Head of Estates

Serco North America; Swindon; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading service provider is seeking a Head of Estates in Swindon to lead Hard FM maintenance services within a hospital environment. The role involves full accountability for operational and financial performance, compliance with standards, and driving improvement in a regulated context. The ideal candidate must have substantial leadership experience in healthcare FM, manage diverse teams, and hold relevant qualifications. A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package are offered.

Benefits

Car allowance

Corporate benefits package

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in complex Hard FM environments.
• Management of large, diverse teams (30+ staff).
• Financial management of budgets exceeding £15m.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of Hard FM maintenance services in a hospital environment.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement within the electrical, mechanical, and fabric teams.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation and company standards.
• Manage financial performance and service continuity.
• Develop and mentor team members.

Skills

Building services engineering systems

Health & Safety legislation compliance

Team leadership

Change management in regulated environments

Education

Degree or equivalent professional qualification

IOSH Managing Safely qualification

Job description

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Head of Estates - GWH

Band 3: Permanent, Full Time

Up to £80k + Car + Corporate Benefits Package

This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for the delivery of Hard FM planned and reactive maintenance services within a complex PFI acute hospital environment.

The role holds end-to-end responsibility for financial, operational and people performance, ensuring services are delivered safely, compliantly and in line with contractual, regulatory and Serco internal standards.

You’ll lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of the electrical, mechanical and fabric teams, balancing safety, quality and value for money while supporting the long-term contract strategy.

A key focus of the role is leading the PFI contract handback - Centre of Best Practice site condition audit process, ensuring findings are managed effectively through the CAFM system and delivered in line with contractual obligations.

In the absence of the Contract Director, the role deputises for all Estates-related matters across the contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and take full accountability for the delivery of Hard FM planned and reactive maintenance services within a complex PFI acute hospital environment, ensuring safe, compliant and high-quality service delivery at all times.
• Build and maintain strong, effective relationships with the Trust, SPV (THC), Serco colleagues and wider stakeholders, acting as a senior, credible point of contact and ensuring professional, timely and high-quality responses to formal communications.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the electrical, mechanical and fabric teams, driving continuous improvement, service transformation and a strong "One Team" culture across Hard and Soft FM services.
• Ensure robust governance and compliance with Health & Safety legislation, HTMs, HBNs, statutory requirements and the Serco Management System, acting as a Subject Matter Expert and fulfilling the role of Authorised Person for relevant high-risk systems.
• Analyse operational and financial performance to inform decision-making, manage complex operational risks and maintain service continuity within a live hospital environment.
• Hold full financial accountability for Hard FM services, including budget preparation, control and delivery in excess of £15m revenue per annum, identifying efficiencies, managing risk and supporting contract growth, rebids and service variations.
• Lead the PFI contract handback and Centre of Best Practice site condition audit process, ensuring findings are managed through the CAFM system and delivered in line with contractual obligations.
• Develop, mentor and succession-plan team members, ensuring high levels of engagement, competence and performance, and managing people matters in line with Serco policies and procedures.
• Act as a key member of the Contract Leadership Team, contributing to contract strategy, innovation and best-practice sharing, and deputising for the Contract Director on Estates-related matters when required.
• Participate in the on-call rota as senior escalation point, including out-of-hours and weekend responsibilities.

What you’ll need

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification, or substantial demonstrable experience.
• IOSH Managing Safely (or higher) Health & Safety qualification.

Skills & Knowledge

• Professional membership of a recognised institution (e.g. IHEEM, IET, RICS, CIBSE) and registration (or working towards) with the Engineering Council or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of complex building services engineering systems.

  Experience

  • Senior leadership experience in complex Hard FM environments, ideally within acute healthcare and PFI contracts.
  • Management of large, diverse teams (30+ staff).
  • Financial management of budgets exceeding £15m.
  • Leading change in demanding, highly regulated environments.

  Additional Information

  • Performance measured against financial, operational and people KPIs.
  • Role requires 90% on-site presence within a live hospital environment.
  • Participation in an on-call rota as senior escalation point.
  • Ability to be appointed as an Authorised Person for high-risk systems.

  Why Join Serco?

  At Serco, you’ll play a critical role in delivering safe, reliable and high-quality healthcare infrastructure that supports patient care every day. You’ll be trusted to lead, empowered to improve and supported by a values-driven organisation committed to long-term partnership and excellence.

  All Serco employees must ensure that their current line manager is aware of their application. For confidential enquiries please contact MyHR. Serco are Disability Confident Leader employers and are committed to employing and retaining people with disabilities. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.