Head of Estates (Campus Development)

NERC; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

30 days annual leave

Assistance programme

Flexible working

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is seeking a Head of Estates Transformation to lead the estates transformation programme at Polaris House, Swindon, with hybrid working. You will provide strategic direction, governance, budgeting and risk management to deliver the Estates Strategy and BAU activity.

You will work closely with the Head of Estates and Centre leads to ensure a collaborative, data-driven approach across UKRI, ensuring robust plans, timely reporting and effective

Qualifications

• Proven experience in an estates leadership role.
• Experience leading complex estates or capital programmes.
• NEC, APM, RICS or IWFM accreditation.
• Strong financial oversight with budgeting and reporting.
• Experience producing governance and project documentation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the estates transformation programme aligned to the Estates Strategy.
• Translate objectives into structured programmes with deliverables and resources.
• Oversee governance, risk management, and assurance activities.
• Manage programme budget and financial tracking.
• Maintain programme documentation and executive briefing materials.
• Engage stakeholders across Centres and UKRI; deputise for Associate Director when needed.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Financial oversight

Estate leadership

Governance

Risk management

Decarbonisation

NEC accreditation

Job description

NERC Head of Estates Transformation

Natural Environment Research Council

Salary: £58,589 per annum

Band: UKRI Band F

Contract Type: Open Ended

Hours: Full-time

Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: Friday 16th October 2026

The Head of Estate Transformation provides leadership of the entire estate transformation programme, ensuring effective delivery of the NERC Estates Strategy. The role is responsible for programme governance and budgeting. strategic planning, risk management assurance, stakeholder engagement, and oversight of delivery through others. The postholder will work closely with NERC Head of Estates and Centre leads to ensure a ‘one team’ approach which ensure seamless delivery of BAU and transformation activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing leadership and oversight for the entire estates transformation programme ensuring clear alignment with the NERC Estates Strategy.
• Translating organisational objectives into structured programme with clear deliverables schedules, dependencies and resource requirements.
• Advocating for the programme and its benefits within UKRI and beyond. Oversight of programme governance, strategic risk management and assurance activities.
• Budgeting and close financial tracking/assurance for the programme.
• Owning and maintaining programme documentation, including plans, risk registers, dashboards, decision logs and benefits information.
• Senior level engagement and stakeholder management including across Centres and within UKRI
• Ensure all building safety information is collected, verified and handed over accurately to statutory duty holders, supporting the Golden Thread requirements.
• Harmonising project interfaces with other estate‑related workstreams to ensure alignment, avoid duplication and identify shared opportunities.
• Promoting data‑driven decision making and continuous improvement across all project activity.
• Preparing detailed executive level reports, briefing papers and updates for senior leaders and internal/external stakeholders.
• Deputising for the Associate Director for Estates and Sustainability where needed

Personal Specification

• Proven experience in an estates leadership role
• Experience in leading and managing complex estates or capital programmes, delivering high quality outcomes within defined time, cost and scope parameters.
• NEC, APM, RICS or IWFM accreditation.
• Strong financial oversight capability, including budget setting, cost control, forecasting and ensuring transparent financial reporting.
• Experience in producing, maintaining and governing programmes control documentation, ensuring robust planning, tracking and decision making.
• Demonstrable strength in project & programme governance, applying structured oversight, assurance processes and compliance with organisational standards.
• Proven ability to identify, assess and manage project risks and opportunities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience of decarbonisation activity within the built environment

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)