Deputy Director of Estates

Newcastle University; Newcastle; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in KwaZulu-Natal is seeking a Deputy Director of Estates to lead advancements in estate utilisation and project delivery. The role requires strong strategic planning, crisis management, and public relations skills. Candidates must demonstrate experience in engaging stakeholders and driving team culture. The position offers a full-time contract with a closing date for applications on 23 November 2025.

Benefits

Generous holiday package

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Pension schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in crisis management and strategic planning.
• Strong skills in public relations and team management.
• Ability to negotiate and engage with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead major capital projects to enhance estate utilisation.
• Engage in discussions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive cultural change within the Estates and Facilities team.

Skills

Crisis Management

Marketing

Public Relations

Fundraising

Media Relations

Constant Contact

Strategic Planning

Social Media Management

Team Management

Public Speaking

Wordpress

Writing Skills

Job description

Overview

Newcastle University is a great place to work with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 23 November 2025

Newcastle University is an exceptional place to study work and live. Our vibrant city-based campus and outstanding facilities play a crucial role in making it a unique and inspiring environment.

This is an exciting time to join Newcastle University. The Deputy Director of Estates will play a pivotal role in realising our ambitions through the delivery of major capital projects, estate improvements and the effective utilisation of our campus.

Role and Objectives

We are seeking to make a strategic appointment to develop our Estates and Facilities Service in alignment with the University’s vision, values and guiding principles. The role will require the ability to engage in sensitive discussions, negotiations and partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. You will be instrumental in driving cultural change within the team and shaping the University’s approach to estate development and utilisation.

Working closely with the Director of Estates and Facilities you will help to develop and implement the strategic objectives of the Estates and Facilities Service, supporting the delivery of the University’s Strategic Vision. Our strategy requires a fundamental shift in how we utilise our existing estate, how we plan and allocate space and how the Estates and Facilities team enables the University to achieve its ambitions.

Additional Information

For more information and a full job description and person specification please find our candidate information pack here.

For an informal conversation please contact Erin Peart, Director of Estates and Facilities.

To apply please upload your CV and covering letter evidencing how your skills and experiences align to the person specification as outlined within the job description.

LI-SS1

Commitment to Equality and Inclusion

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams; we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education (REC). We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Job Details

Requisition ID: 28738

Required Experience: Director

Key Skills: Crisis Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Fundraising, Media Relations, Constant Contact, Strategic Planning, Social Media Management, Team Management, Public Speaking, Wordpress, Writing Skills

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1