Head of Estates & Assets

Folkestone Hythe; Bourne; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

LGPS

31 days holiday

Membership reimbursement

Salary sacrifice

Job summary

Folkestone & Hythe District Council is seeking a strategic Head of Estates & Assets to lead estates, assets, engineering, buildings and maintenance, delivering long-term value for communities.

Based in Folkestone with hybrid agile working, the role requires senior public sector experience, strong commercial judgement and the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships in politically sensitive environments.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in estates, property or asset management.
• Strong understanding of corporate real estate management and statutory responsibilities.
• Excellent analytical, communication and influencing skills in politically sensitive environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across estates, assets, engineering, buildings and maintenance functions.
• Develop and deliver strategies, plans and programmes to maximise revenue and value.
• Manage diverse stakeholder relationships and ensure best value for the council.

Job description

Location:

Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY

Contract:

Permanent

Working Pattern:

Full Time

Hours:

37 hours per week.

DBS Check:

Yes

Closing Date:

11/11/2026 at 23:59

Reference:

H&O/26/347360

We are seeking a strategic, commercially minded Head of Estates & Assets to lead our Estates, Assets, Engineering, Buildings and Maintenance functions, and ensure our diverse portfolio delivers lasting value for our communities.

Ranked in the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in the UK, and in Lonely Planet as one of the best places to visit in the world, Folkestone & Hythe is a dynamic and innovative place to live, work and visit.

Based in our offices in the heart of Folkestone, you’ll have easy access to transport links including HS1, Folkestone’s regenerated town centre, the seafront and old town creative quarter, and our extraordinary and vibrant landscapes and communities.

Recognised by Best Companies as an outstanding organisation to work for, we have a real focus on supporting career development, wellbeing and family friendly initiatives, and a hybrid agile working culture that enables flexible and remote/home working.

You can also expect an excellent benefits package that includes corporate memberships, discount and salary sacrifice schemes, reimbursement of professional membership fees, up to 31 days holiday and Christmas closure, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, and much, much more.

You will provide functional and operational leadership across the service areas, developing and delivering strategies, plans and programmes that support the delivery of corporate priorities, identify opportunities to maximise revenue and deliver best value, and ensure efficient and effective management of the council’s operational, commercial and open space assets.

You will bring significant senior level experience in estates, property or asset management within a public sector setting, together with a strong understanding of corporate real estate management and related statutory responsibilities. You will need to have excellent analytical, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, sound commercial judgement, and the ability to confidently manage diverse and complex stakeholder relationships in politically sensitive environments.

Further information about the role can be found on the accompanying job description.