Deputy Head of Estates – Interim to Permanent

Deputy Head of Estates – Interim to Permanent Location: Blackpool, Lancashire Interim Contract: 6 months Interim Rate: £41.03 per hour – Inside IR35 (Umbrella) Permanent Salary: £63,000 - £78,000 per annum Hours: 37.5 hours per week We are currently recruiting for an experienced Deputy Head of Estates to join a large, complex healthcare estates environment based in the North West. This is an excellent interim-to-permanent opportunity, initially offered on a 6-month interim contract at £41.03 per hour, working inside IR35 through an umbrella solution. Following the interim period, there is a permanent position available for the successful candidate. Reporting into the Head of Estates, you will take a senior operational leadership role within the Estates function, overseeing the day-to-day delivery of a large, multidisciplinary building and engineering estates service across acute healthcare sites. The Role As Deputy Head of Estates, you will be responsible for ensuring the safe, compliant, efficient and effective delivery of operational estates and Hard FM services. You will lead multidisciplinary estates teams, manage specialist contractors and support the Head of Estates with the strategic development and continuous improvement of the service. Key responsibilities will include: * Leading the day-to-day operational management of the Estates Department. * Managing a large multidisciplinary estates and engineering workforce. * Deputising for the Head of Estates when required. * Managing Hard FM services delivered through both directly employed teams and external contractors. * Ensuring effective delivery of planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance and backlog maintenance programmes. * Supporting the development and delivery of the Estates Strategy and associated service improvement plans. * Managing estates statutory compliance across areas including water, electrical safety, ventilation, medical gases, pressure systems, asbestos, lifting equipment, decontamination and fire safety. * Ensuring compliance with relevant HTMs, HBNs, statutory legislation, NHS guidance and industry standards. * Managing operational estates risks, compliance action plans and associated reporting. * Overseeing specialist engineering systems and critical infrastructure within an acute healthcare environment. * Supporting capital projects and ensuring effective coordination between operational estates, property and capital teams. * Monitoring estates contracts, KPIs, budgets and service performance. * Supporting the development of business cases, service plans and longer-term estates priorities. * Providing senior technical estates advice to internal and external stakeholders. About You We are looking for an experienced Estates professional who can operate confidently within a complex, highly regulated environment. You will ideally have: * Significant experience managing a large multidisciplinary Estates service within a complex organisation. * A strong technical background within building services, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, estates management, surveying or a related discipline. * Experience managing operational Hard FM and engineering services. * Strong knowledge of estates statutory compliance and relevant legislation. * Knowledge and practical understanding of HTMs and HBNs. * Experience managing PPM, reactive and backlog maintenance. * Experience managing specialist contractors and complex Estates & Facilities contracts. * Knowledge of CAFM/BMS systems and estates asset management. * Strong leadership experience with the ability to manage and develop multidisciplinary teams. * Experience working with senior stakeholders and presenting complex technical information. * The ability to work effectively within a fast-paced and reactive operational environment. * A relevant professional qualification and/or membership of a professional body such as IHEEM, CIBSE or IET, or working towards this. * IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent experience; NEBOSH would be advantageous. Previous experience within NHS, healthcare or another highly regulated estates environment would be particularly beneficial. Why Apply? This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced senior Estates professional looking for both the flexibility of an interim assignment and the longer-term security of a permanent position. The role offers the opportunity to take significant operational responsibility within a complex healthcare estate, lead established multidisciplinary teams and contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of Estates services. Interested? Apply today with an up-to-date CV or get in touch for a confidential discussion regarding the role