Associate Director of Estates Partnering

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Employee wellbeing services

Annual leave entitlements

Christmas closure

Discounts at retailers

Job summary

The University of Manchester is seeking an exceptional Associate Director of Estates Partnering to lead the strategic partnering function across Faculties, Professional Services, cultural institutions and external partners.

Reporting to the Director of Estates Partnering, you will translate priorities into integrated estates plans and delivery programmes, shape the Integrated Infrastructure Plan, and build strong relationships with senior academics and services to enable world‑leading teaching

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development and delivery of Estates Business Partnering services across Faculties, cultural institutions, Professional Services and external partners
• Translate institutional priorities into clear, evidence-based estates plans, service strategies and capital, maintenance, space and infrastructure priorities
• Build trusted relationships with senior colleagues, providing authoritative advice, constructive challenge and clear escalation routes
• Oversee service standards, KPIs, governance and continuous improvement, ensuring responsive, consistent and customer-focused delivery
• Provide strategic oversight of project prioritisation, briefing and delivery assurance across capital, revenue, minor works and long-term maintenance programmes
• Provide senior stewardship of staffing, budgets, business cases and operational resources, maintaining effective governance, risk management and value for money
• Lead, coach and develop high-performing partnering teams, fostering collaboration, inclusion, accountability and professional growth

Job description

We are seeking an exceptional estates leader to join the Directorate of Estates & Facilities as Associate Director of Estates Partnering, leading the strategic partnering function across Faculties, Professional Services, cultural institutions and external partners.

The role:

Reporting to the Director of Estates Partnering, you will provide senior strategic leadership across the Estates Partnering function, ensuring that institutional priorities are translated into integrated estates plans, service strategies and delivery programmes that support the University’s Manchester 2035 vision, financial sustainability and operational resilience.

You will play a central role in shaping and delivering the University’s Integrated Infrastructure Plan, leading senior colleague engagement, estate planning, service performance, prioritisation and delivery assurance across a highly complex environment.

As a member of the Directorate Senior Leadership Team, you will act as a key interface between Estates & Facilities and senior academics and Professional Services, ensuring that estate services, space, maintenance and investment programmes enable world-leading teaching, research, innovation and student experience.

You will:

• Lead the strategic development and delivery of Estates Business Partnering services across Faculties, cultural institutions, Professional Services and external partners
• Translate institutional priorities into clear, evidence-based estates plans, service strategies and capital, maintenance, space and infrastructure priorities
• Build trusted relationships with senior colleagues, providing authoritative advice, constructive challenge and clear escalation routes
• Oversee service standards, KPIs, governance and continuous improvement, ensuring responsive, consistent and customer-focused delivery
• Provide strategic oversight of project prioritisation, briefing and delivery assurance across capital, revenue, minor works and long-term maintenance programmes
• Provide senior stewardship of staffing, budgets, business cases and operational resources, maintaining effective governance, risk management and value for money
• Lead, coach and develop high-performing partnering teams, fostering collaboration, inclusion, accountability and professional growth

Why join us:

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping how one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious university estates responds to academic, operational and strategic priorities. You will help lead a modern, trusted and evidence-led partnering function that connects institutional ambition with effective estate planning and delivery.

You will join a forward-looking Directorate at a time of significant investment, transformation and strategic development, working with senior leaders across the University to strengthen services, improve estate performance and support teaching, research, innovation and civic engagement.

What will you get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period

Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

£85,417 to £105,011 per annum depending on experience