At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead facilities management for residential communities, ensuring operational excellence and compliance.
- Company: Dandara Living, a market leader in residential community development.
- Benefits: Up to £70k salary, car allowance, 33 days holiday, and competitive bonuses.
- Why this job: Shape the future of living and make a real impact on community experiences.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior facilities management and strong stakeholder skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with national travel and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Type of Contract: Permanent
Salary: £ to £ per year
Step into a Leadership Role Shaping the Future of Living at Dandara Living. At Dandara Living, we’re redefining how residential communities are operated and experienced. As our portfolio continues to grow across Build to Rent, Single Family Housing and PBSA, we’re looking for a Head of Facilities to lead from the front — setting standards, driving consistency, and building a facilities strategy that scales with ambition. This is a senior, national role with real influence. You’ll shape how our buildings are operated, how safety and compliance are embedded, and how residents experience their homes — today and as the portfolio evolves.
About the Role
Reporting to the Director of Central Operations, the Head of Facilities will take ownership of facilities, estates, compliance and technical standards across Dandara Living’s residential portfolio. Based from our Manchester, Milton Keynes and London offices, with a mixture of national travel and home working, you’ll work closely with Operations, Compliance, Investment teams and our Health & Safety Manager to ensure assets are safe, compliant, efficient and future-proofed. This role plays a critical part in supporting Dandara Living’s expansion into Single Family Housing and PBSA, ensuring new and existing schemes are mobilised smoothly and operated to a consistently high standard from day one.
What You Will Do
- You’ll lead facilities delivery across all residential asset classes, ensuring operational excellence at scale. This will include:
- Setting and maintaining portfolio-wide facilities, estates and compliance standards
- Leading reactive maintenance, PPM, M&E and statutory compliance across BTR, SFH and PBSA
- Championing a Safety First culture, with full oversight of fire, building safety and statutory obligations
- Holding full budget responsibility for facilities and estates spend across the portfolio
- Developing and managing strategic third-party supplier relationships to deliver value, quality and scalability
- Leading vendor performance, escalation and SLA management
- Acting as a senior escalation point for complex facilities, compliance or infrastructure issues
- Supporting onsite teams with contractor management, permits to work and technical guidance
- Overseeing CAFM and compliance systems, ensuring accurate reporting and KPI tracking
- Producing clear, robust facilities and compliance reporting for internal stakeholders and investors
- Leading lifecycle planning, asset condition assessments and CapEx recommendations
- Supporting new scheme mobilisation, from O&M review through to steady-state operations
- Collaborating with Development and Operations teams to deliver future-proofed facilities solutions
What You Will Bring
We’re looking for a confident, commercially astute facilities leader who is comfortable operating at senior level and across complex portfolios. You’ll ideally have:
- Proven experience in a senior facilities, estates or technical role within residential, hospitality, PBSA or similar environments
- Strong understanding of facilities management across different residential asset classes
- Demonstrable experience leading multi-site teams and specialist service providers
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, including experience working with investors and senior leaders
- Strong commercial and budget management capability
- IOSH qualification (or higher), with in-depth knowledge of health, safety and building compliance
- A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach and willingness to travel nationally
What We Will Offer You
Dandara is a market-leading developer in the living sector, delivering Build-to-Rent, Single Family Housing, and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation. Today, Dandara Living is one of the UK’s leading designers, developers, and operators of large-scale residential communities, with a proven track record in creating award-winning developments. Our in-house expertise spans land acquisition, design, development, procurement, site delivery, and property and asset management, allowing us to create sustainable, inclusive places where people genuinely want to live.
- Up to £70k depending on experience
- Competitive car allowance and access to our EV scheme
- Competitive annual bonus (discretionary)
- 33 days holiday + the option to buy 5 more
- Up to 5% matched pension scheme
- 3x salary life assurance (option to increase to x4)
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- 24-hour Digital Doctor access
- Health Assured Wisdom App
- Competitive parental leave
- Discounts platform with hundreds of retailers, restaurants and gyms
Important note: No agency applications will be considered for this role. Any CVs received will be treated as a free gift.
Head of Facilities - Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire employer: Dandara Living
Contact Detail:
Dandara Living Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Facilities - Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the facilities management sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online groups, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Dandara Living and their approach to facilities management. Understand their values and how they operate. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in shaping the future of living with them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Head of Facilities. Highlight your leadership skills, budget management, and any successful projects you've led. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. So, get your application in and let’s make things happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Facilities - Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Facilities role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant facilities management achievements to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for Dandara Living. Share your vision for facilities management and how you can contribute to our mission of redefining residential communities.
Showcase Your Compliance Knowledge: Since compliance is key in this role, be sure to mention your understanding of health and safety regulations. We want to see how you’ve successfully navigated compliance challenges in your previous roles.
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 at Dandara Living!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dandara Living
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Dandara Living's operations and values. Understand their approach to facilities management and how they redefine residential communities. This knowledge will help you align your experience with their goals.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As a Head of Facilities, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership. Prepare examples from your past where you've successfully led teams or projects, especially in complex environments. Highlight your ability to drive operational excellence and manage budgets effectively.
✨Emphasise Safety and Compliance
Given the importance of safety and compliance in this role, be ready to discuss your experience with health and safety regulations. Share specific instances where you've implemented safety protocols or improved compliance standards in previous roles.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about Dandara Living’s future projects or how they envision the evolution of their facilities strategy. This shows your genuine interest and helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career aspirations.