At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the future of Edinburgh Napier University's estate and facilities strategy.
- Company: Join a modern, ambitious university with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive executive package, generous pension, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence at executive level and lead high-impact solutions.
- Why this job: Shape a lasting legacy while driving meaningful transformation in a complex environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in estates leadership within multi-stakeholder environments.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Edinburgh (multi-campus)
Salary: Competitive executive package including generous pension, annual leave and a comprehensive benefits offering
Reports to: Director of Finance, Strategy & Planning
Edinburgh Napier University is seeking an outstanding senior leader to shape and deliver the future of its estate, infrastructure and campus experience. This is a pivotal executive-level role with enterprise-wide impact, offering the opportunity to lead a large, multi-disciplinary function and deliver a modern, sustainable and financially resilient estate aligned to an ambitious institutional strategy.
The Role
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will set the strategic direction for Property & Facilities and play a central role in enabling the University’s long-term ambitions. You will lead one of the University’s largest professional services functions, with responsibility for estate strategy, capital investment, facilities management and a diverse portfolio of commercial services. Operating within a complex, resource-conscious environment, you will balance ambition with pragmatism, shaping an estate that is both future-ready and financially sustainable. This includes driving innovation in how space is utilised, aligning estate strategy with operational demand, and ensuring assets are deployed to maximise both organisational and commercial value. The role will require a thoughtful and strategic approach to estate optimisation, including the potential reshaping of the University’s campus footprint to better reflect future teaching, working and financial models. You will bring a strong understanding of how complex, multi-site organisations operate, including the relationship between operational delivery, space utilisation and long-term estate planning. Experience of aligning estate strategy to demand, whether in education, public services or similarly complex environments, will be highly valued. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring credibility at executive and Board level, alongside the ability to lead complex change with clarity, pace and sensitivity.
Key Responsibilities
- Set and deliver a forward-looking, financially sustainable estate strategy
- Lead major capital programmes, estate optimisation and long-term asset planning
- Drive innovative approaches to space utilisation, cost efficiency and service delivery
- Provide executive leadership across estates, facilities, accommodation and commercial services
- Lead transformation to create a more agile, efficient and insight-led operating model
- Enhance commercial performance while ensuring the estate effectively supports core organisational activity and demand
- Act as a trusted advisor to Executive and Court on estate investment, strategy and risk
- Build strong partnerships internally and across the sector
- Represent the University at senior external forums and networks
- Lead and embed a high-performing, inclusive and values-led culture
About You
You will be an experienced executive leader with a strong track record in estates, property or infrastructure leadership within a complex, values-driven organisation. We are interested in leaders who have operated in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, such as higher education, the public sector or similarly regulated settings, and who are comfortable balancing strategic ambition with financial constraint. You will bring:
- Significant experience shaping and delivering estate strategies in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- A track record of delivering impact in financially constrained or resource-sensitive settings
- Experience leading estate optimisation, rationalisation or campus-wide transformation, including footprint reduction or reconfiguration
- Experience aligning estate strategy with operational delivery and demand, including space utilisation, service planning or equivalent in a complex organisation
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to prioritise investment and drive value
- Experience operating at, or influencing, Board and Executive level
- Deep understanding of sustainability, asset lifecycle management and long-term estate planning
- Outstanding stakeholder leadership, communication and influencing capability
- The ability to lead organisations through change with credibility, empathy and clarity
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future footprint and experience of a modern, ambitious university. You will have the scope to lead meaningful transformation, balancing strategic ambition with financial reality, and to leave a lasting institutional legacy. Ready to lead at this level? We welcome applications from candidates motivated by scale, complexity and the opportunity to deliver creative, high-impact solutions in a resource-conscious environment.
Director of Property & Facilities in Broughton employer: Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier University is an exceptional employer, offering a competitive executive package alongside generous benefits such as a robust pension scheme and ample annual leave. The university fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture, providing significant opportunities for professional growth and the chance to lead transformative projects that shape the future of its campuses in a vibrant city. Joining our team means being part of a forward-thinking institution dedicated to sustainability and innovation, where your leadership can make a meaningful impact on the educational landscape.
Contact Details:
Edinburgh Napier University Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Property & Facilities in Broughton
✨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. Building relationships can often lead to job opportunities that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of Director of Property & Facilities. Highlight your leadership skills and strategic vision, as these are key for this executive-level position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Property & Facilities in Broughton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Director of Property & Facilities role. Highlight your experience in estate strategy and leadership in complex environments, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see your impact! Use quantifiable results to demonstrate how you've shaped estate strategies or led transformations in previous roles. This helps us envision the value you could bring to our team.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We appreciate candidates who are genuine and passionate about their work. Share your vision for the future of property and facilities management, and how it aligns with our ambitious goals.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone!
How to prepare for a job interview at Edinburgh Napier University
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Edinburgh Napier University's estate strategy and recent developments. Familiarise yourself with their current projects and challenges in property and facilities management. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of their needs and how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Director, your leadership approach is crucial. Be ready to discuss your past experiences leading complex teams and driving change. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to balance ambition with pragmatism, especially in resource-sensitive environments.
✨Prepare for Strategic Questions
Expect questions about aligning estate strategy with operational demand. Think about how you've previously optimised space utilisation or led campus-wide transformations. Prepare to articulate your thought process and the impact of your decisions on organisational value.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your outstanding stakeholder leadership by discussing how you've built partnerships in previous roles. Be prepared to share examples of how you've influenced executive-level decisions and navigated multi-stakeholder environments effectively.
