Head of Estates

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A university teaching hospital in Milton Keynes is seeking a Head of Estates to provide leadership and management for estates services. This role involves overseeing critical systems, managing significant budgets, and ensuring compliance within a high-demand healthcare environment. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s level qualification in Building Services along with proven leadership in estates management. Join a team committed to advancing patient care and benefit from significant investment in specialized services.

Benefits

Support for a healthy work-life balance

Opportunities for career growth

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in estates management within the NHS or similar sector.
• Strong technical knowledge of statutory compliance in engineering services.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee service delivery across electrical systems, ventilation, and water hygiene.
• Manage budgets of more than £1 million for capital investment programmes.
• Lead on technical tenders, contracts, and performance improvement.

Skills

Leadership in estates management

Technical knowledge of engineering services

Communication and negotiation skills

Education

Master’s level qualification in Building Services

Job description

Milton Keynes University Hospital is growing, and so is our Estates team. We are creating a new senior leadership role to strengthen our ability to deliver safe, efficient, and high‑quality estates services across a complex healthcare environment.

As Head of Estates, you will work closely with the Director of Estates & Facilities, taking responsibility for the operational and strategic management of our Estates Services.

Key Areas of Focus

• Maintenance and Engineering Teams – ensuring reliability and compliance across critical systems.
• Fire Safety and Compliance – managing statutory obligations and risk mitigation.
• Minor Works Projects.

Your Role

Provide professional leadership to multi‑disciplinary teams, including Senior Engineers, Maintenance Managers, Fire Advisors and Compliance Officers. Oversee service delivery across electrical systems, ventilation, water hygiene, medical gases and other HTM‑compliant areas.

Advise on long‑term strategic development and capital investment programmes. Manage budgets of more than £1 million and lead on technical tenders, contracts and performance improvement.

“NHS Survey, 2024: Estates and Ancillary agree they have good support for a healthy work‑life balance, rating a 6.92 out of 10.”

What We’re Looking For

• Master’s level qualification in Building Services or equivalent experience.
• Proven leadership in estates management within the NHS or a similar high‑compliance sector.
• Strong technical knowledge of engineering services and statutory compliance.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting‑edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state‑of‑the‑art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24‑bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.

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