Director of Estates
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Maidenhead or European office, with a minimum of 2 days per week
Salary From £72,000
What if your next estates role wasn’t about buildings… but about legacy?
This is an opportunity to influence how estates are managed across multiple regions, cultures and environments.
You’ll be working for an organisation with a purpose unlike any other. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission honours and cares for those who died in the World Wars, ensuring they are never forgotten.
That responsibility spans 23,000+ sites worldwide. For you, that means working at the intersection of history, global scale and long-term impact, shaping how these environments are preserved for generations.
You’ll take responsibility for how cemeteries and memorials across the world are maintained and protected. This isn’t just estates management. It’s stewardship on a global scale.
You’ll be visible in the regions, particularly across Northern Europe, walking sites, meeting teams and understanding how things really work. This role isn’t about control, it’s about influence, earned through credibility and leadership.
You’ll sit at the heart of a Centre of Excellence model, setting policy, defining standards and shaping delivery across five regions. You won’t run everything day-to-day, but when decisions matter, you’ll be the person people look to. There’s already strong internal capability, including experienced regional leaders, giving you a platform to influence globally from day one.
So what does that mean for you?
You’ll shape estates strategy across a complex international portfolio and influence a long-term capital programme through to 2039, balancing heritage with modern priorities like Net Zero. At senior level, you’ll have real visibility, influence and a voice in how the organisation evolves, with scope to grow your remit over time.
No two weeks will look the same. You might be aligning investment priorities across continents, solving challenges on-site, or bringing together stakeholders with very different perspectives.
Alongside this, there’s a strong package including 25 days’ leave rising to 30, additional Christmas closure, flexible working, up to 10% pension, life assurance, and wellbeing and travel schemes.
This role will suit you if you’ve operated at senior estates level and are comfortable influencing without direct control. You’ll bring a strong technical foundation in surveying, capital projects or construction and ideally some exposure to heritage or conservation. You’re a credible, visible leader who builds trust and enjoys working across different cultures and stakeholders.
It won’t suit everyone. There’s regular travel across Europe and occasional international trips.
But if you’re looking for something with real meaning, scale and long-term impact, there are very few roles like this.
Interested?
Let’s have a conversation. You don’t need a perfectly polished CV to start the process, just get in touch in confidence.
Click apply, or reach out directly to Tom Morrison at Sielo Search:
| 07537 162 323
The closing date for applications is Friday, 10th April 2026
Sielo Search has partnered exclusively with CWGC on this appointment. All direct or third-party applications will be forwarded accordingly.