Associate Director of Estates Facilities jobs

Job Purpose and Specification

The Head of School Estates Strategy and Standards will lead the strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of DBE Services’ Schools Estate Management Standards across all client schools. The role exists to ensure that every school within the DBE Services network benefits from a consistent, compliant, safe, and future‑proof approach to estate management. The postholder will provide expert leadership, technical assurance, and operational oversight, enabling schools to plan, maintain, invest in, and optimise their estates in line with statutory requirements, best practice, and long‑term educational priorities.

The role will act as the organisation’s principal authority for estate management standards, driving excellence, supporting school leaders and governing bodies, and ensuring that the estate contributes positively to pupil outcomes, sustainability goals, and organisational resilience.

About the Role

You will help shape the strategic direction of estate management across our client schools, ensuring alignment with national policy, diocesan priorities, and best practice. In particular, you will lead the development of the service offered by DBE Services, ensuring that schools meet their responsibilities under the Schools Estate Management Standard, particularly in ensuring that school estates are well maintained, appropriately serviced and effectively repaired.

This role includes leadership and management of the Schools Estate Management Team within DBE Services, driving continuous improvement, innovation, and high‑quality service delivery.

You will report directly to the CEO of DBE Services on the following two main areas of work:

· Statutory Compliance and Maintenance Services (380nr. schools and a growing area of work with VA, VC and Community Schools and Academies/MATs)

o Contractor engagement and oversight of contactor performance at schools

o Monitoring legislative or DfE guidance changes and advising responsible bodies accordingly

o Dashboard monitoring on service delivery and risk management

o Optimising the work that DBE Services undertakes in this area

o Management of the School Estate Management Standard team

· DfE Reporting on estates management (400nr. Voluntary Aided Schools across several Church of England Diocesan Boards of Education in the north)

o Liaison with school capital estates consultants to ensure schools are being well maintained and capital works are joined up.

o Liaison with the DBE Services Head of Buildings and Diocesan Building Officers who oversee the capital works programme.

You will have a view to long‑term estate planning, provide assurance for capital projects, and help develop systems that monitor estate condition, performance, and risk.

A key part of the role is building strong relationships with headteachers, business managers, governors, contractors, consultants, and diocesan partners. You will provide expert guidance, deliver training, and strengthen estate management capability across the school network.

You will be required to satisfy Diocesan Board of Education duties and obligations while advising the governing body of a school. Working with Diocesan Directors of Education and Headteachers alike, you will provide clarity in their respective roles as a Responsible Body.

About You

We are looking for a confident, forward‑thinking professional with:

• A degree‑level qualification in estates management, building surveying, facilities management, architecture, engineering, or a related field.
• Professional membership such as RICS, CIOB, or IWFM (highly desirable).
• Significant experience managing complex estates, ideally within education or public‑sector environments.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across a range of stakeholders, contractors and consultants, preferably in the education sector.
• A strong track record in capital project delivery, compliance assurance, and strategic estate planning.
• Recent experience of managing a team
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence senior leaders and external partners.
• A commitment to safeguarding, professional integrity, and improving outcomes for children.

In addition to providing evidence of the above in your application, as conditions of employment, we also require confirmation that you have:

• A full and valid driving licence
• Access to a car that is insured and suitable for business use
• Agreed to an Enhanced DBS certificate to be applied for on behalf of DBE Services as a condition of employment

If you are passionate about delivering high‑quality, safe, and sustainable school environments—and you thrive in a role that blends strategy, leadership, management and technical expertise—we would love to hear from you.

Job Description: Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

· Estate strategy development — Lead the ongoing implementation of the Schools Estate Management Standard across the DBE Services network, ensuring they are alignment with national policy and emerging best practice.

o Develop a standardised diocesan approach but make bespoke as required due to geography, location, type and size of schools etc and individual diocesan priorities

o Engage with MATs as required where DBE Services are involved in delivering services to their schools

• Long‑term estate planning — Oversee the creation of strategic estate plans for schools, ensuring they are robust, data‑driven, and financially sustainable.
• Policy and compliance oversight — Ensure all estate management activity meets statutory, regulatory, and safeguarding requirements, including health and safety, condition standards, and accessibility.

Operational Management

• Estate performance monitoring — Develop and maintain systems for monitoring estate condition, performance, risk, and investment needs across all schools.
• Capital project assurance — Provide oversight and assurance for capital works, ensuring projects meet quality, compliance, and value‑for‑money expectations.
• Technical guidance — Act as the senior technical advisor for school leaders, governors, and DBE Services colleagues on all estate‑related matters.

Stakeholder Engagement

• School leadership support — Build strong relationships with headteachers, business managers, and governing bodies to support effective estate decision‑making.
• Contractors – build, develop and sustain effective relationships with contractors of all disciplines across the region
• External liaison — Represent DBE Services in discussions with contractors, consultants, local authorities, dioceses, and national bodies.
• Training and capacity building — Design and deliver training, guidance materials, and tools to improve estate management capability across the school network.

Leadership & Management

• Team leadership — Lead and develop the Schools Estate Management Standards team, ensuring high performance, professional growth, and collaborative working.
• Resource planning — Manage budgets, resources, and external contracts associated with estate management services.
• Continuous improvement — Drive innovation, efficiency, and service improvement across all estate management standards functions.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Professional Requirements

• Relevant professional qualification — Degree‑level qualification in estates management, building surveying, facilities management, architecture, engineering, or a related field.
• Professional membership — Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., RICS, CIOB, IWFM) is highly desirable.
• Compliance knowledge — Strong understanding of statutory compliance, health and safety, safeguarding, and building regulations.

Experience

• School or public‑sector estate management — Significant experience managing complex estates within education, public sector, or multi‑site environments.
• Capital project delivery — Proven track record of overseeing capital programmes, refurbishments, and particularly maintenance projects.
• Strategic planning — Experience developing long‑term estate strategies and managing estate data systems.
• Leadership and management — Experience leading teams and managing external contractors or consultants.

Skills & Competencies

• Technical expertise — Strong understanding of building condition, lifecycle planning, asset management, and sustainability.
• Analytical capability — Ability to interpret estate data, risk assessments, and financial information to inform decisions.
• Communication — Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to explain technical issues to non‑technical audiences.
• Relationship building — Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, negotiate, and collaborate.
• Problem‑solving — Ability to manage complex issues, prioritise effectively, and deliver solutions under pressure.

Personal Attributes

• Professional integrity — Commitment to high standards, ethical practice, and safeguarding.
• Strategic mindset — Forward‑thinking, innovative, and able to anticipate future estate needs.
• Service orientation — Dedicated to supporting schools and improving outcomes for children.
• Resilience — Calm, adaptable, and able to manage competing demands.

Salary

Annual salary from £55,000 to £65,000 dependent on experience and qualifications

Based on:

· Full time

· 37.5 hours work per week

· The working base is Clayton House in Blackburn (BB1 2QE). Whilst there will be opportunities to work from home, it is expected that there will be significant presence within the office throughout the week. There will be an expectation that the role holder will visit schools throughout the region, from time to time.

· 30 days holiday per annum, all Bank Holidays and additional day’s leave for your birthday.

· Travel expenses based on HMRC mileage rates (first 20 miles of any business journey is deemed to be covered by the individual)

· 10% employer pension contribution

For an informal conversation about this post, please contact Richard Jones, Head of Buildings (richard@dbeservices.co.uk) (07712679004) or Sam Johnson, CEO (sam@dbeservices.co.uk) (07951 923178)

Applications are by Cover Letter outlining how you meet the Person Specification (no longer than three sides of A4) and CV as appropriate.

Closing date for applications is noon on Monday 9th November 2026. Please email Cover Letter and CV to Sam or Richard above. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview.

Pay: £55,000.00-£65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person