive in translating strategy into delivery at scale, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on how and where our organisation works.

Job Type:  Permanent 

Location: Edinburgh or Birmingham. Hybrid working is supported with regular travel required across UK office locations (Edinburgh, Birmingham, London and Telford). You’ll spend time on site to support programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and effective oversight of workspace transformation initiatives.

Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process. You can read more about flexible working here.

Closing Date: /05/2026

Salary and benefits: Salary range £70,000 to £90,000 dependant on experience plus an indicative bonus range of 30–60%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, income protection, career breaks, 3 volunteering days and much more.

Who are we? 

We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.

Life today is increasingly complicated, uncertain and unpredictable. People move through different careers, face unexpected moments and navigate important choices. We offer our colleagues flexibility, trust and benefits that work for whatever life brings. In return we expect curiosity, connection, accountability and high standards. We make room for what matters - so you can bring your best, every day.

The role  

As Head of Workspace Transformation, you’ll lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s workspace transformation strategy, ensuring our workspace environments evolve in line with the Target Operating Model, business priorities and ways of working.

You’ll provide strategic oversight of workspace transformation programmes across the estate, leading complex initiatives such as workspace redesign, estate reconfiguration and the introduction of new workspace models. Working closely with colleagues across Property & Workspace, HR Change, Technology and Finance, you’ll ensure programmes are delivered within agreed governance, timelines and budgets.

With a strong focus on programme leadership, stakeholder engagement and change management, you’ll ensure transformation initiatives are effectively adopted and deliver tangible benefits for the organisation and its colleagues.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and implementation of the organisation’s workspace transformation strategy

• Defining long‑term workspace transformation roadmaps aligned to the Target Operating Model

• Providing strategic oversight of workspace transformation programmes across the property portfolio

• Leading the planning and delivery of complex workspace redesign and estate reconfiguration initiatives

• Partnering closely with HR Change to align workspace programmes with wider organisational change activity

• Developing business cases and investment proposals for transformation initiatives

• Driving effective change management, engagement and communication throughout transformation programmes

• Ensuring transformation initiatives operate within risk and governance frameworks and comply with statutory and organisational requirements

   

Regular UK travel will be required as part of this role.

What are we looking for?

We focus on essential, senior‑level capabilities and encourage applications from candidates whose experience may look different, but who bring strong programme leadership and strategic judgement.

You’ll have:

• Significant experience leading workspace transformation or large‑scale organisational change programmes

• Proven experience developing and presenting business cases for executive approval

• Experience managing complex, multi‑disciplinary programmes within large organisations

• Strong strategic planning, programme governance and delivery capability

• Experience engaging and influencing senior stakeholders

• Experience delivering workspace or estate‑related initiatives within corporate environments

Desirable:

• Experience delivering hybrid working or modern workspace strategies

• Experience working across multi‑site estates

• Experience in regulated or large corporate environments

• Professional programme or project management qualifications (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, PMP)

We want to hire the whole version of you.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. 

 If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best. 

We’re reviewing applications as they come in, so apply early to avoid missing out.

Find out more about working at Standard Life

• Guide for Candidates: standardlifeplc.pagetiger.com/guideforcandidates

• Find or get answers from our colleagues: www.standardlifeplc.com/careers/talk-to-us

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