Senior Estates & Facilities Operations Manager
Contract Type: Permanent / Full-time
Are you an experienced Estates and Facilities professional looking for your next leadership opportunity within a complex healthcare environment? We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Estates & Facilities Operations Manager to lead the delivery of multi-disciplined hard and soft FM services across our estate — ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency across all areas of operation.
The Role
As Senior Estates & Facilities Operations Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the strategic and operational management of estates and facilities services, including maintenance, compliance, and asset management across a high-value, multi-site NHS portfolio.
You will lead a large, multi-skilled team, oversee budgets exceeding £5 million, and drive continuous improvement in service delivery, sustainability, and performance. This is a high-impact leadership position requiring excellent technical knowledge, people management skills, and the ability to influence and engage at all levels.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage all hard and soft FM services, ensuring statutory compliance and alignment with HTM/HBN guidance.
* Develop, implement, and monitor performance systems to achieve measurable service improvements.
* Provide professional and technical advice on estates issues, ensuring compliance with legislation and NHS standards.
* Manage multi-million-pound budgets, procurement, and lifecycle planning.
* Deliver analytical performance reporting, identifying risks, trends, and recovery plans.
* Drive efficiency and optimisation of assets, energy, and resources.
* Develop and maintain strong working relationships across clinical, operational, and corporate teams.
* Lead, mentor, and develop staff, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and service excellence.
Skills & Experience To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
* Significant experience managing a large, multi-disciplined estates or FM operation within an NHS or healthcare setting.
* Proven track record of managing services with a total value exceeding £5 million.
* Strong understanding of statutory compliance, NHS HTM/HBN standards, and national frameworks.
* Demonstrated ability to manage and interpret complex data using IWMS and CAFM systems.
* Experience in contract management (NHS / JCT / NEC) and procurement.
* Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving ability with a focus on innovative, cost-effective solutions.
Knowledge & Qualifications
* Educated to degree level or equivalent in an estates engineering or related technical discipline (Level 6 or above).
* Specialist NHS Authorised Person qualification in Electrical, Mechanical or Water disciplines.
* Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIBSE, IWFM, IHEEM).
* Evidence of continued professional development.
* Expert knowledge of national EFM legislation, NHS compliance standards, and performance management processes.
Personal Qualities
* Professional and approachable leader with a flexible and proactive attitude.
* Strategic thinker with the ability to manage complex challenges under pressure.
* Committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
* Willingness to travel as required across the Trust estate.
* Demonstrates the organisation’s values in all aspects of work.
Why Join Us? This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in the delivery of healthcare facilities — ensuring our buildings and environments support the best possible care for patients, staff, and visitors. You will join a supportive, forward-thinking estates leadership team committed to service excellence, sustainability, and innovation.