Estates Manager

Role Title: Estates Manager
Salary: 70,000 per annum
Contract Type: Full-time, permanent
Reports To: Director of Estates & Facilities / PFI Contract Manager

Role Purpose

We are seeking an experienced Estates Manager to lead the management and delivery of estates and facilities services at a 250-bed NHS acute hospital operating under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement.

The hospital, now 20 years old, includes a range of critical care units, specialist wards, and clinical services. The Estates Manager will ensure that all building, engineering, and infrastructure services are safe, compliant, and efficient, whilst managing the performance of the PFI provider and their supply chain.

This is a high-profile role requiring a strong mechanical or electrical background, Authorised Person (AP) experience, technical expertise, contract management skills, and the ability to build strong relationships with both NHS stakeholders and private sector partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic and operational management of estates services within the hospital.
• Oversee the performance of the PFI provider, ensuring full compliance with contractual obligations, KPIs, and statutory requirements.
• Act as the key NHS estates lead, monitoring and challenging lifecycle planning, maintenance standards, and investment programmes.
• Ensure the safe and efficient operation of all critical systems, including electrical, mechanical, and building fabric services.
• Serve as an Authorised Person (AP) for relevant engineering systems, ensuring statutory and HTM compliance.
• Work with clinical teams to minimise disruption to patient care during planned and reactive maintenance.
• Develop and implement estates risk management processes, ensuring full compliance with health & safety legislation and HTM/HBN guidance.
• Lead on backlog maintenance planning and support negotiations on lifecycle replacement works.
• Provide expert estates advice to senior hospital management and external stakeholders.
• Manage budgets effectively, ensuring value for money and minimising financial exposure linked to the PFI agreement.
• Line manage and develop estates and technical staff as required.

Essential Requirements

• Strong mechanical or electrical background, with relevant professional qualifications.
• Current or previous Authorised Person (AP) in one or more NHS-critical systems (e.g. HV/LV electrical, medical gases, pressure systems, confined spaces, decontamination).
• Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Building Services, or a related field.
• Chartered membership (CIBSE, IMechE, IET, or RICS) or working towards.
• Significant experience in estates/facilities management within an acute healthcare setting.
• Strong understanding of NHS estates guidance (HTMs/HBNs), health & safety, and statutory compliance.
• Proven track record in managing PFI or complex contractual environments.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrable financial management and budgetary control experience.

Desirable

• Experience working with hospitals of similar scale (200+ beds, critical care units).
• Previous experience in managing lifecycle planning within a PFI environment.
• NEBOSH or IOSH qualification.

Personal Attributes

• Resilient, with the ability to balance operational demands with strategic oversight.
• Collaborative, able to work across NHS and private sector boundaries.
• A strong leader with a focus on safety, compliance, and service excellence.
• Analytical thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Additional Information

• This is a full-time role based on-site at the hospital.
• Participation in an on-call rota may be required.
• A basic DBS check will be required for this role.