Director of Estates in London

You will be joining a growing, values-led multi-academy trust comprising 31 schools and supporting approximately 14,500 children across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall. With ambitions to grow further across the South West, the organisation is committed to providing safe, well-maintained and sustainable environments in which children can learn and staff can work. This is an exciting time to join as the organisation develops its long-term approach to estates management, capital investment, compliance, sustainability and digital transformation.

As Director of Estates, you will provide strategic leadership across the Trust's estate, facilities management and premises health and safety functions. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will act as the senior adviser on estates matters, working closely with executive leaders, the Trust Board, governance committees and schools.

You will lead and develop the central estates team, including the Facilities Manager, Health and Safety Manager and Building Surveyor, while providing professional direction and consistent standards across site-based premises teams.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering the Estates Strategy and Asset Management Plan, including condition, lifecycle and investment planning.
• Leading the capital programme and managing approximately 4.5 million per year of School Condition Allocation funding, alongside estates budgets and additional external funding opportunities.
• Overseeing capital projects from feasibility, business case and procurement through to construction, handover and review, controlling cost, programme, quality and risk.
• Ensuring robust statutory compliance, premises health and safety and risk management across the estate, including fire, asbestos, water hygiene, gas and electrical compliance.
• Providing strategic oversight of planned and reactive maintenance, cleaning and wider FM services, ensuring consistent standards and value for money.
• Using condition, compliance and asset data to inform investment priorities and long-term estate planning.
• Leading property and estates due diligence associated with organisational growth, including new schools, academy transfers, leases, licences and land matters.
• Driving the sustainability and decarbonisation strategy, incorporating energy and water management, climate resilience and low-carbon investment.
• Leading implementation of a new CAFM system in 2027, using technology, data, automation and AI to strengthen compliance, efficiency and estates decision-making.
• Providing clear advice and reporting to senior leadership and governance committees on estates performance, investment, compliance, health and safety and risk.
• Supporting business continuity, emergency planning, physical security and access control across the portfolio.
• Building effective relationships with schools, the Department for Education, local authorities, dioceses, landlords, consultants, contractors and other partners.

This is a highly influential leadership position with significant scope to shape the organisation's long-term estates strategy and ensure its buildings remain safe, compliant, sustainable and fit for the future.

What you'll need to succeed:

You will be an accomplished estates, facilities or property professional with significant senior-level experience within a complex, multi-site organisation. Education-sector experience would be beneficial but is not essential, and candidates with relevant transferable experience are encouraged to apply.

You will need:

• Full membership of a relevant professional body such as MRICS, MCIOB, MAPM, ChPP, MIWFM or equivalent, or be substantially progressing towards full membership with a commitment to achieve this within 18 months.
• A degree or Level 6 qualification in a relevant built-environment discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• IOSH Managing Safely or a higher health and safety qualification, or willingness to achieve this within six months.
• A strong track record of delivering complex capital programmes and projects to time, cost and quality.
• Experience of feasibility, procurement, consultant appointments and contract administration, including JCT and/or NEC contracts and public-sector procurement.
• Strong statutory compliance, premises health and safety and risk management experience.
• Proven experience of leading and developing professional teams and influencing stakeholders within a devolved organisation.
• Experience presenting credible reports and recommendations to boards, committees or senior leadership teams.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budget management, cost control, whole-life costing and value for money.
• Excellent communication and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex technical matters and long-term objectives into practical plans.
• Strong digital capability and confidence using contemporary technology, data and AI-enabled tools.
• Sound judgement, including the ability to make safety-critical decisions under pressure.
• An understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within a school environment.
• The ability to travel independently across the South West.

Desirable experience and qualifications include:

• NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent, Chartered status and/or a recognised leadership qualification.
• Asset management, condition data and lifecycle investment planning.
• DfE capital funding, School Condition Allocation and/or the School Rebuilding Programme.
• Property due diligence, leases and licences.
• Decarbonisation and low-carbon technologies.
• CAFM implementation and/or outsourced facilities management.
• Knowledge of DfE estates guidance and how the physical environment supports teaching, learning and wellbeing.

What you'll get in return:

You will receive a salary of 74,964 to 82,224 alongside a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• 31 days' annual leave plus 3 Christmas closure days, totalling 34 days, with bank/public holidays in addition. The leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
• Mileage paid for travel between sites.
• Personal CPD budget and support towards professional memberships and qualifications.
• Leadership and management development opportunities.
• Cycle to Work and Tech Schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health support.
• Flu and eye care vouchers and employee discount schemes.
• Discounted on-site EV charging where available.
• Planned EV salary sacrifice scheme from 2027.

This is a senior leadership opportunity with significant scope to influence the organisation's long-term estates strategy as the Trust continues to grow.

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

Please note interviews for short-listed candidates will be taking place on 17/12/26.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.