Role Description
We welcome applications from experienced, strategic estates leaders who are passionate about creating high-quality, sustainable environments that enable world-class teaching, research and innovation.
About the Role
Cranfield University is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Facilities to lead the planning, development and operation of the University’s diverse estate and infrastructure.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and operating as a senior member of the University’s leadership team, you will be responsible for developing and delivering the University’s Estates Strategy and Masterplan, ensuring alignment with the Academic and Financial Strategies. You will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of estate development, facilities management, property management, capital projects, compliance, sustainability and health and safety, supporting a complex campus that includes residential accommodation, laboratories, commercial facilities and a fully operational airport.
You will lead a large, multi-disciplinary professional services team and work closely with senior academic and professional colleagues, external partners, regulators and local authorities to ensure the University’s physical environment supports its long-term ambitions, including delivery of its net zero carbon commitment by 2030.
About You
You will be a senior estates or facilities professional with substantial experience of leading complex property portfolios and multidisciplinary teams within a large organisation. Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, you will bring a strong track record of strategic estate planning, capital development, facilities management and financial stewardship. You will have a deep understanding of the legal, regulatory, health and safety and sustainability requirements associated with managing major estates and infrastructure.
You will demonstrate:
* Proven leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, develop and lead large professional teams
* Strategic planning and delivery skills, including experience of estates masterplanning and capital investment programmes
* Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budget management and value-for-money delivery
* Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with confidence operating at executive and board level
* A collaborative, inclusive leadership style aligned with Cranfield’s values.
Membership of a relevant professional body (such as RICS, CIOB or RIBA), a relevant Master’s degree and/or a recognised health and safety qualification (e.g. NEBOSH or IOSH) would be advantageous.
About Us
As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact .
Facilities is a major professional service unit within the University, responsible for the effective management, development and maintenance of Cranfield’s buildings, infrastructure and land. The team plays a critical role in ensuring a safe, sustainable and high-quality environment that enables the University to deliver excellence in teaching, research and commercial activity.
Our Values and Commitments
Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more .
We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working .
Working Arrangements
Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.