LIFE AT JOURNAL

Journal is an inspiring and dynamic player in Australia’s expanding student accommodation sector. We design, create, and manage premium student living spaces where students can connect, thrive, and excel academically. Our passion lies in providing an exceptional Melbourne experience, fostering a supportive community, and ensuring high standards in accommodation and service.

Our culture is fast-paced and forward-thinking. We strive for excellence through collaboration—encouraging cutting-edge ideas, testing new concepts, and continuously improving our services. To support our growing business, we seek flexible, adaptable, and passionate staff.

Our facilities are designed to offer students high-quality accommodation, engaging student life programs, and outstanding customer service.

THE ROLE The Building & Facilities Manager is responsible for ensuring the safety, compliance, functionality and presentation of the site and its facilities. The role combines strategic facilities management with hands-on operational oversight, with responsibility for preventative and reactive maintenance, capital works, contractor management, compliance, budgeting support, asset management and team leadership.

Working closely with the General Manager of Market Way and internal stakeholders, the Building & Facilities Manager will ensure the sites operate efficiently, assets are maintained throughout their lifecycle, and residents experience a safe, comfortable and well-maintained environment.

The role is primarily strategic and management-focused, while also requiring hands-on operational involvement, including being on the tools when required, and providing support and responding to emergency situations outside standard business hours as necessary.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Facilities & Maintenance Management

- Oversee all programmed, preventative and reactive maintenance activities across the site.

- Ensure maintenance issues, defects and work orders are diagnosed, prioritised and resolved within agreed timeframes.

- Conduct regular building and facilities inspections to identify maintenance, safety and presentation issues.

- Own work orders from initial identification through to completion and close-out, including issuing of purchase orders for external trades.

- Provide hands-on technical support where required, particularly for urgent or complex maintenance matters.

- Oversee the make-ready process for vacant rooms, including inspections, contractor coordination and quality checks.

- Maintain high standards across building presentation, functionality and resident experience.

- Foster a positive atmosphere for both residents and team members, enhancing the overall student experience.

- Perform additional duties as directed, within the scope and classification of the position.

2. Preventative Maintenance & Asset Management

- Assist in developing, implementing and monitoring preventative maintenance programs.

- Maintain accurate asset registers and maintenance records.

- Monitor asset condition, lifecycle requirements and replacement priorities.

- Assist in the development of asset lifecycle plans and identify opportunities to improve asset performance and reliability.

- Ensure servicing and maintenance schedules are completed within required timeframes.

- Identify recurring issues and implement solutions to reduce reactive maintenance and operating costs.

3.



Capital Works & Projects

- Lead the planning and delivery of minor capital expenditure projects and maintenance works.

- Assist in preparing project scopes, obtain quotations and manage contractors through to completion.

- Monitor project budgets, timelines, quality and safety requirements.

- Coordinate defect rectification, warranty claims and capital maintenance matters.

- Work with the GM of Facilities to develop and reforecast the annual CapEx plan.

- Ensure completed projects are appropriately documented and handed over into ongoing facilities management.

4. Budget & Financial Management

- Assist in preparing, monitoring and reforecasting facilities and maintenance budgets.

- Manage operational maintenance expenditure and ensure spending remains within approved budgets.

- Support the AGM and GM with annual budgeting and capital expenditure planning.

- Review supplier quotations and identify opportunities for cost savings and value for money.

- Monitor contractor and service provider costs.

- Ensure expenditure is appropriately authorised, recorded and supported by relevant documentation.

5. Contractor & Supplier Management

- Manage subcontractors, contractors and service providers across the site.

- Scope works and obtain competitive quotations where appropriate.

- Coordinate contractor attendance and ensure works are completed to the required standard.

- Verify contractor compliance with WHS, insurance, licenses, qualifications and site requirements.

- Monitor contractor performance and address issues where required.

- Develop strong, professional relationships with key suppliers and service providers.

- Ensure contractors provide appropriate service reports, certificates and compliance documentation.

6. Compliance, WHS & Risk Management

- Maintain compliance with all relevant WHS, statutory, regulatory and building requirements including adherence to Journal policies, processes, and standard operating procedures.

- Ensure essential services and statutory testing are completed within required timeframes.

- Maintain audit-ready records for fire systems, emergency lighting, HVAC and other regulated building services.

- Monitor compliance relating to building services, plant, equipment and maintenance activities.

- Conduct regular safety inspections and identify and mitigate potential risks.

- Champion a strong safety culture across the site.

- Ensure incidents, hazards and maintenance risks are appropriately recorded and escalated.

7. Building Services & Systems

Oversee the operation and maintenance of key building systems, including where applicable:

- HVAC and mechanical services

- Fire and life safety systems

- Emergency lighting

- CCTV and security systems

- Access control

- Key management

- Electrical systems

- Plumbing and hydraulic services

- Building management systems

- Plant and equipment

- Other essential building services

8. Team Leadership & People Management

- Assist in recruiting, onboarding,



training and developing Facilities/Maintenance team members.

- Allocate daily workloads and establish clear maintenance priorities.

- Monitor team performance and provide coaching and feedback.

- Conduct performance discussions and address performance issues where required.

- Promote accountability, teamwork and a positive workplace culture.

- Ensure team members have appropriate training, licenses, tools and resources.

- Lead by example and provide technical and operational support to the team.

9. Systems, Reporting & Administration

- Maintain accurate facilities, maintenance and asset records.

- Administer facilities management systems, including work orders, assets, contractors and compliance records.

- Monitor maintenance KPIs and identify trends and recurring issues.

- Provide regular reporting to the GM of Facilities on maintenance, CapEx, compliance, risks and operational performance.

- Ensure documentation is complete, accurate and audit-ready.

- Identify opportunities to improve facilities processes, systems and service delivery.

10. Stakeholder & Resident Engagement

- Build effective relationships with residents, internal stakeholders, contractors and suppliers.

- Respond professionally to facilities-related resident concerns and requests.

- Communicate maintenance works and disruptions clearly and appropriately.

- Work collaboratively with the AGM and GMs of each site and broader site leadership team.

- Maintain a strong customer service focus while balancing operational, safety and financial requirements.

ABOUT YOU

We are seeking a practical, commercially minded and solutions-focused Facilities Manager who can balance strategic planning and leadership with hands-on operational problem-solving.

You will be comfortable managing budgets and minor CapEx plans, leading contractors and a maintenance team, managing compliance requirements and making decisions in a fast-paced environment.

You will bring

- Demonstrated experience in Facilities Management, Building Maintenance, Property Operations, Asset Management or a similar environment.

- Ideally 3 years' experience in facilities or maintenance management, ideally in student accommodation, residential or hospitality.

- Experience managing preventative and reactive maintenance programs.

- Strong understanding of building services, hard services and essential building systems.

- Demonstrated experience managing contractors and service providers.

- Strong financial capability, including budgeting, forecasting and cost control.

- Experience managing minor capital works and maintenance projects.

- Experience leading, mentoring or coordinating a maintenance/facilities team.

- Strong knowledge of WHS, statutory compliance and risk management.

- Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.

- Solid stakeholder and customer service capability.

- Proficiency with facilities management, maintenance or asset management systems.

- Current driver's license.

- Ability to obtain a National Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check, where required.

This role is ideal for a proactive and service-oriented individual eager to contribute to a high-quality student living environment. If you are passionate about hands-on maintenance work and enjoy working in a dynamic, community-focused setting, we encourage you to apply.

📌 Building and Facilities Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Journal Student Living
📍 Melbourne