Head Of Estates

Invictus Group; Northampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Invictus Group is seeking an experienced Head of Estates & Operations to oversee a growing multi-site education portfolio. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery across property maintenance, safety compliance, procurement and service delivery.

You will lead estates and facilities teams, drive improvements, manage budgets, and ensure high standards of safety and site integrity across all locations.

Qualifications

• Evidence of senior estates or facilities management leadership within a multi-site portfolio.
• Experience developing and delivering statutory compliance programs across multiple sites.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, procurement and contractor performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead estates, facilities and site management teams across multiple locations.
• Oversee maintenance programmes, both planned and reactive, and grounds maintenance.
• Ensure fire safety, asbestos, water hygiene, gas and electrical safety compliance.
• Develop and implement estates management strategies and operational improvement plans.
• Conduct site inspections, audits and risk assessments with corrective actions.
• Manage external contractors, suppliers and service providers against KPIs.
• Oversee procurement and contract renewals for cleaning, grounds, catering, waste, energy and compliance services.
• Support capital projects and lifecycle maintenance planning.
• Monitor budgets and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Drive sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives.
• Standardise procedures, reporting and service levels across locations.

Skills

Senior estates management

Facilities management

Team leadership

Statutory compliance

PPM programmes

Budget management

Procurement & supplier management

Contractor management

Risk & compliance

Education estates knowledge

Stakeholder management

Driving licence

Education

NEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely

IWFM/Estates Management qualification

Tools

Compliance management systems

Job description

The Role

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Head of Estates & Operations to oversee the estates, facilities and operational management of a growing multi-site education portfolio.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established Estates or Facilities Management professional to take a senior leadership position, overseeing property maintenance, statutory compliance, health & safety, procurement and operational service delivery across multiple school sites.

The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with a hands-on approach, working closely with site management teams to maintain safe, compliant and well-maintained educational environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop estates, facilities and site management teams across multiple locations.
• Oversee the delivery of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance, building repairs and grounds maintenance.
• Ensure full statutory compliance across all sites, including fire safety, asbestos, water hygiene, gas and electrical safety.
• Develop and implement estates management strategies, maintenance programmes and operational improvement plans.
• Conduct regular site inspections, compliance audits and risk assessments, ensuring corrective actions are completed.
• Manage external contractors, suppliers and service providers, monitoring performance against agreed standards and KPIs.
• Oversee procurement, supplier negotiations and contract renewals across cleaning, grounds maintenance, catering, waste, energy and compliance services.
• Support the delivery of capital projects, refurbishment programmes and lifecycle maintenance planning.
• Manage operational budgets, identifying opportunities for cost savings and improved service efficiency.
• Drive sustainability initiatives, energy efficiency improvements and environmental best practices.
• Establish consistent operational procedures, reporting systems and service standards across all locations.
• Provide senior leadership with regular updates on estates performance, compliance, financial management and operational risks.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in a senior Estates Management, Facilities Management or Operations Management position.
• Strong background managing estates and facilities across a multi-site portfolio.
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing operational teams, including site managers and maintenance personnel.
• Excellent knowledge of statutory compliance, health & safety legislation, COSHH, fire safety, asbestos and water hygiene requirements.
• Experience developing and managing PPM programmes, asset registers and building maintenance schedules.
• Strong commercial awareness, including budget management, procurement, supplier negotiations and contractor management.
• Experience conducting compliance audits, managing risk and implementing operational improvements.
• Understanding of education estates requirements
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• NEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely.
• Professional qualification in Facilities Management (IWFM) or Estates Management.
• Previous experience working within education, multi-academy trusts or the public sector.
• Experience using compliance management systems
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives, decarbonisation and energy management.
• Experience supporting estates expansion, site mobilisation or integration of additional properties.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to take responsibility for a diverse education estates portfolio, with significant autonomy to shape operational standards, improve compliance and develop a high-performing facilities management function.

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering long-term estates strategies while ensuring the day-to-day operation of each site remains safe, efficient and well-managed.

If you're an experienced Head of Estates, Estates Manager, Head of Facilities or Senior Facilities Manager with a strong multi-site background, we'd be keen to hear from you