The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Head of Estates to lead the delivery of facilities and estate management services across a large scale residential estate in London.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing all hard and soft services, ensuring full statutory and health & safety compliance, and driving service excellence across the estate.
You will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing estate strategies, enhancing stakeholder relationships, managing operational risk, and leading a multi-disciplinary on-site team to deliver best in class estate management.
The Role
As Head of Estates, you will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the estate, ensuring compliance, financial control, service delivery excellence and strong client engagement.
* Lead the mobilisation and ongoing management of the estate, working closely with site teams and third-party contractors.
* Oversee the delivery of all hard and soft services, including public realm, security, cleaning, waste management and maintenance operations.
* Manage and review the planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programme across all building systems.
* Oversee fire and life safety systems and ensure full compliance with current legislation and best practice.
* Carry out and oversee regular inspections of common areas, basements and external fabric to ensure a safe, clean and well-maintained environment.
* Ensure contract management processes deliver value for money and high service standards.
* Develop, implement and maintain management systems for buildings, facilities and public realm areas.
* Ensure all obligations under the Property Management Agreement, KPIs and SLAs are delivered in a proactive and compliant manner.
* Support estate-wide events, placemaking initiatives and community engagement programmes.
* Ensure lease obligations are understood and adhered to on behalf of landlord and tenants.
* Client Relationship Management
* Understand the client’s strategic objectives and develop property management plans to support those objectives.
* Maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders including leaseholders, occupiers and client representatives.
* Prepare and present detailed board reports and client recommendation papers.
* Provide regular formal and ad-hoc reporting on estate performance.
* Encourage open communication and proactively seek feedback to drive continuous improvement.
* Support strategic initiatives aimed at achieving sector excellence and industry recognition.
* Take overall responsibility for facilities and environmental policies, procedures and compliance across the estate.
* Work collaboratively with compliance and health & safety specialists to ensure full statutory adherence.
* Establish and maintain emergency procedures and safe systems of work.
* Ensure accidents, near misses and risks are properly reported, recorded and mitigated.
* Support ESG initiatives and environmental performance targets where required.
* Advise senior stakeholders immediately of any major incidents, risks or threats.
* Lead, manage and develop the Estate Services team and oversee all soft service teams.
* Set objectives, conduct performance reviews, identify training needs and make salary recommendations.
* Ensure recruitment of team members follows company policy and supports operational excellence.
* Drive a strong customer service culture across all departments.
* Ensure the team has appropriate resources and support to deliver a consistently high standard of service.
* Support service charge budgeting and reconciliation processes.
* Review and monitor expenditure against approved budgets.
* Ensure purchase orders and invoicing processes are managed in accordance with company procedures.
* Benchmark services against comparable estates and recommend improvements where required.
* Contribute to reporting and financial oversight in collaboration with finance teams.
The Person
We are seeking a strategic and operationally strong estates professional with proven leadership experience in residential or mixed-use environments.
You will demonstrate commercial awareness, strong technical knowledge, and the ability to lead teams while maintaining exceptional stakeholder relationships.
Discretion and confidentiality are essential, as the role may involve access to residents’ homes in their absence.
Skills & Experience
Essential Qualifications
* IOSH or NEBOSH qualification
* Qualified Member of the British Institute of Facilities Management (or equivalent professional body)
Essential Experience
* Proven track record in senior estates or facilities leadership roles
* Strong experience managing hard and soft services
* Third-party contractor management
* Fire and life safety system oversight
* Experience preparing detailed board reports and client recommendation papers
* Strong understanding of UK health & safety legislation and compliance best practice
* Experience in utility management
* Demonstrable experience dealing with residents and tenants on a day-to-day basis
* Experience managing and developing teams