Job Title: Head of Estates and Safety Management
Reporting to: Executive Director, Operations
Grade / Salary: The role is currently being job evaluated to ensure fair grading. We expect the salary to be in the range of £48,947- 59,582, with the final grade agreed before appointment. The actual salary offered will reflect both the confirmed grade of the role and the successful candidate’s skills and experience.
Location: Trust-wide role, based at Trust HQ with regular travel to schools
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Estates and Safety Management will provide operational leadership across the Trust’s estates, facilities management, health and safety, compliance, and site contracted estates services, working with School and Unit Leaders in ensuring all schools and units operate from safe, compliant, sustainable, and well‑maintained environments that support outstanding teaching and learning.
The postholder will assist in the development and delivery of a Trust‑wide estates and facilities strategy, ensuring statutory compliance, value for money, risk management, and long‑term sustainability of the Trust’s physical assets.
Key Responsibilities
Assist in the development, implement, and review a Trust‑wide Estates & Site Operations Strategy aligned to the Trust’s educational vision and growth plans.
Lead condition surveys, asset management planning, and prioritisation of capital works across all schools in consultation with School Leaders.
Provide technical oversight of complex capital projects, refurbishments, expansions, and new school developments.
Advise the Executive Team and Board on estates‑related risks, opportunities, and investment decisions.
Contribute to long‑term school improvement planning by ensuring sites are fit for purpose.
Assist with the development of a Trust‑wide Sustainability and Carbon Management plan in consultation with all school and unit leaders.
Monitor the effective day‑to‑day management of all Trust buildings, grounds, and infrastructure.
Ensure consistent standards of maintenance, cleanliness, security, and site presentation across all schools.
Lead the development of centralised estates policies, procedures, and service level standards.
Monitor and QA, Trust‑wide contracts for facilities services (e.g. cleaning, catering interfaces, security, waste, grounds maintenance etc.) on behalf of the schools.
Drive efficiencies through procurement, standardisation, and economies of scale.
Monitor and advise schools and units on Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) schedules
Lead on developing a Trust‑wide contractor framework for estates and safety activities.
Monitor, advise and guide schools and units on onboarding of contractors and other service providers, ensuring all necessary compliance requirements are met.
Provide guidance and advice as required on business continuity recovery following critical incidents relating to the Trust estate.
3. Health, Safety & Compliance
Work with the Executive Director, Operations to Ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including but not limited to:
Health and Safety at Work Act
CDM Regulations
Fire Safety Order
COSHH
Work with the School and Unit Leaders in ensuring robust systems are in place for risk assessments, audits, incident reporting, investigations, and remedial actions.
Provide the Trust Executive with assurance that H&S risks are effectively identified, managed, and mitigated.
Be proactive in the preparation and communication of key health and safety messages and initiatives across all schools and units, ensuring all messages are accurate and appropriate.
Work with schools and units in ensuring that robust systems are in place for the recording and monitoring of accidents and incidents across the Trust. Also as part of QA monitoring, prepare regular accident/data reports for the Trust Executive as well as school and unit heads.
The postholder will play a key role in supporting exceptional safeguarding across the Trust by ensuring that estates, health and safety, and site security arrangements actively protect pupils, staff, and visitors.
Monitor compliance with mandatory health and safety and estates related training both on and off Smartlog, reporting non‑compliance with the relevant school and unit heads.
4. Capital Projects & Funding
Lead on the planning, delivery, and governance of complex capital projects, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification.
Support, advise and guide School Leaders and Site Managers on non‑complex projects.
Manage relationships with external bodies such as the DfE, ESFA, Local Authorities, surveyors, architects, and contractors.
Support, review and risk assess bids from schools for SCA or other capital funding streams and manage a rolling three‑year programme of projects.
Ensure compliance with procurement, financial controls, and project governance requirements for centrally managed projects.
Provide professional and technical line management to school‑based site staff and establish professional networks to share best practice, provide support and develop new ways of working.
Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and compliance across the site teams ensuring a ‘Pupils First’ approach to all site activities in collaboration with School Leaders.
Identify training and development needs and to ensure teams are technically and professionally competent and confident in their roles and discuss these with the relevant School Leaders.
Set, in conjunction with Trust Finance, and manage estates and facilities budgets, ensuring value for money and cost control.
Monitor expenditure and report variances, risks, and forecasts to the Executive Team.
Support schools in managing local premises budgets to include repairs and maintenance within Trust frameworks.
Ensure effective lifecycle costing and long‑term financial planning for Trust assets.
7. Governance, Reporting & Assurance
Develop and lead on quality assurance processes across all schools and units to ensure compliance with statutory requirements, ensuring that all checks are evidenced for audit purposes.
Prepare clear, accurate reports for the Board, committees, and senior leaders on estates performance, risks, and compliance as required.
Support internal and external audits related to estates, H&S, and facilities.
Ensure policies are reviewed regularly and aligned with statutory and best practice guidance.
Manage critical data returns to the HSE and DfE as required such as Land and Building annual returns.
Lead on the implementation and management of CAFM systems such as Parago across all areas of the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Professional Knowledge
Degree or professional qualification in estates management, facilities management, construction, engineering, or a related discipline.
Recognised Health & Safety qualification (e.g. NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent).
Strong working knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and compliance requirements.
Experience
Significant senior‑level experience leading estates, facilities, and/or site operations across a complex organisation.
Experience of delivering capital projects and managing external contractors.
Demonstrable experience of leading and developing teams.
Experience of budget management and financial planning.
Strategic thinker with strong operational delivery skills.
Excellent leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to interpret legislation and translate it into practical systems and processes.
Strong risk management and problem‑solving capabilities.
High level of organisational and project management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Experience working within the education sector or a Multi‑Academy Trust.
Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. IWFM, RICS, IOSH) or working towards it.
Experience of DfE capital funding processes.
Knowledge of sustainability, carbon reduction, and environmental management within estates.
Experience of supporting governance and board‑level reporting.
Personal Attributes
Values‑driven and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Resilient, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities.
Collaborative and supportive, with a strong service ethos.
High levels of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
Safeguarding
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check and comply with all safeguarding policies and procedures.
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