Senior Estate Manager in Nottingham

The East Midlands RFCA Senior Estate Manager plays a significant role in support of the Head of Estate in the management and assurance of Hard and Soft FM services in support of users of the Volunteer Estate, including Reserves and Cadets. Reporting to the Head of Estate, the Senior Estate Manager will be expected to work closely with customers, industry partners, CRFCA and other stakeholders on a day-to-day basis to assure delivery of Hard and Soft FM services to the estate enabling it to be utilised to its fullest extent. In addition, the Senior Estate Manager provides oversight of the planning, delivery and assurance of projects up to a value of €5m. The Senior Estate Manager's key role is to facilitate the relationship between the customer and the industry partner. In addition to professional qualifications appropriate to the role, key skills include contract and relationship management. The Senior Estate Manager will be responsible for deputising for the Head of Estate as required.

Principal Areas of Accountability, Tasks and Duties

• Leadership and Management
  • Works collaboratively with all stakeholders including CRFCA, other RFCAs and wider Defence organisations as appropriate.
  • Ensure the Head of Estate direction to the RFCA Estate Team is delivered to support the delivery of RFCA estate outputs.
  • Develop team members and self, through the exchange of knowledge and experience and carry out line management duties ensuring that staff effectively meet their objectives and achieve their professional goals.
  • Responsible for ensuring that all team members are compliant with mandatory training requirements appropriate to their role, including continuous professional development.
  • Encourage innovation to foster a high performing team through continuous improvement.
  • Promote strong working relationships both within the team, with CRFCA, other RFCAs, industry partners and across Defence.
  • Demonstrate a personal commitment to the aims and objectives of the RFCA.
• Communication / Engagement and Stakeholder Management
  • As the senior point of contact, effectively address all internal and external stakeholders' concerns and issues, escalating as necessary.
  • Ensure all stakeholders are kept informed of the status of the concerns and issues raised.
  • Develop and maintain open, honest and collaborative working relationships with customers, industry partners, across Defence and other stakeholders as appropriate.
  • Support the Head of Estate in ensuring compliance with CRFCA and RFCA corporate approaches.
• Programme Management
  • Adopt a programme management approach across their area, including working closely with customers and industry partners in respect of delegated Billable Works and projects, from developing the Statement of Need, through writing business cases, to the assurance of completed works.
  • Work closely with the industry partners to monitor progress of works against the agreed programme of activity.
  • Support the development of future Billable Works projects through review of the Forward Additional Services Plan (FASP) and engagement with customers and other stakeholders where required.
  • Periodically review and provide updates including Property Change Forms (PCFs) for the management and control of the Asset Register on the Infrastructure Management System (IMS).
• Contract Management
  • Carry out delegated duties and responsibilities on behalf of the Head of Estate.
  • Manage the delivery of the contracts for Hard FM and Soft FM services through the RFCA Estate Team and other supporting specialists.
  • Attend regular meetings between industry partners, CRFCA and/or customers as laid down in the contract(s) to support the effective delivery of Hard and Soft FM services.
  • Support the Head of Estate to ensure suppliers meet RFCA and wider Defence priorities, standards and behaviours on dispute management with industry partners including consideration of Early Warning Notices as appropriate, to ensure contractual obligations are met, in raising contract changes to the appropriate authority, to ensure opportunities for exploiting benefits of contracts, including continuous improvement and innovation in the delivery of Hard and Soft FM services, are identified.
  • Address matters falling short of the contracted standards and escalate any concerns that cannot be mitigated at a local level to the Head of Estate.
• Assurance and Performance
  • Support the Head of Estate in the delivery of assurance to meet contract compliance and performance objectives.
  • Assure the Hard FM industry partner Quarterly Performance Report.
  • Ensure accurate reporting in relation to RFCA assurance activity.
  • Manage assurance activity undertaken by the RFCA Estate Team in accordance with Practitioner Guide EM02.
  • Undertake delegated Assurance Tasks in accordance with Practitioner Guide EM/02.
  • Manage and report risks in area of responsibility including treatment and escalation where appropriate.
• Financial Management
  • Ensure that Billable Works are only authorised in accordance with the agreed Business Rules and within Financial Delegations.
  • Provide reports and forecasts of outturn on delegated programme tasks.
  • Ensure Financial Propriety for all T&S transactions and other manpower associated delegations under your control is maintained, including record keeping and audit requirements as required.
  • Oversight of all Alternative Venue opportunities and contracts.
  • Lead staff officer for all Land Management Services (LMS) matters including timely renewal and value for money.
  • Lead staff officer for all Non Domestic Rates (NDR) matters including timely renewal and value for money.
• Staff management responsibilities: Line Manager for the Estate Manager.

Experience

• Essential
  • Clear demonstration of FM skills in both meeting customer needs and managing supplier relationships.
  • Understanding and complying with statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements.
  • Experience in customer relationship management and stakeholder liaison.
  • An understanding of building condition and performance.
• Desirable
  • Experience of managing teams in an Estates environment.
  • Commercial experience gained within a property, facilities management, or similar function.
  • Exploitation of the benefits of major FM service delivery contracts.

Behaviours (Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours)

• Leadership
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Professional Membership

• Hold or be willing to work towards full membership of relevant professional body or have equivalent relevant experience.

The closing date for applications is Friday 13th February 2026. The shortlist for interviews will be notified as soon as possible after that date. Interviews will be held in the last week of February 2026. The post will be vacant and the Association wish the position to be filled as soon as possible.