Head of Estates
10 days ago
Milton Keynes
Head of Estates\n The closing date is 23 February 2026 \n Head of Estates - Lead Our Estates Services at MKUH \n Hours: 37.5 per week, based at MK6 5LD with occasional travel to Community Sites \n 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. \n 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. \n This includes: \n\n • Maintenance and Engineering Teams - ensuring reliability and compliance across critical systems\n, • Fire Safety and Compliance - managing statutory obligations and risk mitigation\n, • Provide professional leadership to multi-disciplinary teams, including Senior Engineers, Maintenance Managers, Fire Advisors, and Compliance Officers\n, • Oversee service delivery across electrical systems, ventilation, water hygiene, medical gases, and other HTM-compliant areas\n, • Advise on long-term strategic development and capital investment programmes\n, • Master's level qualification in Building Services or equivalent experience\n, • Proven leadership in estates management within the NHS or similar high‑compliance sector\n, • Strong technical knowledge of engineering services and statutory compliance\n, • Be part of a forward‑thinking Trust with significant investment in infrastructure and patient care\n, • Shape the future of our estate and contribute to strategic development\n, • 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.\n, • 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.\n, • 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.\n, • Advise the Director of Estates & Facilities on the management of the Trusts estate and improvement of its physical environment for patients, visitors and staff.\n, • 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.\n, • Accountable for Estates Services including maintenance and services by directly employed and contract labour in excess of £1,000,000 within delegated limits.\n, • Budget holder for several department budgets across Estates Services, to delegated limits.\n, • To ensure expenditure is controlled across the budgets.\n, • Approve purchase orders and sign off payment of invoices and expenses.\n, • To provide managerial support and leadership to Estates Services staff.\n, • To maintain effective channels of communication within the department between management, staff and other hospital departments.\n, • 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.\n, • 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.\n, • Knowledge in NHS Engineering services\n, • Qualified as Authorised Person in an HTM engineering field.\n, • Membership of a professional engineering organisation with evidence of Continued Professional Development (CPD).\n\nExperience\n\n, • NHS experience in a similar role or substantial experience in a similar role in an equally high‑compliance industry.\n, • Experience of leading a range of departments and disciplines within Estate Management, including Maintenance, Engineering Teams, Fire Safety and Compliance.\n, • Advisory Experience in the strategic development of large complex estates with regards to engineering services.\n\nSkills\n\n, • High level communicator, Leadership skills\n, • High level judgements across a wide range of subject areas, often with conflicting demands and pressure from time and/or risk involved decision making.\n, • Contractual decisions with high levels of financial and service impacts.\n, • Ability to work accurately and manage large multi‑disciplinary departments under pressure.\n, • Ability to seek solutions to extremely challenging problems showing empathy with staff, visitors and patients.\n, • HR experience of following, implementing and managing policy across varied technical disciplines.\n\nPersonal and people development\n\n, • Maintain Authorised Person (AP) accreditation.\n, • Regular updates through Journals, Workshops & HEFMA.\n, • Appraisal of direct reports and ensure all service staff receive appraisals.\n\nCommunication\n\n, • Communicating Estates policy and highly technical information to senior management and directors.\n, • Negotiating large contracts.\n, • Dealing with a range of staff (technical & non-technical) and specialist contractors.\n\nSpecific requirements\n\n