Grounds Maintenance Estate Services Manager

Southern Housing; Tunstall; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Housing is seeking an Estate Services Manager to lead frontline estate services in the Kent area, based in Sittingbourne. You will manage teams delivering grounds maintenance, cleaning, and contractor services while ensuring safety and service quality.

You will drive performance, conduct inspections, and collaborate with Housing and Neighbourhood colleagues to resolve issues and improve resident satisfaction. A customer-focused leader is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience working in an Estate Services, grounds maintenance, cleaning or similar environment, with a strong understanding of health & safety, including risk assessments, COSHH and lone working
• Proven people management and leadership skills, including recruiting, motivating and supporting teams, holding one to ones and addressing performance issues
• A proactive, solutions focused approach with strong problem solving skills
• An understanding of value for money and service charges, with the ability to manage resources efficiently and identify opportunities for improvement
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with residents, colleagues and contractors
• Attention to detail, with the ability to carry out thorough estate inspections and identify repairs, compliance or tenancy issues
• A customer centred mindset, recognising the importance of visibility, professionalism and resident experience
• You must hold a full UK driving licence with no more than six points and with no serious motoring offences in the last 10 years (i.e., CD, DD, DG, DR, IN, MR, TT). You must also have a minimum of two years driving experience

Responsibilities

• Lead frontline estate services teams delivering grounds maintenance, cleaning, waste management and associated contractor services
• Oversee day to day service delivery and carry out regular estate inspections
• Ensure health & safety compliance and effective use of resources
• Work closely with contractors and colleagues across Housing and Neighbourhood teams to identify issues and resolve problems
• Drive continuous service improvement and value for money
• Support residents and maintain high standards of service and visibility

Skills

Estate Services experience

Grounds maintenance

Health & safety

People management

Communication skills

Budget/resource management

Driving licence

Job description

About The Role

We’re looking for an experienced and people focused Estate Services Manager to lead frontline estate services across the Kent area.

Estate Services sits at the frontline of our housing service and is often the first and most frequent point of contact for residents. As an Estate Services Manager, you’ll be responsible for leading and managing teams delivering high quality estate services, such as grounds maintenance, cleaning, waste management and associated contractor services.

You’ll oversee day to day service delivery, carry out regular estate inspections, and ensure standards are met consistently. You’ll work closely with contractors and colleagues across Housing and Neighbourhood teams to identify issues early, resolve problems effectively and improve resident satisfaction. A key part of the role is ensuring health & safety compliance, effective use of resources and continuous service improvement.

You’ll be based at our Sittingbourne office and may occasionally be required to work from other locations or attend meetings outside core business hours.

About you

You’re a confident and proactive manager with experience working in a frontline estate services environment. You’re comfortable leading teams, managing operational delivery and maintaining high standards in a visible, customer focused role.

You will need:

• Experience working in an Estate Services, grounds maintenance, cleaning or similar environment, with a strong understanding of health & safety, including risk assessments, COSHH and lone working
• Proven people management and leadership skills, including recruiting, motivating and supporting teams, holding one to ones and addressing performance issues
• A proactive, solutions focused approach with strong problem solving skills
• An understanding of value for money and service charges, with the ability to manage resources efficiently and identify opportunities for improvement
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with residents, colleagues and contractors
• Attention to detail, with the ability to carry out thorough estate inspections and identify repairs, compliance or tenancy issues
• A customer centred mindset, recognising the importance of visibility, professionalism and resident experience
• You must hold a full UK driving licence with no more than six points and with no serious motoring offences in the last 10 years (i.e., CD, DD, DG, DR, IN, MR, TT). You must also have a minimum of two years driving experience

We will undertake driving licence checks on the successful candidate as part of our standard pre-employment checks process

About the team

You’ll be part of our Estate Services team, which sits at the frontline of our housing service and is often the most visible point of contact for residents.

The team is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and safety of communal areas across our estates.

Working closely with colleagues in Estate Services and Housing teams, you’ll help identify issues early, support vulnerable residents where appropriate, and ensure our estates are safe, well maintained and places people are proud to live.

Advert closing date: 1st October 2026 at 23:59 (We may close the advert early if we receive a suitable number of applications)

Interview date: week commencing 12th October 2026

About Us

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own! We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people’s lives.

A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.