At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering strategy and improve environments for military veterans across multiple sites.
- Company: Respected charity dedicated to supporting military veterans and their families.
- 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 on the lives of veterans while shaping future estate strategies.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering knowledge and experience in managing multi-site estates.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 65000 £ per year.
Are you an engineering leader looking for the opportunity to shape the future of a complex multi-site estate portfolio? This is a rare opportunity to join a highly respected charity supporting military veterans and their families, where your expertise will directly influence the environments people call home. This is not a traditional Head of Estates position.
As the organisation's senior engineering authority, you will play a pivotal role in shaping long-term estate strategy, asset management, infrastructure investment and engineering governance across multiple sites. Working closely with senior leadership, you will help drive decisions that improve resident experience, strengthen operational resilience and support the future sustainability of the estate portfolio.
If you are currently working as a Technical Services Manager, Engineering Manager, Regional Engineering Manager, Building Services Manager, Estates Manager or similar, this could be an excellent opportunity to step into a broader strategic leadership role.
What makes this opportunity different?
- Become the organisation's lead engineering expert and trusted advisor to senior leadership
- Influence long-term estate, asset and infrastructure strategy
- Lead significant capital investment and improvement programmes
- Shape sustainability and future estate planning initiatives
- Work within a purpose-driven organisation supporting military veterans
- Join a collaborative leadership team where your expertise will genuinely influence decision making
- Leave a lasting legacy across a portfolio of live operational environments
The Role
Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead engineering and estates activity across a portfolio of specialist care facilities. You will bridge the gap between operational delivery and technical engineering requirements, ensuring the organisation's buildings, infrastructure and engineering systems remain safe, compliant, sustainable and fit for the future.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Developing and delivering long-term asset management and infrastructure strategies
- Leading capital expenditure planning and investment prioritisation
- Providing expert engineering advice to senior stakeholders and leadership teams
- Overseeing compliance across mechanical, electrical and building services systems
- Managing lifecycle planning for critical assets and infrastructure
- Leading engineering improvement projects from concept through to delivery
- Evaluating building performance and identifying opportunities for optimisation
- Supporting sustainability initiatives and future energy strategies
- Managing engineering contractors, service partners and specialist suppliers
- Leading, developing and supporting a small team of engineers across multiple locations
- Translating complex technical challenges into clear recommendations for non-technical stakeholders
Current Engineering Priorities
The successful candidate will play a key role in addressing several strategic engineering challenges, including:
- HVAC performance and environmental control improvements
- Infrastructure replacement planning and lifecycle management
- Water systems and aging asset strategies
- Long-term capital investment planning
- Estate sustainability and future-proofing initiatives
- Engineering governance and compliance enhancement
What we're looking for
We are open to candidates from a wide range of sectors. Experience within healthcare is not essential. We would welcome applications from individuals with backgrounds in:
- Healthcare and care environments
- Defence and military estates
- Facilities and technical services
- Universities and education estates
- Commercial property portfolios
- Multi-site manufacturing operations
- Building services and engineering consultancy
- Corporate estates and infrastructure management
You'll bring:
- Strong mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge
- Experience managing multi-site estates, engineering or technical services functions
- Asset management and lifecycle planning expertise
- Capital expenditure planning and investment management experience
- Contractor and supplier management capability
- Strong understanding of engineering compliance and governance
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- The ability to simplify complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences
Experience with HVAC systems, water infrastructure, sustainability projects and large-scale asset replacement programmes would be advantageous.
The Person
Cultural fit is critical to this appointment. You will be a collaborative and approachable leader who builds strong relationships across teams and influences through expertise rather than hierarchy. You will be:
- Values-driven and resident-focused
- Transparent and trustworthy
- Humble and approachable
- Emotionally intelligent
- A strong communicator
- Collaborative in your approach
- Comfortable challenging constructively when required
Most importantly, you will recognise that these are people's homes, not simply buildings.
Salary & Benefits
- £60,000 - £65,000 salary
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 7.5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance at three times salary
- Professional membership fees paid
- Blue Light Discount Card
- Occupational sick pay scheme
- Additional paid leave for Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
- Mileage reimbursement
- Travel time paid from home
- Hybrid working arrangement
Location & Travel
This is a multi-site role covering locations in Solihull, High Wycombe, Surbiton and Worthing. You can expect to spend approximately three to four days per week on site, with the remaining time working remotely. Travel is an essential part of the role and is fully supported through paid travel time and mileage reimbursement.
If you're looking for an opportunity where your engineering expertise can influence strategy, improve environments for military veterans and shape the future of a significant estate portfolio, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today for a confidential discussion.
Real Estate employer: castle employment solutions
Join a purpose-driven charity that supports military veterans and their families, where your engineering leadership will directly impact the quality of their living environments. With a collaborative work culture, generous benefits including a competitive salary, extensive annual leave, and a commitment to employee growth, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape long-term estate strategies while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working and travel support as you lead engineering initiatives across multiple sites.
Contact Details:
castle employment solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Real Estate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference in their estate portfolio.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experience align with the role of shaping long-term estate strategy. Highlight your past successes in managing multi-site estates and how you can bring that expertise to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining a purpose-driven organisation that supports military veterans and their families.
We think you need these skills to ace Real Estate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in engineering and estate management. We want to see how your background aligns with the unique challenges of this role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your skills!
Showcase Your Leadership Style:Since this role is all about collaboration and influence, let us know about your leadership approach. Share examples of how you've built strong relationships and led teams effectively in your previous roles. We love a good story!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your technical expertise and how it relates to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can simplify complex concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved!
How to prepare for a job interview at castle employment solutions
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led, especially those involving multi-site estates or capital investment planning. This role is all about influencing strategy, so show them you know your stuff!
✨Understand the Mission
This isn't just any job; it's about supporting military veterans and their families. Familiarise yourself with the charity's mission and values. During the interview, express how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their purpose-driven approach.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve complex engineering challenges or improve operational resilience. Think of examples from your past experience where you've successfully tackled similar issues. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly.
✨Show Your Leadership Style
As a senior engineering authority, your leadership style matters. Be prepared to discuss how you build relationships across teams and influence decisions without relying on hierarchy. Share examples of how you've fostered collaboration and trust in previous roles.