Head of Buildings (Fabric) and External Services

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Head of Buildings (Fabric) & External Services to lead the maintenance and strategic management of diverse estates. In this senior leadership role, you will oversee building fabric maintenance, lifecycle planning, and drive sustainability initiatives to support the University's net-zero ambitions. The ideal candidate has experience in building fabric maintenance, strong leadership skills, and excellent stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Qualifications

• Substantial expertise in building fabric maintenance.
• Clear commitment to continued professional development.
• Ability to lead high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic management of building fabric maintenance.
• Drive continuous improvement and sustainability initiatives.
• Act as senior technical authority for building fabric matters.

Skills

Leadership

Building fabric maintenance

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Sustainability practices

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

The University of Sheffield is seeking to appoint an exceptional Head of Buildings (Fabric) & External Services to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous improvement across the University’s diverse estate. This is a senior leadership role within the Engineering & Maintenance Team in Estates & Facilities Management, responsible for ensuring that the fabric of our buildings and our external environments are safe, compliant, sustainable, and of the highest quality.

The Role

Reporting to the Associate Director of Engineering & Maintenance, you will lead the strategic management and operational delivery of all building fabric maintenance, lifecycle planning, and external services, including landscaping, across the University estate. This is a wide‑ranging and highly influential role, overseeing everything from architecturally significant heritage buildings to complex, modern, award‑winning facilities. You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary in‑house team of professional and trade staff, alongside specialist external contractors, ensuring that all works are delivered to exacting standards and in full compliance with legislative, health and safety, and statutory requirements. You will be responsible for developing long‑term fabric maintenance strategies, managing significant revenue and capital budgets, and implementing robust asset management and lifecycle planning informed by condition surveys and performance data.

A key part of your remit will be driving continuous improvement, sustainability, and innovation—exploring energy‑efficient solutions, sustainable materials, and best practice approaches in support of the University’s net‑zero ambitions. You will also act as the senior technical authority for building fabric and external services matters, providing expert advice, resolving complex issues, and building strong relationships with academic departments and professional services colleagues across the institution.

About You

We are looking for an experienced and credible leader with substantial expertise in building fabric maintenance within a complex estate environment. You will have a relevant degree (or equivalent experience), membership of a professional body, and a clear commitment to continued professional development. You will bring a strong and demonstrable ability to lead, motivate, and develop high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Central to your success will be your excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, allowing you to build strong relationships, influence decision‑making, and operate with confidence and credibility at senior level.