A traditional, medium-sized branded goods company in northern Germany is seeking a freelance consultant and FM expert for 6 to 9 months to reorganize business activities in Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) and Facility Management (FM).
Typical tasks in this role:**
Analysis of existing FM and CREM structures, processes, and service contracts as part of the corporate reorganization.
Development of a forward-looking strategy for corporate real estate and facility management to support the new business objectives.
Optimization of space management (space efficiency, workplace concepts, repurposing) in line with "Future of Work" strategies.
Realignment of operational facility management: ensuring operational readiness of equipment and buildings, managing maintenance activities.
Consolidation and tendering of FM services; negotiation and management of service level agreements (SLAs).
Leading the internal FM team and managing external service providers.
Budget planning, control, and reporting to senior management.
Relevant technologies, tools or methods:**
CAFM / IWMS: Planon, ARCHIBUS, Spacewell, SAP RE-FX, PMWeb.
ERP systems: SAP S/4HANA, Oracle.
Project management: MS Project, Asana.
Office suite: MS Office / Google Workspace.
Methods: Benchmarking, SLA management, Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCC).
Typical KPIs or success metrics:**
Reduction of operational FM costs per m² by >10% through process optimization and consolidation.
Increase in Planned Maintenance Percentage (PMP) to >80% to reduce reactive failures.
Improvement of SLA compliance by external service providers to >95%.
Reduction of asset downtime for critical infrastructure by >20%.
Successful achievement of defined reorganization milestones within time and budget.
Key challenges, risks or specifics:**
High resistance to change within the existing organization (change management).
Lack of transparency due to fragmented data and missing digital processes.
Complexity in renegotiating or terminating long-standing service provider contracts.
Ensuring operational continuity during restructuring.
Balancing cost reduction pressures with maintaining service quality and employee satisfaction.
Concrete deliverables:**
Milestone 1: Completion of the as-is analysis and presentation of results.
Deliverable 1: Detailed assessment report with SWOT analysis and benchmarking.
Milestone 2: Approval of the new FM/CREM strategy and target operating model.
Deliverable 2: Strategy paper, process map, and implementation roadmap.
Milestone 3: Successful completion of service provider tender(s).
Deliverable 3: Signed new service contracts and handover plan.
Final Deliverable: Handover documentation to subsequent line management.
Must-Haves:**
Degree (industrial engineering, facility management, real estate management) or equivalent qualification.
At least 10 years of professional and leadership experience in corporate real estate and/or facility management at corporate or upper mid-sized company level.
Proven track record in restructuring FM/CREM organizations and in change management.
In-depth knowledge in tendering and managing complex FM services.
Nice-to-Haves:**
Facility management certification (e.g., CFM, GEFMA Facility Manager).
Experience as an interim manager.
Experience in the manufacturing industry.
Personal attributes and mindset:**
Strong leadership and motivational skills to guide teams through change phases.
Strategic and entrepreneurial thinking combined with operational implementation strength.
High empathy and social skills in dealing with internal staff and external partners.
Confident demeanor, resilience, and the ability to navigate politically complex situations.