Overview
In this role, you lead the estates transformation programme to deliver the NERC Estates Strategy. You collaborate with the Head of Estates and Centre leads to ensure a cohesive, cross-organisation delivery of both business-as-usual activities and transformation initiatives. You will govern the programme, manage budgets and risks, and maintain key documentation and dashboards. You shape stakeholder engagement and drive data‑driven decisions to realise realising benefits. A strong focus on governance, safety, and decarbonisation anchors the work.
Pay / Benefits
- defined benefit pension scheme (Civil Service)
- 30 days annual leave + 10.5 days
- employee discounts and offers
- employee assistance programme
- flexible working options
- wellbeing initiatives
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and governance for the entire estates transformation programme ensuring alignment with the Estates Strategy
- Translate organisational objectives into a structured programme with deliverables, schedules, dependencies and resource needs
- Advocate for the programme and its benefits within UKRI and beyond
- Oversee governance, strategic risk management and assurance activities
- Budgeting and financial tracking/assurance for the programme
- Maintain programme documentation (plans, risk registers, dashboards, logs, benefits information)
- Engage senior stakeholders across Centres and UKRI
- Ensure building safety information is collected and handed over to duty holders (Golden Thread)
- Harmonise interfaces with other estate workstreams to avoid duplication and identify shared opportunities
- Promote data‑driven decision making and continuous improvement across project activity
- Prepare executive reports, briefing papers and stakeholder updates
- Deputise for the Associate Director for Estates and Sustainability when needed
Key requirements
- Proven experience in an estates leadership role
- Experience leading and managing complex estates or capital programmes with time, cost and scope constraints
- NEC, APM, RICS or IWFM accreditation
- Strong financial oversight including budgeting, cost control, forecasting and transparent reporting
- Experience in producing and governing programme control documentation and robust planning
- Demonstrable governance and assurance processes aligned with organisational standards
- Proven ability to identify, assess and manage project risks and opportunities
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Experience of decarbonisation activity within the built environment
- Stakeholder management
- Communication
- Leadership
- Programme governance
- Budgeting and financial oversight
- Risk management and assurance
Head of Estates (Campus Development) employer: UKRI
The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in cutting-edge research. With a strong commitment to employee development, the LMB provides opportunities for training and professional growth, while its inclusive culture encourages open communication and teamwork. Located in a world-renowned research facility, employees benefit from access to state-of-the-art resources and the chance to contribute to impactful scientific advancements in health care.
