Head of Estates & Property

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; Preston; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization is seeking a Head of Estates & Property in Preston. This role involves managing the Estates Team and overseeing Hard FM contracts, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. The ideal candidate will have a degree in engineering or building services, along with strong contract management skills and experience in healthcare environments. Salary ranges from £62,215 to £72,293 annually.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in management of property portfolios including leases, acquisitions, and disposals.
• Fully conversant with NHS Estates Guidance and statutory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Estates Team and oversee Hard FM contract.
• Provide expert advice and leadership at a corporate level.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation.

Skills

Strategic direction

Contract management

Understanding of healthcare buildings

Education

Degree in engineering/building services discipline

Professionally qualified in building or engineering surveying

Job description

Go back Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Estates & Property

The closing date is 08 October 2025

If you are looking for an exciting new challenge Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) which is a Specialist Mental Health and Community NHS Foundation Trust, is the place for you.

We are currently looking to recruit a Head of Estates on a permanent basis.

The post holder will be responsible for managing the Estates Team as well as overseeing the Hard FM contract within the Estates & Facilities Directorate to ensure buildings are maintained and managed effectively throughout the Trust. The Head of Estates will provide expert advice, guidance and leadership at a corporate level on Estates and Hard FM to the Board as well as supporting with all elements of compliance and improvement works as well as supporting with minor capital projects. Working closely with clinical and non-clinical leads, the post holder will oversee the project works, minor improvements and reactive works requests with the requirements of relevant Health & Safety related legislation and Trust policies and guidance specifically related to the buildings.

The post holder will be based at Guild Park, Goosnargh.

This role is a fantastic opportunity to join an organisation that is passionate about the services it provides.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact Leigh Stewart on 01772 773580.

This post may close early due to high numbers of applications so you are advised to apply promptly.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Estates will be primarily professionally responsible for the operational contract management and performance monitoring of the hard FM delivery across the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust's estate through its contracted maintenance providers (via SLA's with neighbouring Trusts, PFI partners and private contractors). The post holder will have overall responsibility and accountability for all hard FM aspects across the estate.

The Head of Estates will ensure that the hard FM providers are delivering services in accordance with the relevant statutory/mandatory compliance, as well as HTM guidance etc. as outlined in their contracts. The post holder will also be responsible for the smooth day-to-day operational delivery of all hard FM services, providing both a proactive and reactive service for the Trust.

The Head of Estates within their role will be the Responsible Person for relevant elements of compliance such as asbestos, legionella, LOLER and pressure systems along with any deemed required for the organisation's legal obligations.

The post holder will provide professional advice and input into estates related matters and ensure work carried out on behalf of the Trust by contracted parties meets the highest standards. This is a fast-paced role which requires someone able to contract manage effectively, as well as a hands-on approach to deliver the Trust's services.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A degree in an engineering / building services discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Professionally qualified in building or engineering surveyor related discipline (to RICS, CIOB or similar) or can demonstrate equivalent experience through formal vocational training

Knowledge

• Extensive experience in management of property portfolios including leases, acquisitions and disposals
• Extensive technical knowledge of property related legislation i.e. Landlord and Tenant Act, Property Law Act.
• Fully conversant with statutory requirements, NHS Estates Guidance, Codes of Practice, the requirements of regulatory bodies and all statutory legislation.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the Contract Management and Strategic implications of Estates Operations to the Trust.

Experience

• Evidence of the ability to provide strategic direction to the Operation of the Trust Estate.
• Evidence of background and experience in contract management of hard FM contractors
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Estates requirements of healthcare buildings
• Demonstrates technical understanding of a range of services provided by Estates & Facilities
• Evidence of background and experience in asset management.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

£62,215 to £72,293 a yearper annum (subject to confirmation)