At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the estates strategy and ensure safe, sustainable environments for high-quality education.
- Company: Join Archway Learning Trust, a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to educational excellence.
- Benefits: Make a lasting impact while enjoying competitive salary and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team committed to sustainability and community development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of education by enhancing learning environments for thousands of pupils.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in estates management, compliance, and project delivery.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the infrastructure of a large and ambitious Trust and ensure that our estate actively enables high-quality teaching, learning, and pupil experience. As our senior professional lead for estates, you will be responsible for delivering a coherent, forward-looking strategy that ensures our environments are safe, compliant, sustainable, and aligned with our educational priorities and future growth.
This is a strategically significant post at the heart of our organisation. Reporting directly to the Executive Team, you will lead all aspects of estates strategy, capital planning, compliance, and operational delivery across a diverse and growing estate.
Responsibilities- Develop and implement a Trust-wide estates strategy aligned to our long-term ambitions and growth plans
- Lead a high-performing estates function, driving service quality, consistency, and system-wide improvement
- Ensure robust health and safety compliance and provide assurance to the Executive and Trustees
- Oversee capital programmes and major projects, ensuring disciplined planning, prioritisation, and delivery
- Lead the Trust’s approach to sustainability, embedding environmental responsibility and long-term resilience
This role extends beyond operational delivery. It requires a leader who can balance strategic coherence with local responsiveness – working closely with school leaders to ensure estates services are practical, efficient, and valued, while maintaining strong central oversight of risk, compliance, and investment.
We are seeking an experienced and credible leader who can operate effectively at scale and across complexity. You will bring:
- A strong track record of strategic estates leadership in a complex organisation
- Deep expertise in compliance, health and safety, and risk management
- Experience of capital planning, asset management, and major project delivery
- The ability to lead and develop high-performing teams and services
- A clear commitment to sustainability and long-term estate resilience
Above all, you will be both strategically astute and operationally credible – able to see the whole system while ensuring rigorous attention to detail.
At Archway, we are ambitious for our schools and communities. Our estate is central to that ambition. This is an opportunity to lead at scale, influence strategic direction, and make a lasting impact on the environments in which thousands of pupils learn and thrive.
Director of Estates in Nottingham employer: Archway Learning Trust
Archway Learning Trust is an exceptional employer that prioritises the development of its staff and the communities it serves. With a strong commitment to sustainability and a collaborative work culture, employees are empowered to lead impactful projects that enhance educational environments. The Trust offers robust professional growth opportunities, ensuring that as you shape the future of our estates, you also advance your career in a supportive and ambitious setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Estates in Nottingham
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Archway Learning Trust, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Director of Estates at Archway Learning Trust.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Estates in Nottingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Archway Learning Trust
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
