Join Gard as Head of Corporate Services & Property

Are you an experienced and proactive leader with a passion for operational excellence and people-focused service? We are seeking an experienced and proactive Head of Corporate Services & Property to oversee the day to day operations at our head office in Arendal. The role also provides office, property and event support to the Gard group.

With approximately 400 employees based in Arendal and a total of 780 colleagues across 15 offices worldwide, our head office is a vibrant hub that welcomes a high volume of visitors each year—including customers, business partners, and Gard employees from around the globe.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing a number of office buildings in Arendal as well as other properties owned by Gard, including apartments and cabins. You will also manage the main reception, care takers/technical personnel, the post/service office, the cantina, and the events team. In this role you will need excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily operations of Gard’s office buildings and properties, ensuring smooth functioning across guest services, administration, finance, legal, and supplier relations.
• Leading the department’s wide range of responsibilities.
• Ensure compliance with legal and business standards while meeting financial and operational goals.
• Coordinating with vendors and ensuring the provision of a high-quality service.
• Plan and execute internal and external events, including meetings, conferences, and social gatherings.
• Collaborate with other departments to resolve operational issues
• Maintain office supplies and equipment, ensuring everything is in good working order.
• Implement and maintain office policies and procedures.
• Manage office budgets and expenses.
• Provide administrative support to senior management as needed.

Qualifications:

• Strong organisational and multitasking skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong financial skills, capable of managing budgets, and forecast future financial performance

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Experience in event planning and management is an advantage.

• Master’s or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, hospitality management or a related field. Directly relevant experience can compensate for lack of a formal education.

For more than 100 years Gard, one of the world’s leading marine insurers, has been helping the marine industries to protect their assets and safeguard their income. Having expanded from our origins in southern Norway to a network of 13 offices across the globe, we have witnessed the impact the sea can have and have learnt a thing or two.

Despite our breadth and depth of experience and expertise, we try to learn something new every day to prepare our Members and clients for their next journey, and to find and deliver the right solutions. So, whenever the unexpected arises it is good to know that someone is ready, willing and able to assist; someone with expertise that has been refined for over a century.

It is not just what we do, but how we do it that delivers the best value in the market – matching our expertise with an unrivalled commitment to what we do. We will turn every stone to find a solution and see it carried through.

Such ability and dedication is rare, so we take great care in choosing, training and supporting our employees. The way we see it, our people are the difference between good and great.