At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the estates function across a growing portfolio of schools.
- Company: Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, committed to excellence in education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strategic leadership role, and opportunity for impactful work.
- Other info: Collaborative culture rooted in Catholic values with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in educational environments while working with senior leaders.
- Qualifications: Experience in estates management and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Nigel Wright have been appointed to support Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust with the hire of a strategic Estates Manager to lead and shape the Trust’s estates function across its growing portfolio of schools. This is a senior, influential role, offering the opportunity to take ownership of long-term estate strategy, capital investment and major construction projects, while working closely with the CEO, executive team and external stakeholders.
Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust operates 31 schools across three local authority areas. The Trust’s central team operates as a centre of expertise, supporting schools while empowering them to deliver excellent learning environments for pupils and staff. Rooted in Catholic values, the Trust places a strong emphasis on collaboration, integrity, trust and service.
The Role:
Reporting into the senior leadership team, the Head of Estates will provide strategic leadership and oversight of estates, facilities, health & safety and capital works across the Trust. This is not a hands-on facilities management role. Instead, the focus is on strategy, prioritisation, governance and delivery at scale.
- Lead the Trust-wide Estates Management Plan and long-term investment strategy
- Ensure a consistently high-quality performance from all school contracts and service providers.
- Oversee significant capital and construction projects, including:
- Nursery expansions and building extensions
- Schools within the DfE School Rebuild Programme
- Act as the Trust’s lead representative with the DfE, contractors and professional advisers
- Ensure the Trust buildings and premises are maintained to an appropriately high and consistent standard that complies with all relevant legislation, seeking advice from the Trust Central Team or externally from industry experts as required.
- Oversee and quality assure the completion of weekly tasks on health and safety compliance system.
- Develop, maintain and update a suite of estates and facilities management policies for the Trust.
- Manage and lead team members to ensure high levels of motivation and the consistent provision of a high-quality service.
- Strategic procurement planning, particularly for major summer works
- Provide expert advice and assurance to senior leaders, schools and the Trust Board
Person Specification
You will be a confident, credible estates professional with experience operating at a strategic and senior stakeholder level. You are likely to bring:
- Strong experience in estates, asset or facilities management within a complex organisation
- A track record of overseeing capital projects and construction programmes
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at CEO, Board and external body level
- Sound knowledge of health & safety, compliance and procurement
- A collaborative, approachable leadership style, able to work effectively across diverse school environments
- Experience within education or a multi-academy trust is advantageous but not essential. Candidates from local government, NHS or other public-sector settings are encouraged to apply.
Qualifications
- Substantial experience in a facilities management quality assurance role
- Knowledge of Health & Safety regulations relating to an Estates function
- Strong project management experience
- Experience of formulating and managing planned maintenance activities
- Previous experience of managing contractors and experience of working across many sites
Estates Manager in Houghton-Le-Spring employer: Nigel Wright Group
Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust is an exceptional employer that prioritises collaboration, integrity, and service, creating a supportive work culture for its employees. As an Estates Manager, you will have the opportunity to lead strategic initiatives across a diverse portfolio of schools, with access to professional development and growth opportunities within a values-driven environment. The Trust's commitment to maintaining high-quality learning environments ensures that your contributions will have a meaningful impact on the educational experience of students and staff alike.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Estates Manager in Houghton-Le-Spring
✨Join Construction Networks
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Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Estates Manager at Nigel Wright Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Estates Manager in Houghton-Le-Spring
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Nigel Wright Group
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
