Head of Estates Operations

Sielo Search; Oxford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days paid leave

Generous USS pension

Subsidised private healthcare

Free meals when kitchen open

Job summary

Nuffield College in Oxford is seeking a Head of Estates Operations to lead day-to-day maintenance, ensure statutory compliance, and manage both in-house staff and contractors. The role offers scope to influence how the service develops and to strengthen planned maintenance programmes.

The holder will work with a Director of Estates, bringing experience in M&E, compliance, and team development, with a view to improving how facilities are run.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in estates or hard FM operations.
• Knowledge of M&E systems and statutory compliance.
• Experience managing contractors and maintenance programmes.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day maintenance and statutory compliance.
• Oversee in-house team and external contractors.
• Develop and influence maintenance programmes and systems.

Skills

Estates management

M&E knowledge

Contractor management

Team leadership

Compliance awareness

Education

IWFM / CIOB / RICS member

Tools

Management systems

Job description

Head of Estates Operations

Nuffield College, Oxford University

Oxford

£60,000 - £70,000 per annum

Permanent | Full-time | 35 hours per week

Good estates management is about more than keeping buildings working.

It's about planning ahead, developing people and finding better ways of doing things. And having the support to put those ideas into practice.

At Nuffield College, there's an opportunity to do just that.

Working with the support and supervision of our Director of Estates, you'll take ownership of day-to-day maintenance, statutory compliance, contractors and the in-house team, with genuine scope to influence how the service develops.

That could mean strengthening planned maintenance programmes, making better use of management systems, reviewing contractor arrangements or helping the team develop new skills and capabilities.

It's a chance to use your experience, introduce fresh thinking and see the results first-hand.

Nuffield is a small, postgraduate-only Oxford college, with a compact estate centred on the main College and nearby accommodation buildings. Rather than managing a sprawling portfolio, there's time to get to know the buildings, the academics, students and staff who use them.

There's also the opportunity to work alongside a Director of Estates with a strong technical background who values operational expertise, sound judgement and people who take ownership.

A rewarding role should leave room for life outside work, too.

Benefits include a 35-hour working week, 41 days' paid leave including bank holidays, a generous USS pension, subsidised private healthcare, free meals when the kitchen is open, and support for professional development.

All within a close-knit College community in central Oxford, just a short walk from the railway station.

What you'll bring

You'll have a proven track record of managing estates or hard FM operations, with the technical knowledge to oversee M&E systems, statutory compliance, maintenance programmes and contractors.

Perhaps you're an experienced Head of Estates, Facilities Manager, or Maintenance Manager. Equally, you could be a Building Surveyor with a strong operational background.

You'll know how to motivate and lead a frontline team, make sound technical decisions and balance competing priorities.

We're also looking for that experience to be backed by membership of a relevant professional body, such as IWFM, RICS, CIOB or an appropriate engineering institution.

Above all, you'll enjoy taking ownership, developing people and finding practical ways to improve how things work.

Closing date for applications: Friday 27th November 2026