Head of Estates

Oak Multi Academy Trust; Leicester; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days' holiday + bank holidays

17.3% employer pension contribution

CPD and wellbeing package

Job summary

Oak Multi Academy Trust is seeking an experienced Head of Estates to join the central senior leadership team and own the Trust's estates strategy. You will identify needs, set priorities and allocate funding to deliver the plan across five schools.

You will assess condition, risk and compliance, drive health and safety improvements, and lead the premises teams in a collaborative, Trust-wide model. The role reports to the CEO.

Qualifications

• Strong estates or facilities experience and understanding of compliance and health and safety.
• Commercial awareness with ability to prioritise investments.
• Proven leadership to develop and motivate teams across multiple sites.
• Organised, practical and confident in judgement.

Responsibilities

• Own the Trust's estates strategy and set investment priorities across five schools.
• Assess condition, risk and need; direct funding to highest impact areas.
• Lead and develop premises teams; promote consistent ways of working.
• Work with Headteachers, Premises Officer and trustees to deliver improvements.

Skills

Estates experience

Health and safety

Compliance knowledge

Commercial awareness

People leadership

Job description

Job Title

Head of Estates

Salary

£57,667 - £61,798 per annum

Type

Permanent

Organization

Oak Multi-Academy Trust

Introduction

Five schools. One estates strategy. Your opportunity to shape it.

About the Schools and Context

OAK's five schools are in good condition. Compliance systems are established. Updated condition surveys are being completed. And there's funding available to invest.

Now we're looking for someone with the judgement and ambition to decide what comes next.

Role Overview

As Head of Estates, you'll join the central senior leadership team, report directly to the CEO, and take ownership of the Trust's estates strategy.

You'll have real authority to identify what needs doing, and the budget to make it happen.

You'll assess condition, risk, and need, set investment priorities, and direct funding where it will make the greatest difference.

With ambitions to grow beyond its five schools, OAK needs someone who can bring individual school-led approaches together into one strategic, Trust-wide model.

Practical Involvement

This isn't a role where you'll spend all your time behind a desk.

You'll be visible across the schools, working with Headteachers and premises teams. One day you might be reviewing investment plans or presenting recommendations to trustees. The next, you'll be on site helping solve a practical problem.

Impact and Development

Because OAK is still a relatively small Trust, you'll see the impact of your decisions.

You'll also develop the premises teams, introduce more consistent ways of working, and help people work together rather than as five separate sites.

Support and Environment

You won't be doing this alone.

You'll have a central Premises Officer to support you, alongside experienced colleagues in HR, finance, and the wider leadership team. It's a close, collaborative environment where people share expertise and support each other.

Priorities and Skills Needed

Of course, five schools mean five sets of priorities. You'll sometimes need to explain why investment is going to one school rather than another and bring people with you when changes need to be made.

That takes confidence, diplomacy, and commercial judgment.

Value of the Role

Because ultimately, your decisions aren't just about buildings. They help create the places where young people can flourish, achieve, and grow.

Candidate Background

You might already work within a Multi Academy Trust, but you don't have to.

OAK welcomes candidates from education, the NHS, charity, or other complex multi-site environments. What matters is strong estates or facilities experience, sound health and safety and compliance knowledge, commercial awareness, and the ability to lead and develop people.

You don't need to know every detail of education estates management from day one. But you will need to be organised, practical, and confident in your judgment.

Benefits

• 26 days' holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after five years' education service
• 17.3% employer pension contribution
• CPD and a wider wellbeing and employee benefits package

Closing Date

Monday 26th October 2026

Additional Information

OAK Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory references.

OAK's five schools are in good condition. Compliance systems are established. Updated condition surveys are being completed. And there's funding available to invest.

Now we're looking for someone with the judgement and ambition to decide what comes next.

As Head of Estates, you'll join the central senior leadership team, report directly to the CEO and take ownership of the Trust's estates strategy.

You'll have real authority to identify what needs doing, and the budget to make it happen.

You'll assess condition, risk and need, set investment priorities and direct funding where it will make the greatest difference.

With ambitions to grow beyond its five schools, OAK needs someone who can bring individual school-led approaches together into one strategic, Trust-wide model.

But this isn't a role where you'll spend all your time behind a desk.

You'll be visible across the schools, working with Headteachers and premises teams. One day you might be reviewing investment plans or presenting recommendations to trustees. The next, you'll be on site helping solve a practical problem.

And because OAK is still a relatively small Trust, you'll see the impact of your decisions.

You'll also develop the premises teams, introduce more consistent ways of working and help people work together rather than as five separate sites.

You won't be doing this alone.

You'll have a central Premises Officer to support you, alongside experienced colleagues in HR, finance and the wider leadership team. It's a close, collaborative environment where people share expertise and support each other.

Of course, five schools means five sets of priorities. You'll sometimes need to explain why investment is going to one school rather than another, and bring people with you when changes need to be made.

That takes confidence, diplomacy and commercial judgement.

Because ultimately, your decisions aren't just about buildings. They help create the places where young people can flourish, achieve and grow.

You might already work within a Multi Academy Trust, but you don't have to.

OAK welcomes candidates from education, the NHS, charity or other complex multi-site environments. What matters is strong estates or facilities experience, sound health and safety and compliance knowledge, commercial awareness and the ability to lead and develop people.

You don't need to know every detail of education estates management from day one. But you will need to be organised, practical and confident in your judgement.

You'll receive 26 days' holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after five years' education service, a 17.3% employer pension contribution, CPD and a wider wellbeing and employee benefits package., OAK Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory references.