Job summary
- Main area
- Estates and Facilities
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8d
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 358-7885850-E&F
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £94,356 - £108,814 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Associate Director of Estates Operations & Engineering
NHS AfC: Band 8d
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Job overview
The post holder will lead on all reactive and pre‑planned maintenance matters across Estates functions, including compliance, engineering, grounds and gardens, the customer service centre, switchboard and reception, with scope for extended portfolios across Estates & Facilities.
The post holder will support the Director of Estates, Facilities & Sustainability in the delivery of total Estates and Facilities management services for UHL.
The post holder will take corporate responsibility for the development and implementation of all functions contained within the scope of the Estates, functions.
Main duties of the job
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To provide overall line management responsibility for all individuals that fall under the remit of the Estates, CSC, Switchboard and Reception functions. Providing leadership to managers on all aspects of service delivery in relation to estate and engineering management.
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The post holder will be lead on and be responsible for the development of Trust wide corporate policies, related to the use, maintenance and operation of the Trust’s estates and facilities, ensuring that Trust policies align with applicable legislation, HBNs and HTMs, NHSEI guidance and the Trust’s clinical and Estates and Facilities strategies.
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The post holder will support the Director of Estates, Facilities & Sustainability in the development of business opportunities for the EFD with other future potential organisations who could buy into the provision of estates, compliance and property service.
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To be responsible for the Estates teams operational pay and non-pay budget. The post holder will also be responsible for approximately 135 WTE.
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The post holder will have the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills and be expected to communicate extensively within the EFD team, corporately across all partner Trusts and externally to the organisations with the public and private sector, patient groups and the general public.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- The post holder will have the responsibility for ensuring the Trust
maintains its Appointed Persons Register and Authorising
Engineering Register, ensuring there are suitable plans in place
for business continuity as well as success planning for the future
development of the estates operations Trust wide
- The post holder will take corporate responsibility for the
development and implementation of all functions contained within
the scope of the Estates, functions
- Be responsible for allocation of projects, performance management of work streams with training, advice and support on all technical aspects of work related to estates, property and capital projects
- The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of an Estates cost improvement programme (CIP) and meet annual CIP targets set by the Trust through a comprehensive improvement programme, action plan.
- The post holder will have knowledge of all Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders including budgetary arrangements
Person specification
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s Values and Behaviours
Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree in electrical engineering and or equivalent level of experience and in-depth specialist knowledge at senior management level in the NHS Estates and Facilities management arena.
- Chartered Membership of a professional engineering Institution
- Specialist knowledge acquired through post graduate courses and experience to masters equivalent level plus in-depth management, financial and strategic knowledge
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development over several years.
- IT skills in the use of Microsoft Project, office, excel and AutoCAD
Desirable criteria
- Health and safety Qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven and demonstrated experience of in Estates and Facilities management at senior management level within the NHS or similar environment.
- Experience of operational and technical interpretation, negotiation and service development across a range of Estates and Facilities services
- Experience of developing estates strategies and service redesigns within the NHS
- Specialist knowledge over more than one Estates and Facilities discipline or function together with associate healthcare services provision, with several years’ experience as a director level in a public / private relationship with proven freedom to act and make decisions at senior executive level on behalf of the contracting authorities.
- Experienced in monitoring complex contracts, projects and programmes, and auditing and compiling corporate documentation and reports
- Understanding of clinical services, health service design guidance, health service procurement guidance as well as private sector guidance and regulatory standards
- Experience in managing contentious situations and influencing diverse stakeholders, including clinical and non-clinical staff, to achieve consensus
- Ability to make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
- Experience of working across public and private sector agencies, with a wide range of stakeholders at a senior level
- Direct staff management experience, demonstrating an ability to develop staff, skills, and competencies. High level budget setting, forecasting and financial management of multi-million pound contracts
- Commercially acumen and experience in awarding complex commercial contracts within the healthcare environment.
- Proven track record of delivering capital projects engaging in clinical and patient / user groups and meeting high quality standards such as BREEAM and other measures of design and construction excellence.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of senior management in a commercial role either within the NHS or a similar health environment
- Working on national pilots or research and development projects in the field of estates and facilities management
Communication and relationship skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to articulate and influence and persuade others and represent and act as an Ambassador for the LLRFMC
- Experience of analysing and presenting highly complex and contentious data at executive level.
- Presenting complex information in public forums in sometimes hostile and antagonistic environments covering highly political, sensitive, and contentious information.
- Experience in managing and analysing highly commercial sensitive information and of a contentious nature
- Experience of handling complex external relationships with commercial providers which will include challenging where appropriate areas which infringe upon potentially politically sensitive environment(s).
- Demonstrable experience and ability to take a high level strategic concept, develop a business case with full senior management buy in and present it to Executive/Trust Board
- Experience of managing multiple concurrent projects and conflicting priorities to ensure deadlines are met
- Advanced interpersonal skills including proven ability to work at an individual level or in groups comprised of a variety of stakeholders. With the ability to assimilate and analyse highly complex, contentious information and present thus in executive forum(s).
- Advanced written communication skills, including the presentation of complex data and writing of corporate reports including the ability to influence where there are barriers to understanding.
- Has a demonstrable track record of the ability to work across boundaries of service and geography.
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates a real commitment to working with, involving, and consulting patients and other stakeholders in decisions
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience and ability to take a high-level strategic concept, develop a business case with full senior management buy in and presentation to Executive/Trust Board and other external stakeholders
- The ability to think conceptually, recognising assumptions, interpreting and evaluating arguments and deducing inferences. Drawing reference from a range of sources both facilities and non – facilities related in order to reach a decision.
- Able to think analytically; anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead; using analytical techniques to identify several solutions.
- Able to make quick assessments of and draw logical conclusions from situations.
- Able to ‘think on their feet’ when dealing with convoluted and complex problems.
- Able to work independently where required or as a team & corporate player acting as the ‘expert’ in matters relating to Hard Facilities management.
- To be able to exert influence where expert opinion may differ from the organisational direction of travel.
- Highly competent in using Microsoft office packages and other related software eg Planet/CAFM
- Able to analyse and interpret business data to drive business growth
Skills
Essential criteria
- Evidence of being able to interpret manipulate and analyse complex information ensuring that detail and accuracy are not compromised
- Ability to prioritise competing demands and meet short deadlines that will be required for producing complex tasks requiring high quality, accuracy and attention to detail.
- Able to travel between sites
- Frequent use of PC/VDU for day to day activities
Planning and organisation skills
Essential criteria
- Able to formulate long term plans across multi- services and organisations for the development of service redesign and estate strategic models in a changing commissioning and provider environment.
- Ability to develop individual partner Trust estate strategies and to assimilate these across the LLR region to radically redesign the estate model to support future clinical delivery in a holistic approach
- Has the ability to develop long term estate strategies to support all participating organisational objectives including the PSP and to provide a pipeline of projects for business case development and beyond.
- Able to demonstrate the ability to plan and organise work streams for multiple organisations with differing priorities and agendas
- Ability to interpret national, health, or broad organisational policies, and establish the way in which these will be implemented and interpreted.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential criteria
- Tenacity – drive and determination to deliver a ‘quality product’ and to aim to over exceed customer expectations
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to focus on customer care and listen to patients view points in the delivery of the service
- Responsible for adapting / designing information systems in the delivery of the service
- To undertake audits using research methodology in the evaluation of service provision and delivery methods of construction projects.
- Able to absorb and deal constructively with criticism and seek support as necessary
- Ability to maintain an effective work life balance
- Enthusiastic with a good sense of humour
- Ability to interpret national, regional, and local policy and strategy in order to deliver partner Trust objectives and goals
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Joanne Dixon
- Job title
- Executive Assistant and Office Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01162586272
- Additional information
For further information, or an informal discussion, please contact:
Ben Widdowson, Director of Estates, Facilities and Sustainability at Ben [email protected]
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