Head of Facilities and Property Services

The University of Salford; Salford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

32 days leave

Flexible working

Wellbeing support

Sustainable Salford

Team Salford

Job summary

The University of Salford is seeking a strategic Head of Facilities Management & Property Services to shape and deliver high-performing, sustainable estate services. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets, and oversee leases, licences, and landlord/tenant matters, working with Legal and external partners.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Estates & Facilities, you will drive safety culture, compliance, and continuous improvement to enhance student and staff experience across the

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in complex facilities environments.
• IWFM Level 5 and health & safety certification (NEBOSH/IOSH) required.
• Experience managing large estates, budgets, and external contractors.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic and operational delivery of facilities services across the estate.
• Lead on maintenance, cleaning, landscaping, helpdesk and regulatory compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement, value for money, and customer experience.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Facilities management

Contract management

Health and safety leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

IWFM Level 5

NEBOSH/IOSH certification

Engineering background

Job description

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for creating safe, high-performing, and sustainable environments? We are looking for an exceptional Head of Facilities Management & Property Services to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering outstanding services across our diverse estate.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Estates & Facilities, you will lead the delivery of facilities and property services that underpin our academic, operational commercial, and community ambitions.

This is a high-impact role where your leadership will directly influence how we enhance the experience of our students and colleagues through the services we deliver and the spaces we create.

You will inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, customer-focused facilities management (FM) and property services, driving performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.

With responsibility for both hard and soft FM services alongside property management, you will ensure our estate is safe, compliant, sustainable, and future-ready.

What you'll be doing:

You’ll take ownership of the strategic and operational delivery of facilities services, ensuring everything from maintenance and cleaning to landscaping and helpdesk operations runs seamlessly. You’ll use data and insight to continually improve performance, enhance the customer experience, and deliver value for money.

Working collaboratively across the organisation, you’ll build strong relationships with stakeholders and act as a key link between Facilities, Technical Services, Compliance, and Health & Safety teams. You’ll champion a positive safety culture, ensure full regulatory compliance, and support audit readiness.

You’ll also lead on the management of our property portfolio, overseeing leases, licences, and landlord/tenant matters, while working closely with legal and external partners. In addition, you will manage budgets, procurement, and contracts ensuring high-quality service delivery, strong supplier performance, and identification of efficiencies and cost savings.

Your role will also contribute to wider organisational priorities, including sustainability and carbon reduction, as well as business continuity and emergency preparedness.

About you:

You are a confident, credible leader with significant experience in complex facilities environments. You bring both strategic insight and operational expertise, with a track record of delivering high-quality services across large estates.

With a relevant professional qualification (such as IWFM Level 5), a health and safety certification (NEBOSH/IOSH), and a technical or engineering background, you combine strong technical knowledge with excellent leadership capability.

You’re experienced in managing diverse teams and external contractors, and you’re confident working with budgets, contracts, and performance frameworks. Your understanding of compliance and best practice is matched by your ability to lead change, improve services, and engage stakeholders at all levels.

Above all, you’re a customer-focused, solutions-driven professional who thrives in a dynamic environment and is motivated to make a real impact.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary - and excellent pension scheme
• An impressive 32 days leave - plus bank holidays, additional time off at Christmas and the opportunity to buy even more!
• Flexible working - we support a culture of flexible and agile working to help you find the right balance
• Wellbeing support - all our people are important to us and we have services and facilities dedicated to your mental and physical health, ranging from an Employee Assistance Programme and counselling, to sports and fitness facilities including discounted gym memberships
• Sustainable Salford - we have a commitment to be Net Zero by 2038 and embed sustainability in all aspects of university life.
• Team Salford - join us here in Salford and be part of one of the UK's fastest growing universities