Deputy head of estates (band 8a)

Deputy Head of Estates (Band 8a)


📍 Hove – Mill View (Trust-wide portfolio)

💷 £55,690 – £62,682 per annum (Band 8a)

🕒 37.5 hours per week | Flexible working considered

📄 Permanent | On-call rota participation required

📅 Closing date: 4 January 2026


About the role


Following the retirement of the current postholder, we’re looking for a Deputy Head of Estates to join our Estates & Facilities Directorate, playing a key senior role in the strategic and operational delivery of hard facilities services across Sussex Partnership.


This is a high-impact leadership role, supporting a large and complex mental health estate and ensuring our buildings, infrastructure and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.

Reporting to the Head of Estates and Minor Works, you’ll be part of the senior operational leadership team, contributing to Trust-wide objectives and service improvement.


What you’ll be doing

• Providing expert professional and technical leadership across all hard FM services

• Overseeing statutory, planned and reactive maintenance across a multi-site estate

• Ensuring full compliance with NHS guidance and statutory legislation

• Leading and managing estates teams across multiple disciplines

• Developing KPIs, service standards and performance frameworks

• Managing risk, emergency response and out-of-hours estates services

You’ll also participate in the Estates & Facilities on-call rota.

The scale of the estate


You’ll help lead an estate covering:

• Over 160 locations across Sussex

• Approximately 90,000 sqm (equivalent to 17 football pitches)

• 45 inpatient wards and homes and 702 beds

• Freehold, leasehold and PFI properties


What we’re looking for

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in hard estates services

• Significant senior management experience across large, complex estates

• Strong knowledge of NHS estates legislation, compliance and operational standards

• Proven people leadership, performance and budget management experience

• A collaborative, confident and values-led leadership style


What we can offer you

At SPFT, we support senior leaders to thrive. You’ll benefit from:

• Flexible working options where service allows

• NHS pension scheme

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Access to wellbeing and psychological support services

• Opportunities to shape services and contribute at a strategic level

• Working for a Trust rated ‘Outstanding’ for Caring by the CQC


How to apply

👉 Click “Apply now” to be redirected to our NHS Trac careers site, where you can complete your application.