Head of Estates Operations South (Hard FM)
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Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £81,457 – £89,601 per annum | Open Ended | Full Time | Closing Date: 11th January 2026
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once sufficient applications have been received, so we encourage interested candidates to apply promptly. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.
About the Role
STFC is seeking a strategic, delivery‑focused Estates professional to lead maintenance and minor works across the South portfolio at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. This is a pivotal leadership role in a science‑critical environment, ensuring the estate remains safe, compliant, resilient and ready to support world‑class research.
You will provide clear direction to in‑house maintenance and minor works teams, while setting and leading the resourcing strategy across employed capability and the procured supply chain. You’ll drive performance across both models, ensuring innovative, value‑engineered and cost‑effective services, with health and safety, compliance and environmental sustainability embedded in everything you do.
Working as a senior member of the Estates Leadership Team, you will collaborate closely with the Head of Estates North to align maintenance strategy and performance nationally, enabling a consistent STFC‑wide approach. A key part of the role is preparing and presenting performance reporting and business cases at executive level, providing assurance on delivery and highlighting emerging risks and opportunities.
What You’ll Do
* Lead safe, compliant delivery of maintenance and small works programmes, ensuring high‑performing day‑to‑day operations.
* Set and deliver a resourcing and procurement strategy aligned to public sector regulations, optimising in‑house capability and supply chain performance.
* Act as Principal Accountable Person, owning statutory compliance assurance and the Estates Health and Safety Management System.
* Embed environmental sustainability and whole‑life cost/carbon thinking into operational delivery and investment decisions.
* Use performance intelligence to inform short-, medium- and long‑term planning and continuous improvement.
* Build trusted, productive relationships with scientific customers, senior stakeholders and suppliers.
* Produce executive‑level reporting, performance insights and business cases to support strategic decisions.
* Champion inclusive leadership, organisational values and service transformation across hard FM services.
About You
You’ll be an experienced Estates/FM leader with a strong track record of delivering services through mixed delivery models. You’ll be confident leading people, contracts and performance in complex environments, and comfortable advising at senior and executive levels. You bring a whole‑life mindset to assets and sustainability, and you’re motivated by enabling science through excellent services.
Working with the Head of Estates North, you’ll align performance nationally and present assurance, risks and opportunities at executive level.
If you’re an Estates/FM leader who combines operational grip with strategic thinking, strong stakeholder skills and a commitment to safety and sustainability, we’d love to hear from you. Please provide a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability for the role. Applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Benefits
UKRI offers 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and holiday days, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, a pension scheme, social and sporting activities, and a subsidised restaurant.
Legal & EDI Information
This role requires an additional National Security Vetting check, which requires all applicants to have been resident in the UK for at least the last 5 years. Applicants who have not been continually resident in the UK for the last 5 years are ineligible, regardless of the right to work or visa status.
UKRI is a Disability Confident Employer. Any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How To Apply
Online applications only. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Include the job reference number in the filename description of each document uploaded.
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