Facilities Manager

English Heritage; Dover; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Matched pension contributions up to 10

Flexible hours

Career progression in heritage sector

Access to English Heritage sites

Job summary

English Heritage is seeking a Facilities Manager to lead maintenance and operations across our Kent portfolio, including Dover Castle, Walmer Castle and Deal Castle. The role is based at Dover Castle with regular site travel, 36 hours per week, full-time and permanent.

You will manage day-to-day facilities, health and safety compliance, and project/contract work, coordinating with Estates colleagues and external contractors to keep historic buildings safe, well maintained and compliant.

Qualifications

• Experience in facilities, building services, property or maintenance management within a complex operational environment.
• Experience managing planned, preventative and reactive maintenance including monitoring quality, cost, compliance and performance; Experience providing client-side technical input to significant capital, maintenance or improvement projects, including project delivery and handover.

Responsibilities

• Lead on facilities management across the Kent portfolio including Dover Castle, Walmer Castle and Deal Castle.
• Ensure safe, compliant and well-maintained buildings; coordinate maintenance and projects with Estates colleagues.
• Manage budgets, resources and contractor performance; maintain accurate records and statutory certification.

Job description

We are looking for a Facilities Manager to join our team on a full-time permanent basis, working 36 hours per week. The role covers the Kent area and is mainly based at Dover Castle with regular travel to sites within a diverse portfolio. Are you passionate about caring for some of England's most important historical buildings and landmarks? If so, this is a great opportunity for a dedicated facilities professional to join the South and East Team as a Facilities Manager supporting our Kent portfolio which includes Dover Castle, Walmer Castle, and Deal Castle. Actively championing and leading on Facilities management, you will play a key role in ensuring our buildings are safe, compliant, well maintained and able to support the operation of some of English Heritage's most significant visitor sites. It is a busy and varied role which makes the everyday interesting with no two days the same. As a Facilities Manager, you will lead on a high-quality, conservation-led, maintenance and facilities management service across one of English Heritage's most iconic sites, with responsibility extending to Walmer Castle and Gardens and Deal Castle. Your role will cover both historic properties and modern visitor facilities, working closely with the Operations, Experience and Engagement Team and wider Estates colleagues. We need you to be able to ensure the effective day-to-day operation of the sites together with project/contract management skills and a good working understanding of health and safety regulations in a construction environment. The successful applicant will be able to operate within the constraints of heritage and planning policies and statutory requirements, demonstrating an understanding of historic building conservation. The role requires a confident communicator, who will work collaboratively with Estates colleagues across the Kent portfolio, including the Building Services Manager based at Dover Castle, building strong working relationships to coordinate maintenance, projects and day-to-day building services priorities. We are looking for you to evidence experience of working with both internal stakeholders and managing and auditing contractors' performance and site activity, including inductions, RAMS reviews and compliance with health and safety, in addition to keeping accurate records and up to date asset information, maintenance schedules, service records and statutory certification via our K2 CAFM system. To be considered for this role, you'll need:

• Experience in facilities, building services, property or maintenance management within a complex operational environment.
• Experience managing planned, preventative and reactive maintenance including monitoring quality, cost, compliance and performance; Experience providing client-side technical input to significant capital, maintenance or improvement projects, including project delivery and handover.

Sound working knowledge of current legislation and statutory regulations relating to building services and health and safety, including fire safety, gas systems, pressure systems, legionella control and security systems. Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships. Proven ability to manage budgets, resources and the work of others effectively. Experience of planning and delivering projects, with strong organisational and coordination skills. HNC/HND level (or equivalent) in facilities management, mechanical, electrical or building/construction disciplines or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience. We offer flexible working arrangements where the role allows. This role is based at Dover Castle where you will be expected to work from at least 3 days a week, with flexibility to provide support and oversight across the other main sites ensuring a consistent and high-quality approach to facilities management and maintenance across the portfolio. Interviews will take place week commencing 14/12/2026 at Dover Castle.

About English Heritage. Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage. Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings. That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share our stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create. The Benefits - 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years | Matched pension contributions up to 10% | Flexible hours | The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector | Apprenticeship opportunities | Subscriptions to professional bodies | Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members | 25% discount in our shops and cafes | Enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave | Options to buy additional leave | An inclusive working atmosphere everybody is supported from all backgrounds, religions and with different needs | Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events. Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/. Everybody's welcome at English Heritage Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing. We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.