Estates Manager

Sielo Search; Tandridge; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks holiday

Pension with life assurance

Free lunches during term time

Access to gym and swimming pool

Potential school fee remission

Job summary

Woldingham School is seeking an Estates Manager to oversee the maintenance and operation of its extensive estate, which includes historic buildings and sports facilities. This pivotal role demands strong compliance management and team leadership, ensuring efficient and safe operations.

The successful candidate will drive long-term improvements and engage in significant capital projects. Benefits include five weeks’ holiday, pension, free meals during term time, and access to a gym and swimming pool.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in building services or hard FM.
• Experience in education, healthcare, hospitality, or heritage property.
• Proven experience in maintenance operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance team and oversee operations.
• Manage contractors and budgets effectively.
• Deliver long-term estate improvements and initiatives.

Skills

Compliance management

Team leadership

Contractor management

Decision making under pressure

M&E systems knowledge

Education

NEBOSH or IOSH qualifications

Job description

Estates Manager

Woldingham School

Caterham, Surrey

£50,000 - £55,000 + great benefits

Some estates roles are about keeping things ticking over. This one is about taking ownership of a complex, high-profile estate and helping drive it forward.

Woldingham School is looking for an Estates Manager to lead the day-to-day hard FM operation across a large boarding school estate that includes historic buildings, sports facilities, boarding houses, staff residences and more than 200 acres of grounds.

This is not a “caretaker plus” role.

You’ll lead the maintenance team, oversee compliance and PPM delivery, manage contractors and projects, control operational budgets and help ensure the estate runs safely, efficiently and professionally every single day.

But equally important is what comes next. Working closely with the Director of Estates, you’ll help deliver longer‑term estate improvements, capital projects and decarbonisation initiatives across the site, supporting plant replacement, infrastructure modernisation and energy‑efficiency projects as part of a clear long‑term estates strategy.

For someone currently managing a smaller or less complex site, this is a genuine step up in both scope and profile, with clear progression potential towards Head or Director of Estates level over time.

The environment is busy, visible and occasionally demanding. Priorities shift. Problems happen. Standards matter.

The school needs someone calm, credible and operationally strong, someone comfortable managing compliance, leading teams, challenging contractors and making practical decisions under pressure.

You’ll probably already work within estates, building services or hard FM in environments such as education, healthcare, hospitality, heritage property or complex commercial estates.

Strong experience across compliance, M&E systems, maintenance operations and contractor management is essential. NEBOSH or IOSH qualifications would be highly beneficial. Just as importantly, you’ll be someone who enjoys building trust, improving standards and taking pride in running things properly.

In return, you’ll receive five weeks’ holiday plus public holidays, pension with life assurance, free lunches during term time, free parking and access to excellent on-site facilities including the gym and swimming pool. Potential school fee remission is also available subject to eligibility.

Most importantly, this is an opportunity to join a school investing heavily in its estate, infrastructure and long‑term future.

Woldingham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS report will be required for the successful candidate.