Estates Technical Officer

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Hexham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Hexham is seeking a motivated Estates Technical Officer to oversee the operation and management of critical engineering services. The ideal candidate will possess an NVQ level 4 or higher in engineering and have strong leadership and technical skills. Responsibilities include managing a multi-disciplined workforce, ensuring high maintenance standards, and complying with health and safety legislation. This full-time position involves a 37.5 hour work week, and participation in an on-call rota could be required.

Qualifications

• Must hold NVQ level 4 or higher in an engineering discipline.
• Completed a recognised Engineering apprenticeship.
• Knowledge and experience equivalent to degree level.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of Engineering and Building Craftsmen.
• Directly responsible for the maintenance of life-critical services.
• Provide leadership to develop a cohesive working culture.

Skills

Management of contracts

Leadership skills

Technical knowledge in engineering

Communication skills

Computer literacy

Education

NVQ level 4 in an engineering discipline

Degree level

Tools

Word processing software

Spreadsheet applications

Job description

Go back Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Estates Technical Officer

The closing date is 16 December 2025

We are looking to recruit a Technical Estates Officer to our team at our Hexham General Hospital. An Opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated Technical Estates Officer to work at the Hexham General Hospital. The successful candidate will work alongside the current multi‑skilled team to maintain the Hexham General Hospital, and Haltwhistle Memorial Hospital. The post is 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday and will also take part in the emergency on‑call rota.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

• The successful post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day operation and management of all Building/Engineering, life and business‑critical services, plant and equipment within all properties within their remit. They will be required to participate in the Estates on‑call rota and undertake essential out of hours on‑call duties, as directed. The applicant will already have significant M&E Building Services experience, be able to handle conflicting priorities and have the ability to work under pressure. They will be computer literate, have good technical knowledge and ability, with good verbal and written communication skills. They will also possess good interpersonal skills, allowing them to effectively communicate with both technical and non‑technical personnel, within and beyond the organisation.
• Direct line management of a multi‑disciplined workforce within respective sites to prioritise workloads. Undertake management, design and costing of any new and minor works/upgrades as and when required.
• Ensure that all internal and external building fabric and decoration is in a sound condition and maintains relevant published quality condition standards.
• Ensure that all PPM and capital/minor works are completed to a high standard.
• To ensure that all staff fully understand and operate to relevant Health & Safety legislation and participate in the coordinating of health and safety management across the trust.

About us

NHFM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Established in 2012, NHFM provide specialist project management services for large and small capital developments, estates maintenance and a full range of facilities services. Carrying out facilities management for a state‑of‑the‑art specialist emergency care hospital - The Northumbria, three general hospitals - North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham hospitals - and a number of smaller community hospitals and clinic sites, we cover one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country.

Work for us and you will be making a real difference to the NHS and the thousands of people who use our services each year. Visit our website www.nhfm.co.uk for more information about who we are and benefits of working for us.

Job responsibilities

Provide a strong, inclusive and supportive leadership agenda to develop a cohesive and collaborative working culture across all Estates, Facilities and NFHM teams.

Responsible for the day‑to‑day management of Engineering, Building Craftsmen and Apprentices, undertaking appraisal interviews and disciplinary/sickness absence monitoring and allocation/prioritisation of work. Responsible for the management of contract labour working on NHFM sites.

Appoint and liaise with external contractors and consultants attending site and project meetings as and whenever required.

Directly responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of all life‑critical Engineering services plant and equipment.

Delivery of all services in accordance with HTM and HBN requirements, maintaining adequate level of competent resource (AP, CP) and ongoing assurance compliance reporting.

Provide strong people leadership, supporting ongoing minimum target level compliance against statutory & mandatory training and staff annual appraisal.

Ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for effective and efficient scheduling and allocation of all PPM and reactive works.

Ensure all building systems and plant is maintained, operating in accordance with user requirements, set parameters and to achieve optimum efficiency, supporting energy reduction and carbon target delivery.

Attend, support Trust committees, including but not limited to Water, Ventilation, H&S, Medical gasses.

Control and manage pay and non‑pay budgets, ensuring that Estates and labour budgets are kept within financial limits set and to obtain the most economical use of resources and to deliver maximum value for money.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Must hold NVQ level 4 or higher in an engineering discipline.
• Completed a recognised Engineering apprenticeship, or appropriate equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Degree level.

Experience and knowledge

• Knowledge and experience equivalent to degree level.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of safe operation and maintenance of critical engineering plant and equipment gained through operational experience and internal and external professional technical courses.
• Computer literate with experience of using word processing, spreadsheet packages, and other design software as applicable.
• Knowledge of or experience in coaching and mentoring practices and tools.
• Knowledge of or experience in Quality improvement tools, techniques and methods.

Other requirements

• It is an essential requirement of the role that the post holder has a valid driving licence and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a Trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, the Trust would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust