Head of Estates
The closing date is 23 February 2026
Head of Estates - Lead Our Estates Services at MKUH
Hours: 37.5 per week, based at MK6 5LD with occasional travel to Community Sites
Milton Keynes University Hospital is growing, and so is our Estates team. We are creating a new senior leadership role to strengthen our ability to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality estates services across a complex healthcare environment.
As Head of Estates, you will work closely with the Director of Estates & Facilities, taking responsibility for the operational and strategic management of our Estates Services.
This includes:
Maintenance and Engineering Teams - ensuring reliability and compliance across critical systems
Fire Safety and Compliance - managing statutory obligations and risk mitigation
Minor Works Projects
Your Role
Provide professional leadership to multi-disciplinary teams, including Senior Engineers, Maintenance Managers, Fire Advisors, and Compliance Officers
Oversee service delivery across electrical systems, ventilation, water hygiene, medical gases, and other HTM-compliant areas
Advise on long-term strategic development and capital investment programmes
Manage budgets of over £1 million and lead on technical tenders, contracts, and performance improvement
Main duties of the job
Estates & Ancillary Staff rate MKUH highly for supporting for a healthy work life balance (NHS Staff Survey 2024.)
What We're Looking For
Master's level qualification in Building Services or equivalent experience
Proven leadership in estates management within the NHS or similar high‑compliance sector
Strong technical knowledge of engineering services and statutory compliance
Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels
Why Join MKUH?
Be part of a forward‑thinking Trust with significant investment in infrastructure and patient care
Shape the future of our estate and contribute to strategic development
Join a team that values collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement
Apply today and help us deliver excellence in estates management. If you have pre‑application questions, please direct these to Tony Marsh (Director of Estates & Facilities) via the Maintenance Helpdesk on 01908 996109.
Find out more about our new developments: MK View
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting‑edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium‑sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state‑of‑the‑art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24‑bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job responsibilities
SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES
To advise the Director of Estates & Facilities as required, to ensure service is maintained in the absence of the post holder and undertake such duties as required of that post holder.
To manage the delegated leads on the following areas of work: Nominated Responsible Persons for Fire, Nominated Responsible Person for Ventilation, Nominated Responsible Person for Water Management, Nominated Responsible Person for the Management of Asbestos.
The post holder will be responsible for the day to day managerial/professional control of a wide range of operational services for the Estates Department as outlined in Appendix 1.
Advise the Director of Estates & Facilities on the management of the Trusts estate and improvement of its physical environment for patients, visitors and staff.
The post holder will advise on key areas of Estates Services to assist in the development of long‑term strategic plans and programmes of work that will impact on services and Trust assets to allow the organisation its overall objectives.
To be responsible for managing and implementing Estates Service Level Agreements with other Occupiers, including regular service meetings and revising contracts at regular intervals to ensure service delivery is in line with financial income to the Trust and the needs of the occupiers.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Accountable for Estates Services including maintenance and services by directly employed and contract labour in excess of £1,000,000 within delegated limits.
Budget holder for several department budgets across Estates Services, to delegated limits.
To ensure expenditure is controlled across the budgets.
Approve purchase orders and sign off payment of invoices and expenses.
Responsible for production of Technical Tenders in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs).
PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES
To provide managerial support and leadership to Estates Services staff.
To maintain effective channels of communication within the department between management, staff and other hospital departments.
To ensure training needs within the Department are prepared and appropriate induction and training schedules for staff are maintained and actioned including Mandatory Training, Essential for Role Technical Training and CPD.
Establish working relationships and methods, with Health & Safety Executive, Environmental Health Officers, Local and County Councils and Environment Agency, Fire Authority and other Agencies.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Master's Level in Building Services (or a relevant Engineering discipline), or significant demonstratable experience gained from working at senior level in a complex estate with acquired knowledge and experience to the same level.
Knowledge in NHS Engineering services
Qualified as Authorised Person in an HTM engineering field.
Membership of a professional engineering organisation with evidence of Continued Professional Development (CPD).
Experience
NHS experience in a similar role or substantial experience in a similar role in an equally high‑compliance industry.
Experience of leading a range of departments and disciplines within Estate Management, including Maintenance, Engineering Teams, Fire Safety and Compliance.
Advisory Experience in the strategic development of large complex estates with regards to engineering services.
Skills
High level communicator, Leadership skills
High level judgements across a wide range of subject areas, often with conflicting demands and pressure from time and/or risk involved decision making.
Contractual decisions with high levels of financial and service impacts.
Ability to work accurately and manage large multi‑disciplinary departments under pressure.
Ability to seek solutions to extremely challenging problems showing empathy with staff, visitors and patients.
HR experience of following, implementing and managing policy across varied technical disciplines.
Personal and people development
Maintain Authorised Person (AP) accreditation.
Regular updates through Journals, Workshops & HEFMA.
Appraisal of direct reports and ensure all service staff receive appraisals.
Communication
Communicating Estates policy and highly technical information to senior management and directors.
Negotiating large contracts.
Dealing with a range of staff (technical & non-technical) and specialist contractors.
Specific requirements
Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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