At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering strategy and infrastructure for a charitable organisation supporting military veterans.
- Company: Respected charity focused on improving lives of military veterans.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension contributions, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while shaping the future of multi-site estates.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering leadership experience in multi-site environments required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 65000 £ per year.
Use your engineering expertise to shape the future of an organisation that supports military veterans. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of the engineering strategy, infrastructure investment and long-term development of a respected charitable organisation's multi-site estate portfolio.
Why this role is different
As Head of Estates, you will sit at the heart of the organisation's leadership team, acting as the bridge between technical engineering requirements and operational delivery. You will have the opportunity to:
- Lead the long‑term engineering and estates strategy across a diverse property portfolio
- Influence significant capital investment and infrastructure improvement programmes
- Develop asset lifecycle and replacement strategies
- Drive sustainability and environmental initiatives
- Provide expert engineering advice to senior leadership
- Shape future estate development and investment decisions
- Deliver meaningful improvements within environments that support military veterans
The Role
As Head of Estates, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across building services, infrastructure, engineering systems and estate assets. Working across multiple locations, you will oversee a small engineering team and specialist contractors while ensuring the estate remains safe, compliant, efficient and future‑ready.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Engineering Leadership & Strategy
- Act as the organisation's senior engineering and technical advisor
- Develop and implement long‑term engineering and asset management strategies
- Support senior leaders with technical decision‑making and investment planning
- Build strong engineering governance and compliance frameworks
- Lead infrastructure and sustainability initiatives
- Asset Management & Capital Planning
- Develop structured asset lifecycle and replacement programmes
- Create long‑term capital expenditure plans and investment roadmaps
- Assess infrastructure condition, risk and future viability
- Support business case development for major projects and upgrades
- Prioritise engineering investment to maximise value and operational resilience
- Estates & Infrastructure Management
- Oversee building services, HVAC, mechanical and electrical systems
- Lead infrastructure improvement and upgrade projects
- Ensure estates services support operational excellence across all locations
- Manage planned maintenance strategies and contractor performance
- Drive continuous improvement across engineering operations
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Build collaborative relationships across Operations, Sustainability and Senior Leadership teams
- Communicate technical information clearly to non‑technical stakeholders
- Work closely with site leadership teams to ensure engineering solutions support resident wellbeing
- Foster a culture of openness, collaboration and shared decision making
About You
We are keen to hear from candidates who bring strong engineering leadership experience within multi‑site environments. You may currently be working as a:
- Head of Estates
- Estates Manager
- Senior Estates Manager
- Technical Services Manager
- Building Services Manager
- Engineering Services Manager
- Regional Engineering Manager
- Facilities Engineering Manager
- Head of Building Services
- Senior Engineering Manager
Experience gained within healthcare, care, facilities management, defence, hospitality, education, commercial property, manufacturing, engineering services or other regulated environments will be considered.
What You'll Bring
- Strong mechanical and electrical building services knowledge
- Experience managing engineering or estates functions across multiple sites
- Asset management and lifecycle planning expertise
- Capital expenditure planning and budget management experience
- Contractor and supplier management capability
- Strong understanding of compliance, risk and engineering governance
- Experience delivering infrastructure upgrades and improvement projects
- Ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly
Experience of HVAC systems, water infrastructure, sustainability initiatives and regulated environments would be advantageous.
The Person
Cultural fit is critical to this appointment. You will be:
- Collaborative and approachable
- Humble and respectful
- Values‑driven and people‑focused
- Comfortable working across teams and disciplines
- Emotionally intelligent with strong relationship‑building skills
- Able to influence through expertise rather than hierarchy
- Passionate about creating positive environments for residents and colleagues
This role requires someone who understands that they are supporting people's homes, not simply managing buildings.
Working Pattern
This is a multi‑site role covering locations including:
- Solihull
- High Wycombe
- Surbiton
- Worthing
The role typically involves:
- Visiting approximately two sites per week
- Three to four days site‑based
- One to two days working from home
Travel is an essential part of the role. Travel time is paid from the point you leave home and mileage is reimbursed.
Benefits
- Salary of £60,000 - £65,000
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 7.5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance (3x salary)
- Professional membership fees paid
- Blue Light Card discounts
- Occupational sick pay scheme
- Additional paid leave for Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid travel time
- Hybrid working
Apply Now
If you are an engineering leader looking for an opportunity to shape the future of a multi‑site estate portfolio while making a genuine difference to the lives of military veterans, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to find out more about this unique leadership opportunity.
Head of Estates employer: Castle Employment Group
Join a respected charitable organisation dedicated to supporting military veterans, where as Head of Estates, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the engineering strategy and infrastructure development across multiple sites. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, sustainability, and employee growth, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while enjoying benefits such as a competitive salary, generous leave, and a supportive work culture that values your expertise and contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Estates
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Head of Estates role you’re after at Castle Employment Group.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Castle Employment Group a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Castle Employment Group.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Head of Estates at Castle Employment Group, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Estates
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Head of Estates, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Castle Employment Group a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Castle Employment Group specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Castle Employment Group
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Castle Employment Group, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Castle Employment Group want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
