Estate Manager

The List - The Services Business Network; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Three-bedroom house on school grounds

Tax-free accommodation benefit

Fee abatements for dependants

Job summary

West London is the setting for an exceptional Head of Estates role with a highly regarded independent school. You will lead a hands-on, small Estates team, overseeing buildings, grounds, security, and operations, and coordinating a range of contractors and service providers from facilities to safety compliance.

This leadership role requires a practical, problem-solving approach, the ability to spot what needs doing, and a track record of delivering results.

Qualifications

• Leadership and people management experience.
• Strong organisation and discipline with a can-do attitude.
• Ability to coordinate and hold external providers to account.

Responsibilities

• Lead Buildings, grounds and facilities management.
• Oversee security, access control and safety compliance.
• Manage a team of Estates staff and contractors.
• Oversee planned and reactive maintenance and capital projects.
• Coordinate events, lettings and operational support.
• Drive sustainability and efficiency across the estate.

Skills

Leadership

Organisation

Discipline

Problem solving

Contractor management

Job description

West London | £45,000 + substantial tax-free accommodation benefit.

The List has been exclusively retained by a highly regarded independent school in West London to identify an outstanding Head of Estates for appointment as soon as possible.

This is a broad, hands-on role with responsibility for the School’s estate, buildings, grounds, security, contractors, facilities, and day-to-day operational resilience.

And there is a very significant benefit: the role comes with a three-bedroom house/cottage within the School grounds. This accommodation is a tax-free benefit in kind, estimated at circa £36,000 per annum, based on the rental market for comparable accommodation in this part of London.

The School is looking for someone who brings the leadership, organisation, discipline, practical problem-solving and can-do attitude synonymous with the UK Armed Forces.

You do not need to be a technical estates specialist. The School already uses specialist contractors and external advisers for areas such as Health & Safety, fire safety, food safety and other technical/compliance requirements. Your role is to lead, coordinate and hold those providers to account, ensuring that the estate is safe, secure, well maintained and operationally effective.

You will lead a small Estates team and manage a wide range of contractors and service providers, while taking ownership of:

• Buildings, grounds and facilities
• Planned and reactive maintenance
• Security and access control
• Contractor and supplier management
• Capital projects and refurbishments
• Sports facilities and outdoor areas
• Emergency response and business continuity
• School events, lettings and operational support
• Estate assets, accommodation and space utilisation
• Sustainability and environmental initiatives

This is a hands-on, roll sleeves up, doing role for someone who is comfortable taking responsibility, organising people and resources, solving problems and making things happen.

You will be expected to spot what needs to be done and not wait to be instructed.

The School is particularly interested in hearing from ex-UK Armed Forces personnel with the leadership and operational experience to make the transition into a busy independent-school environment. The location affords employment potential in London for a partner and/or dependants. The school can also offer significant fee abatements to the Estate Managers children from ages 3 to 18.