Head of Estates

Head of Estates - Lead Our Estates Services at MKUH Band 8C, £76,965 – £88,682 Hours: 37.5 per week, based at MK6 5LD with occasional travel to Community Sites 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. 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. This includes: Maintenance and Engineering Teams – ensuring reliability and compliance across critical systems. Fire Safety and Compliance – managing statutory obligations and risk mitigation. Minor Works Projects Your Role Provide professional leadership to multi‑disciplinary teams, including Senior Engineers, Maintenance Managers, Fire Advisors and Compliance Officers. Oversee service delivery across electrical systems, ventilation, water hygiene, medical gases and other HTM‑compliant areas. Advise on long‑term strategic development and capital investment programmes. Manage budgets of more than £1 million and lead on technical tenders, contracts and performance improvement. Main Duties Service responsibilities: advise the Director, manage delegated leads for fire, ventilation, water management and asbestos, and maintain operational services. Financial responsibilities: accountable for services costing over £1 million, budget holder for several departmental budgets, control expenditure, approve purchase orders and produce technical tenders. Personnel responsibilities: provide managerial support, maintain effective communication, manage training and develop relationships with external agencies. What We're Looking For Master's level qualification in Building Services or equivalent experience. Proven leadership in NHS or equivalent high‑compliance sector. Strong technical knowledge of engineering services and statutory compliance. Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels. Why Join MKUH Be part of a forward‑thinking Trust with significant investment in infrastructure and patient care. Shape the future of our estate and contribute to strategic development. Join a team that values collaboration, professionalism and continuous improvement. This is your opportunity to lead essential services that keep our hospital running and make a real difference to patient care. Apply today and help us deliver excellence in estates management. If you have pre‑application questions, please direct them to Tony Marsh (Director of Estates & Facilities) via the Maintenance Helpdesk on 01908 996109. Person Specification Qualifications and Knowledge Essential: Master’s Level in Building Services (or a relevant engineering discipline) or significant demonstrable experience at senior level in a complex estate. Essential: Financial & strategic estates planning. Desirable: Knowledge in NHS engineering services. Desirable: Qualified as authorised person in an HTM engineering field. Desirable: Membership of a professional engineering organisation with evidence of continued professional development (CPD). Experience Essential: NHS experience in a similar role or substantial experience in a similarly high‑compliance industry. Essential: Experience leading a range of departments and disciplines within Estate Management inclusive of maintenance, engineering, fire safety and compliance. Essential: Advisory experience in the strategic development of large complex estates regarding engineering services. Skills Essential: High‑level communicator and leadership skills. Essential: Strong judgement across a wide range of subject areas, managing conflicting demands and pressure. Essential: Ability to make contractual decisions with high financial and service impacts. Essential: Ability to work accurately and manage large multidisciplinary departments under pressure. Essential: Ability to seek solutions to challenging problems with empathy for staff, visitors and patients. Essential: Enthusiastic and HR experience implementing and managing policy across varied technical disciplines. Personal and People Development Essential: Continued CPD. Essential: Maintain authorised person accreditation. Essential: Regular updates through journals, workshops and HEFMA. Essential: Appraisal of direct reports and ensure all service staff receive appraisals. Communication Essential: Communicate estates policy and highly technical information to senior management and directors. Essential: Negotiate large contracts. Essential: Deal with a range of staff (technical & non‑technical) and specialist contractors. Specific Requirements Essential: Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer Details Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Estates‑Pay (Dept) Milton Keynes MK6 5LD Website: https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh #J-18808-Ljbffr