Bhsct_Estates Officer, Operations_Band 7

Belfast Health And Social Care Trust; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension arrangements

Flexible working options

Wellbeing support

Development opportunities

Excellent transport links

Job summary

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is seeking an operational Estates Officer (Band 7) to ensure safety, reliability and efficiency across its large estate. The role involves managing HVAC, water, medical gases and other essential systems, with a focus on governance, maintenance and continuous improvement.

Based across Belfast Trust sites, the post requires working across facilities, adhering to standards, and rotation to meet service needs.

Qualifications

• MSc in a relevant engineering discipline or Chartered Engineer status with Engineering Council.
• Proven ability to deliver improvements in a complex Estate.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
• Experience in estates management and budgetary control in a large organisation.
• Holding a valid UK driving licence and access to a car on appointment.

Responsibilities

• Set direction and deliver Estates projects within time and budget.
• Provide high-quality advice on engineering, building and environmental matters.
• Manage maintenance programmes, and oversee energy, safety and statutory compliance.
• Lead and develop Estates staff, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain asset registers and contribute to governance and risk management.

Skills

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

MSc in engineering

Chartered Engineer (Eur/EIC)

Job description

Advertised role location: Belfast HSCT

Official document: Estates Officer (Operations) Band 7 - July 2026 (pdf)

The Opportunity at a Glance

Current and future Estates Band 7 opportunities

4 posts are currently available and we may create a waiting list for future similar

Band 7 Estates opportunities - click here for recruitment waiting lists information

Hours & Flexible working

This is a full-time role of 37.5 hours per week plus participation on the on‑call rota subject to training and experience.

We are committed to supporting flexible working wherever this can be accommodated within service needs and the nature of the role. Successful candidates may request flexible working from the 1st day of their employment. For further information click here

Location

Posts available at this time are initially based at RVH and BCH sites but will be required to work across all sites within Belfast Trust areas and may be asked to rotate as required to support business pressures.

Salary & Benefits

As part of Belfast Trust, you’ll have access to a wide range of staff benefits, including generous annual leave, pension arrangements, flexible working options, wellbeing support, development opportunities and excellent transport links. Click here to find out more.

Band Starting at Increase After 2 years Increase After 3 years

Band 7 £47,810 £50,273 £54,710

Estates Officer - Operations Role

Band 7

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity. This document brings tells you about the role, outlining its purpose, key responsibilities and the skills, experience and qualifications needed to succeed.

About Estates Services in Belfast Trust In the Estates Department we combine to form a team that operates and manages one of the largest and most complex estates Northern Ireland, in an organisation that accounts for approximately 1/8 of annual public expenditure. Estates are the team that keep Belfast Trust’s buildings, environments and infrastructure operating safely and resiliently. Our work supports the facilities and systems that enables health and social care to be delivered safely and in a way that promotes the best outcomes for our users. By working closely with clinical teams, support services, contractors and other partners, every role in our department is important in delivering an effective service and keeping our environment safe for the care of our patients, clients and users. The challenges are ever changing and the innovation of team always evident, but excellence and the patient experience is at the heart of what we deliver 24/7.

About the Role

As an Operational Estates Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring Belfast Trust’s buildings, engineering services and facilities remain safe, resilient, fit for purpose and able to support modern health and social care delivery. Working within a supportive and experienced Estates team, you will apply your technical knowledge, judgement and problem‑solving skills to support maintenance, safety, statutory compliance, service continuity and continuous improvement across a diverse and complex estate. Within this varied role you will be responsible for operating, maintaining and providing governance and assurance on HVAC, steam, water, medical gas, low and high voltage engineering systems. The planning, delivery and commissioning of upgrade and refurbishment works to the systems and environments which enable quality care delivery around the clock will require high levels of technical training and expertise. All staff are supported through continual professional development and learning.

Across HSCNI, all employees are expected to demonstrate the HSC Values in how they work, communicate and interact with others. Further information on the HSC Values and what they mean in practice can be found by clicking here

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Setting Direction

• To support Estates Senior Management with the implementation and delivery of the Trust’s Estate Strategy and Estates Control Plan.
• To implement innovative strategies for the management of the Estate in accordance with all relevant standards.
• To promote continuously improving services through the use of key estates performance management indicators in collaboration with user groups.
• To implement a strategy for the maintenance of the entire Trust estate to set and achieve the highest possible standards in relation to the safety, comfort and wellbeing of all patients, visitors and staff.
• To manage the delivery of Estates projects to meet the Trust Development Plan, ensuring all such projects meet the Trust objectives.
• To manage the provision and upgrading Estates programmes e.g. redecoration, re‑roofing, rewiring, reheating, fire safety upgrading and asbestos materials management.
• To ensure that user requirements are fully considered in all capital and maintenance projects.
• To undertake surveys and audits of the Trust estate and built environment e.g. Asbestos, DDA, BREEAM.
• To deliver Trust estate projects within the time scales and budgets agreed with the Estates Senior Manager.

Service Delivery

To provide a full range of high quality expert advice with regard to all legislative, engineering, building and environmental matters pertaining to the estate.

To ensure the implementation and delivery of planned maintenance programmes and any additional maintenance or modifications to enable the Trust to comply with the latest legislation, policy and insurance requirements, in relation to all buildings, plant, equipment and systems.

• To ensure the provision of high quality, efficient maintenance services, which are flexible and responsive to user needs and demands
• To direct the economic and effective use of Estates support staff (Directly Employed Labour) and contractors.
• To assess the engineering plant, equipment and service maintenance requirements on the basis of the post holders use of specialist calibration and test equipment, survey reports and periodic inspection to assist with the formulation of an estate maintenance plan, that over 1, 3, 5 and 10 years shall meet and support the strategic needs of the Organisation.
• To control the safe operation of all electrical, mechanical and building services by means of post holder obtaining and maintaining Authorised Person Status including high and low voltage electrical systems, steam and water distribution, medical gases and maintenance of all electro medical equipment.
• To implement contingency planning, major incident planning and emergency response plans as it applies to the built environment of the Trust.
• To implement and sustain programmes of planned and prioritised expenditure in respect of backlog maintenance and replacement of major items of plant and equipment.
• To assist with the development of and sustain a comprehensive and up-to-date backlog maintenance analysis that is risk‑based and whole‑life interpreted which shall inform and assist estate maintenance and development programmes.
• To ensure the optimum use of energy and utilities by the Trust Estate within the targets set by DHSSPSNI and the Trust. To work for energy conservation in accordance with local, national and other NHS targets and in collaboration with the Estates Senior Management Team.
• To ensure for the comprehensive maintenance of asset registers for the Trust’s land, buildings and plant.
• To implement a risk management plan for the management of the Trust estate which accurately reflects clinical risk, business continuity, patient wellbeing, engineering and economic considerations.
• To implement the effective and efficient management of projects, allocated by senior management including the design, construction, commissioning and associated project expenditure.
• To prepare Design Briefs, Project Initiation Documents and other relevant information to Trust employed design consultants.
• To consult and liaise with local authority Planning Services, Building Control, Fire and Rescue Service, Health and Safety Executive, Valuation and Lands Agency, Department of Environment etc and all other relevant agencies in matters associated with the management and development of the estate.
• To carry out design reviews and post project appraisals of projects delivered by the division. The reviews/ appraisals shall be comprehensive and include clinical, engineering and financial factors.
• To consult and advise private homeowners in respect of alterations and adaptations required for safe care of disabled family members.
• To ensure that at all times, the project team and contractors are client‑focused and that the needs of the client are paramount in all considerations.
• To prepare feasibility studies, works cost estimates, operational and maintenance costs and other costs as required to provide whole life costs in support of Business Cases and other management reports.

Development and Innovation

To implement and contribute to, in an innovative manner, strategies and consequent policies for a wide range of services across the Trust including:

• Estates specialist service procurement
• Management of plant and equipment
• Management of statutory and best practice compliance
• Contingency planning and business continuity
• Operational information and systems management
• Design of patient environment
• Data management
• Asset appraisal
• Community equipment installation and Adaptation to private dwellings and other areas in the emerging services of estates management.
• To undertake research and testing of new systems and processes within academic standards and protocols.
• To develop, programme, plan, implement and supervise the operation and maintenance of engineering plant, equipment and services, including the preparation of drawings utilizing CAD, designs / specifications utilizing specialist design environmental software, and cost estimates utilizing specialist financial software.

Collaborative Working

• To provide effective and efficient estate management services in support of the Trust’s delivery plans and objectives and to provide leadership in all aspects of operational maintenance management.
• To work to ensure the optimum performance of all staff, contractors and consultants with regard to quality, time, value for money, customer satisfaction and written procedures.
• To work in collaboration with Senior Managers in the Planning and Redevelopment Corporate Group to improve the quality of all infrastructure development.
• To assess maintenance requirements through consultation with users and other interested parties – and to develop appropriate programmes and procedures for work.
• To deliver services that are integrated with clinical service delivery.
• To recognise and establish links with other specialists, both internal and external to the Trust as and when required.
• To work closely with all relevant stakeholders to secure their commitment and involvement in the delivery of the estates’ strategy.
• To consult, negotiate and communicate with staff side as appropriate across the range of work responsibilities.
• To work in partnership with staff‑side colleagues to identify improved safe and flexible approaches to the delivery of estates services.
• To ensure that at all times project programmes are delivered with the co‑operation and participation of the various client groups and estates teams in harmony and with respect for all.
• Consult with local authority planning services, building control, fire authority, HSE, VLA, DOE, etc.
• To form effective, collaborative relationships with DHSSPSNI, Health Estates Agency and other relevant external organisations to influence the development of a region wide approach to estates services planning.
• To work closely with all relevant stakeholders to secure their commitment and involvement in the delivery of the estates’ strategy.

Communication and Information Management

• To implement, evaluate and contribute to the ongoing operational management and improvement of estates management software and information systems in collaboration with the Estates Senior Management Team.
• To maintain and utilise all available information to progress the efficiency of the estates management group and to ensure maximum value for money and accountability.
• To ensure the full reporting against all estates’ aspects of the management plan, in line with the Trust Performance Management Framework and to articulate and communicate the vision and strategy for estates management throughout the Trust.
• To represent the estates department within the corporate litigation management group and also represent the Trust at court as required.
• To undertake professional and thorough investigation and reporting of adverse incidents and accidents and provide advice to litigation Management on all related issues.
• To develop and deliver innovative and effective training programmes for all groups of staff across the Trust in relation to management of the Estate.
• To meet with, present to and communicate with a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical staff in the Trust, DHSSPS and with staff of external organisations.

Quality

• Engineering & Building maintenance
• Risk, Project & Contract management
• High and low voltage electrical networks
• Medical gases
• Electro‑medical equipment
• Decontamination of equipment
• Policy & Procedure and Emergency Planning
• Energy, Environment & Sustainability
• Health & Safety, Fire Safety & Building design
• Procurement
• Provision of community equipment and adaptation to dwelling properties

To work within the requirements of the Trust’s integrated governance framework, ensuring that all elements relating to the delivery of estates services meet legislation requirements.

To contribute towards the achievement of relevant controls assurance standards for estates management.

Financial and Resource Management

• To assist with the management of estates budgets for relevant maintenance areas.
• To proactively and innovatively assist with the management of the financial resources for estates ensuring that budgets are fully utilised and managed to ensure optimum use and best value for money.
• To ensure the continued value of the Trusts fixed assets through the judicious allocation and management of the maintenance budget.
• To manage procedures and systems, as required, for the financial management of the full range of estates services to include budget setting, budget monitoring and targeted budgeting control.
• To manage and monitor appropriate workforce budget plans and controls.
• To negotiate where necessary with consultants and contractors in the development of final account agreements for all delegated works within the Estates capital and revenue development programmes.
• To be responsible for the achievement of value‑for‑money in all projects under their control.
• To check and verify fee accounts from professional consultants and to check and verify invoices from contractors for works and services provided.
• To manage the expenditure of allocated budgets for each projects ensuring compliance with Trust Standing Orders, Public Procurement guidance and best value.

People Management and Development

• To deputise for Senior Estates Officers in their absence, when required.
• To promote the corporate values and culture of the organisations by contributing to the development and implementation of relevant policies and procedures, and appropriate personal behaviour.
• To lead and empower a team of estates staff, providing expert advice to the Trust as required.
• To delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to the level of staff within his/her control, consistent with effective decision making, whilst retaining responsibility and accountability for results.
• To contribute as an effective team member of the Estates Management Team.
• To participate in the Trust’s Performance Review Scheme. To review the performance of direct reports on a regular basis, and to provide direction on personal development requirements and appropriate action.
• To take responsibility for his/her own performance and take action to address identified personal development areas.
• To maintain good staff relationships and morale amongst the staff reporting to him/her, through effective feedback, recognition, appraisal and development.
• Where appropriate, review the organisational plan and establishment levels and ensure that each is consistent with achieving objectives and to recommend change where appropriate.
• To participate, as required, in the selection and appointment of staff, in accordance with procedures laid down by the Trust.
• To take such action as may be necessary in disciplinary matters, in accordance with procedures laid down by the Trust.
• To promote the Trust’s policies on ‘equality of opportunity’ through his/her own actions and to ensure the adherence to these policies by staff for whom he/she has responsibility.
• To contribute to the Trust’s overall corporate and integrated governance processes to ensure its compliance with public sector values and codes of conduct, operations and accountability.

In addition to the duties of your post there are additional duties that all employees of the Belfast Trust are expected to carry out. A summary of these can be found here

This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE Estates Officer

BAND 7

DIRECTORATE Strategic Development

Notes to applicants:
1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
2. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
3. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor Criteria
Ideally no more than 6-8 criteria in this section
Method of Assessment
Qualifications/
Registration
1. An MSc in a relevant engineering discipline or Be registered as a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council and be a corporate or full member of one of the following recognised engineering institutes:
a. Institute of Healthcare, Engineering and Estates Management (IHEEM)
b. Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
c. Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
d. Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) or
A Degree in a relevant engineering discipline plus 3 years relevant experience or
A Degree in a relevant engineering discipline and completion of the BHSCT Estates Trainee or HSC Graduate Trainee Schemes plus 1 year’s relevant experience or
A HNC/HND in a relevant engineering discipline plus 5years relevant experience or
A HNC/HND in a relevant engineering discipline and completion of the BHSCT Estates Trainee Scheme plus 3 years’ relevant experience.
NOTE: Relevant Engineering Discipline is defined as electrical, mechanical or building services
Relevant Experience is defined as experience gained in the design, maintenance, service and repair of electrical, mechanical and/or building services at Agenda for Change Band 6 Level or equivalent.
Experience 2. Have delivered improvements in relation to the performance of a complex Estate.
3. Have worked with a diverse range of stakeholders, both internal and external to the organisation, to achieve successful outcomes.
4. Experience of estates management and budgetary control in a major complex organisation.
NOTE: "major complex organisation" is defined as one with at least 200 staff or an annual budget of at least £50 million.
Shortlisting by Application Form & Interview
Skills, abilities & knowledge
5. Can successfully demonstrate a high level of people management, leadership and organisational skills.
Shortlisting by Application Form & Interview
Other 6. Hold a valid full UK driving licence and have, on appointment, access to a car.
Shortlisting by Application Form

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Demonstrable experience in the management of estates operations (maintenance) including the design, specification, implementation and supervision of engineering projects/contracts.
• Healthcare Leadership Competencies: Inspiring shared purpose, Leading with care, Evaluating information, Connecting our service, Sharing the vision, Engaging the team, Holding to account, Developing capability, Influencing for results.

We are an equal opportunities employer

HSC Values
Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role