Senior Estates Operations Manager - Hard FM

Job Overview

We’re seeking a confident, forward thinking estates leader with the autonomy, expertise and financial insight to drive high standards across a large and ambitious NHS Trust.

This is a pivotal senior role that extends well beyond technical estates management; we are looking for a capable and confident leader who can work autonomously, exercise sound judgement, manage significant financial responsibilities and motivate teams across a complex and varied estate. Operating between several Band 6 teams and an 8d Associate Director, the postholder will be expected to demonstrate strong leadership presence, professional credibility and the ability to influence and work effectively with senior stakeholders.

The postholder will play a central role in ensuring that the Trust’s estate consistently supports high quality patient care and a positive experience for staff. This includes providing assurance that statutory and planned maintenance programmes are delivered, that reactive work is prioritised using a clear risk based approach, and that estates risks are identified, managed and escalated appropriately. You will oversee all aspects of operational estates delivery, embedding strong governance, promoting continuous improvement and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, NHS guidance, Health Technical Memoranda, Health Building Notes and the Premises Assurance Model.

Main duties of the job

As a visible, proactive and supportive leader, you will be responsible for guiding and developing a multidisciplinary workforce of approximately 25 staff, building a flexible, mobile and modern service capable of meeting the needs of both acute and community sites. You will champion a positive safety culture and support inclusive leadership, staff development and professional growth, ensuring the team remains resilient, responsive and aligned with Trust priorities.

The role carries significant financial and operational responsibility. You will oversee substantial revenue budgets and ensure strong cost control, value for money and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions. Working closely with senior colleagues, including estates and sustainability specialists, you will lead on accurate performance reporting, effective asset management and the timely completion of national and local data returns. You will also manage contracts and external consultancy support as required.

This post requires close collaboration with clinical, operational and corporate teams to support service continuity, effective planning and alignment between estates activity and wider Trust objectives. Participation in the senior estates on call rota is also required, providing out of hours leadership, decision making and support during incidents and service interruptions.

Working for our organisation

There’s never been a more exciting time to build your career at Frimley Health, one of the country’s largest and most respected trusts

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and requirements.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if sufficient applications have been received.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to Masters level or appropriate bachelor’s degree combined with experience
• Membership of a professional body, MIET, CIBSE, SOE etc
• health and safety qualification such as NEBOSH, IOSH
• Project management qualification such as PRINCE
• Management qualification such as CMS, DMS.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Desirable criteria

• Postgraduate management qualification.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant senior management experience either in the NHS or private sector environment.
• Significant complex budgetary management experience, financial awareness, and the ability to meet defined budgetary targets for both revenue and capital expenditure.
• Proven ability to manage change in a multi-skilled workforce.
• Able to work under pressure and to balance competing priorities.
• Good interpersonal skills with a high level of integrity to deal with difficult situations
• Knowledge of legislation and guidance affecting areas of responsibility.
• Substantial Estates operational management experience either in the NHS or private sector environment.
• Experience in writing detailed reports to be presented at Trust Board.
• Experience of developing and implementing policies and standard operating procedures.
• Proven record of leading, co-ordinating and developing a multi-skilled workforce across different sites.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of managing large contracts in either the commercial or public sector

Skills

Essential criteria

• Effective negotiator to achieve required outcomes in a complex environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills.
• Excellent project management skills.

Special Requirements

Essential criteria

• Required to work out of normal hours and be part of an on-call rota for services across sites.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

Apply online now