Trust Estates Manager in England

About You

You are a seasoned and experienced estates and facilities professional with a proven track record in senior management across complex or multi-site environments. You bring strong expertise in estates strategy, plant maintenance, statutory compliance and construction or building services, ideally within the education or public sector. With significant experience in budget management, procurement, contract negotiation and cost control, you are confident leading large-scale projects and delivering capital improvement programmes that enhance estate performance and utilisation.

A skilled and credible leader, you have experience managing teams and contractors, developing maintenance programmes and translating strategic priorities into effective operational delivery. You hold a recognised Health & Safety qualification (e.g. NEBOSH or IOSH), demonstrate ongoing professional development and have a full driving licence to support travel between sites. Highly organised and adaptable, you are an excellent communicator who can engage senior stakeholders, while bringing strong problem-solving skills, integrity and a proactive, collaborative approach in a fast-paced environment.

What the school offers its staff

• Eye care and free flu vaccination voucher
• Generous pension and life assurance schemes
• Private contributory healthcare scheme
• Staff collaboration groups
• Staff recognition scheme
• Contractual sick pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Christmas party and social events
• Gym, food, entertainment, shopping and holiday discounts
• Free confidential mental health and wellbeing coaching and counselling services
• On-site catering
• Continuous professional development, training, and sponsorship opportunities

Further details about the role

Who we are

At Ascendancy Partnership Trust, our mission is to provide the best possible education and therapeutic support for children and young people with additional complex needs, both in special and mainstream schools. Through collaboration, we challenge and maximise the potential of our schools and individuals.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Estates and Operations, the Senior Estates Manager will lead the operational delivery of estate services across the Trust, ensuring all school sites are safe, compliant, well-maintained and fit for purpose. You will oversee both planned and reactive maintenance, manage statutory compliance in line with DfE guidance and ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to estates management. This role is key to identifying and mitigating estate risks while maintaining accurate systems, records and asset registers.

Your strong leadership skills will provide support to Premises Managers and site teams, driving performance, consistency and professional development. Working closely with Headteachers and senior leaders, you will balance local operational needs with Trust-wide priorities. The role also includes oversight of contractor performance, permits to work, and service delivery across cleaning and catering functions, ensuring all services meet required standards and KPIs.

In addition, you will support capital projects, funding bids and long-term estate planning, including sustainability initiatives. You will contribute to compliance audits, health and safety management, and risk assessments, ensuring all statutory requirements are met. You will also provide clear updates on estate performance, compliance and budgets, while supporting the ongoing development of Trust policies and procedures.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.