At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the future of campus infrastructure and facilities at Edinburgh Napier University.
- Company: Edinburgh Napier University, a modern and ambitious institution.
- Benefits: Competitive executive package, generous pension, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity to drive meaningful transformation and enhance campus experience.
- Why this job: Shape a sustainable estate and leave a lasting legacy in higher education.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in estates leadership within complex organisations.
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.
Locations
Director of Property & Facilities in Dunfermline, Fife employer: Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier University is an exceptional employer, offering a competitive executive package alongside generous benefits such as a robust pension 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. Located in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, employees enjoy a dynamic environment that encourages innovation and strategic thinking, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers in higher education.
Contact Details:
Edinburgh Napier University Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Property & Facilities in Dunfermline, Fife
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
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Got your eye on a specific company like Edinburgh Napier University? 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 Edinburgh Napier University's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Property & Facilities in Dunfermline, Fife
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 Director of Property & Facilities role at Edinburgh Napier University, 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 Edinburgh Napier University
✨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 Edinburgh Napier University 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 Edinburgh Napier University. 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 Edinburgh Napier University.
