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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Estates in High Wycombe
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like Castle Employment Group.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like Castle Employment Group? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit Castle Employment Group's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Head of Estates role at Castle Employment Group, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Castle Employment Group
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where Castle Employment Group operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to Castle Employment Group. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at Castle Employment Group.
