Head of Estates in Northampton

The Role We are currently recruiting for an experienced Head of Estates & Operations to oversee the estates, facilities and operational management of a growing multi-site education portfolio. This is an excellent opportunity for an established Estates or Facilities Management professional to take a senior leadership position, overseeing property maintenance, statutory compliance, health & safety, procurement and operational service delivery across multiple school sites. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with a hands-on approach, working closely with site management teams to maintain safe, compliant and well-maintained educational environments. Key Responsibilities * Lead and develop estates, facilities and site management teams across multiple locations. * Oversee the delivery of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance, building repairs and grounds maintenance. * Ensure full statutory compliance across all sites, including fire safety, asbestos, water hygiene, gas and electrical safety. * Develop and implement estates management strategies, maintenance programmes and operational improvement plans. * Conduct regular site inspections, compliance audits and risk assessments, ensuring corrective actions are completed. * Manage external contractors, suppliers and service providers, monitoring performance against agreed standards and KPIs. * Oversee procurement, supplier negotiations and contract renewals across cleaning, grounds maintenance, catering, waste, energy and compliance services. * Support the delivery of capital projects, refurbishment programmes and lifecycle maintenance planning. * Manage operational budgets, identifying opportunities for cost savings and improved service efficiency. * Drive sustainability initiatives, energy efficiency improvements and environmental best practices. * Establish consistent operational procedures, reporting systems and service standards across all locations. * Provide senior leadership with regular updates on estates performance, compliance, financial management and operational risks. What We're Looking For * Proven experience in a senior Estates Management, Facilities Management or Operations Management position. * Strong background managing estates and facilities across a multi-site portfolio. * Demonstrable experience leading and developing operational teams, including site managers and maintenance personnel. * Excellent knowledge of statutory compliance, health & safety legislation, COSHH, fire safety, asbestos and water hygiene requirements. * Experience developing and managing PPM programmes, asset registers and building maintenance schedules. * Strong commercial awareness, including budget management, procurement, supplier negotiations and contractor management. * Experience conducting compliance audits, managing risk and implementing operational improvements. * Understanding of education estates requirements * Excellent stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills. * Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites. Desirable Qualifications & Experience * NEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely. * Professional qualification in Facilities Management (IWFM) or Estates Management. * Previous experience working within education, multi-academy trusts or the public sector. * Experience using compliance management systems * Knowledge of sustainability initiatives, decarbonisation and energy management. * Experience supporting estates expansion, site mobilisation or integration of additional properties. The Opportunity This is an exciting opportunity to take responsibility for a diverse education estates portfolio, with significant autonomy to shape operational standards, improve compliance and develop a high-performing facilities management function. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering long-term estates strategies while ensuring the day-to-day operation of each site remains safe, efficient and well-managed. If you're an experienced Head of Estates, Estates Manager, Head of Facilities or Senior Facilities Manager with a strong multi-site background, we'd be keen to hear from you