Estates Manager in London

UKCBC is seeking an experienced and inspiring Estates Manager to lead the operational facilities management and ensuring that all buildings and environments are safe, compliant and effectively maintained across our higher education provision and help shape outstanding outcomes for our students.

UKCBC exists to enable opportunity, cultivate confidence and develop capability through applied, inclusive and professionally relevant higher education. Working with university and awarding body partners, we support a diverse student community to succeed in their studies and progress towards positive destinations.

About the Role

The Estates Manager is responsible for the day to day management of estate and facilities operations across UKCBC, ensuring that all buildings and environments are safe, compliant and effectively maintained.

The role ensures that estate services support teaching delivery, student experience and operational activity across all sites.

The Estates Manager holds responsibility for the following areas:

• Day to day estate and facilities operations
• Health, safety and statutory compliance
• Maintenance, repairs and contractor coordination
• Space utilisation and operational readiness
• Delivery of a safe, functional and well maintained environment

The role is accountable for ensuring that estate operations are delivered efficiently, issues are resolved promptly and compliance standards are consistently met.

The role provides assurance to senior leadership that estate operations are safe, controlled and operating effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

Estates Operations and Facilities Delivery

• Manage the day to day operation of estate and facilities services across all UKCBC sites.
• Ensure buildings, classrooms and facilities are maintained in a clean, safe and functional condition.
• Oversee delivery of core services including cleaning, maintenance and security.
• Respond to operational issues, ensuring timely resolution of maintenance and facilities concerns.
• Ensure estate services consistently support teaching delivery and student activity.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all health and safety legislation and statutory requirements across UKCBC sites.
• Maintain oversight of risk assessments, safety procedures and compliance documentation.
• Ensure buildings meet all regulatory requirements, including fire safety and building compliance.
• Investigate incidents and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Ensure all compliance records are maintained accurately and are audit ready.

Maintenance and Contractor Coordination

• Oversee planned and reactive maintenance across all sites.
• Coordinate contractors and service providers to ensure timely and effective service delivery.
• Monitor contractor performance to ensure quality, compliance and value for money.
• Ensure maintenance work is completed with minimal disruption to teaching and operations.
• Escalate significant issues or risks where required.

Space and Operational Readiness

• Ensure teaching and operational spaces are appropriately set up and ready for use.
• Support scheduling and use of space to meet operational requirements.
• Monitor space usage and identify inefficiencies or operational issues.
• Work with internal teams to ensure estate supports day to day delivery needs.
• Ensure facilities are consistently available and fit for purpose.

Budget Control, Procurement and Project Delivery

• Oversee and support operational expenditure, ensuring effective cost control and alignment with organisational priorities.
• Lead procurement activity across UKCBC, ensuring consistent application of purchasing processes, supplier selection and value for money.
• Maintain oversight of supplier engagement, including due diligence, contract management and performance monitoring.
• Provide guidance to departments on purchasing processes, ensuring compliance with financial controls and procurement requirements.
• Oversee the delivery of operational projects and facility improvements, ensuring work is completed on time, within budget and to required standards.
• Monitor and report on expenditure, procurement activity and project delivery, ensuring financial accountability and transparency.

Data, Reporting and Record Management

• Maintain accurate records relating to maintenance, compliance and estate activity.
• Track and monitor operational performance, including response times and issue resolution.
• Provide reports on estate activity, risks and issues to senior leadership.
• Ensure documentation is complete, accurate and available for audit purposes.
• Use data to support continuous improvement of estate operations.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Work closely with internal teams to ensure estate services meet operational needs.
• Provide clear communication on maintenance, safety and operational issues.
• Support resolution of estate related issues raised by staff and students.
• Ensure effective coordination of estate activity across all sites.

Team and Service Management

• Manage estates and facilities staff where applicable.
• Allocate workload to ensure effective delivery of services.
• Monitor team performance and address operational issues.
• Promote high standards of service delivery and professionalism.
• Ensure consistent delivery of estate services across UKCBC.

Other Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with all UKCBC policies and procedures, including those relating to academic quality, data protection, safeguarding and information security.
• Maintain full compliance with health and safety requirements, taking reasonable care for personal safety and the safety of others, and supporting a safe and secure working and learning environment.
• Actively support and promote equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair, respectful and inclusive practice in all aspects of work.
• Champion UKCBC values and purpose, contributing to a positive organisational culture and a professional, student focused environment.
• Ensure all activities are delivered in line with relevant regulatory requirements, including those of awarding bodies and external regulators where applicable.
• Maintain high professional standards, including confidentiality, integrity and ethical conduct in all responsibilities.
• Deliver against agreed annual performance targets and key performance indicators, with performance actively monitored, measured and benchmarked against institutional standards and sector expectations.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.

About You

Essential criteria:

• Experience in estates, facilities management or a similar operational role.
• Strong understanding of health and safety and statutory compliance requirements.
• Experience managing maintenance, facilities services and contractors.
• Strong organisational and operational management skills.
• Experience managing budgets and controlling operational costs.
• Ability to respond effectively to operational issues and prioritise workload.
• Strong problem solving and decision making capability.
• Good communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Professional and reliable approach to work.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience within a multi site environment.
• Relevant qualification in facilities management, estates or health and safety.
• Experience supporting compliance audits and inspections.
• Familiarity with facilities management systems or compliance tracking tools.
• Experience working in an education or similar regulated environment.