Job vacancy: Head of Estates, Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd, Huddersfield

Job summary

Main area: Head of Estates
Grade: Ad Hoc
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 372-CHS1668

Employer: Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd
Employer type: NHS
Site: Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Town: Huddersfield
Salary: £80,000 depending on experience
Closing: 26/07/2026 23:59
Interview date: 06/08/2026

Head of Estates

Ad Hoc

CHS is able to offer a wide range of services. Our scale enables us to offer competitive rates and we have a long track record of providing high quality, customer-focused services.

We offer comprehensive estates, facilities management, medical engineering, catering solutions and procurement services supporting the provision of safe, effective healthcare to our communities. We are committed to delivering our Green Plan goals of reducing carbon emissions, air pollution, waste generation and improving recycling throughout delivery of our services. We also enable profit to go back into patient care.

CHS recognises that its staff are its greatest asset and that its business is its people. The company aims to create an environment and culture of openness, trust and honesty. We encourage and celebrate diversity because broader perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge will enrich and enhance the value we bring to each other, our clients, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As the Head of Estates the post holder will work closely with the heads of service, engineering staff, craft staff and construction professionals, clinicians, senior managers, along with statutory bodies and external agencies, the post holder will:

Provide and promote effective professional leadership to ensure the delivery of cost-effective customer orientated services to the Trust and other NHS organisations in accordance with the established service level agreements

Support and assist the Managing Director with the development and implementation of medium and long-term Estate and Facilities Strategies.

Ensure a continuous improvement culture is developed and propose improvement strategies to enhance value and patient experience.

Responsible for the development and implementation of medium and long-term operational policy and strategy in accordance with current and future proposed Statutory, Regulatory and NHS Guidance including the achievement a CQC rating of “GOOD” as a minimum standard.

To manage all aspects of the Operational Maintenance, Capital planning and Clinical Engineering services.

To lead the Premises Assurance Model (PAM) in relation to Estates services.

Responsible for ensuring all Estates data, including evidential data related to PAM, ERIC and CQC returns are accurate and submitted within the prescribed timescales.

To ensure that there are appropriate systems in place for the forward planning of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) and risk inspections and that PPM and risk assessments are carried out in accordance with all health and safety regulations, monitoring and reporting on physical and financial delivery.

To be responsible and accountable for Estates and Medical related Health Care Standards.

To have Trust reaponsibility for the effective management of all aspects of utility usage and costs.

To have overall responsibility for the appointment and management of external contracts for Building and Engineering services.

To have overall responsibility for the recruitment of specialist personnel employed to provide an audit and advisory service to the Trust in relation to the relevant Hospital Technical Memorandum (HTM) requirements. These include; decontamination, medical gases, ventilation, water, fire, high and low voltage, environment and sustainability, lifts.

To ensure that suitably qualified authorised persons and engineers are appointed for all relevant HTMs including undertaking, where appropriate, the role of authorised person.

Ensure that all property and services comply with all relevant statutory instruments and Codes of Practice.

To provide expert and specialist advice on Estates related matters and apply statutory legislative guidance.

To manage the team to ensure that maximum efficiency of the Estates department is achieved.

To work pro-actively to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the department matching resources to service needs.

To undertake regular and systematic review of the processes and systems through which services are delivered, analysing problems and developing solutions to improve service delivery.

To develop and monitor key performance indicators for Estates services and use the NHS Model Hospital dashboard and ERIC data to optimise financial and operational performance

Provide professional and technical advice and leadership for the development and implementation of capital development schemes and technical service initiatives.

Act as a technical expert to provide advice and guidance on estate engineering services

Responsible for the delivery of all technical services functions including in-house and contracted services.

Specify, control and manage technical maintenance services related operations to the building environment, fabric, engineering service, plant and equipment.

Responsible for managing all building and engineering risk related elements including, Decontamination, Asbestos Management, Legionella Management, Lifting equipment and structural condition.

Ensure all maintenance related services are audited against National Standards, current Health & Safety Standards and Good Practice Guidance and ensure appropriate procedures to maintain compliance are identified, implemented and followed.

Responsible for the specification and management of Health & Safety and Risk Management advice in respect of technical services related activities.

Person specification

Both

Essential criteria

Membership of an associated professional organisation/institution e.g. CIBSE,IHEEM,RIBA or RICS
Must hold a professional qualification in accordance with Engineering Council Competences to a minimium of Incorporated Engineer
Educated to Degree level or equivalent, in an associated field e.g.
Building and Engineering Services Electrical Engineering Building Surveying
IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent
Evidence of continuing professional development
A minimum of five years’ experience at senior management level within the NHS, managing a range of complex services in the Estates Management environment.
Experienced and understanding of the NHS procurement process for outsourced contracts.
Proven ability to lead and manage complex, staff intensive operations.
Experienced and understanding of the procurement and delivery of capital development schemes including P22 , JCT and NEC contracts.
Experience of facilitating partnership working, decision making and conflict resolution.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills along with a proven track record in professionalism when communicating with people with strong opposing views.
Excellent ability to communicate effectively in writing and face-to-face.
Detailed and advanced knowledge and understanding of all aspects relating to the provision of estates maintenance services, with particular knowledge of the regulatory and duty of care requirements relating to health & safety, statutory compliance, asbestos, Legionella, pressure systems, decontamination, authorised engineer/person, environmental and capital development management.
Proven excellent organisational and managerial skills, ability to prioritise and organise own and departmental workloads.
Ability to produce detailed contractual documentation and service specifications in relation to the procurement of technical services in the NHS environment.
Proven ability to develop Estates Management strategy and policy.
Proven ability to produce detailed reports and Business Cases to Board level relating to technical service provision.
Experienced at working under pressure and delivering to challenging deadlines.
Skilled at working with multi-disciplinary teams
Multi-tasking skills

Desirable criteria

Professional Qualification to Chartered Level
Educated to Master’s Degree level, in an associated field
Ability to manage own time
Able to exercise independent judgement

Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions (CHS) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Please ensure your application is submitted with referees who can verify your employment/education history over the last three years and include valid email addresses for them. CHS will request electronic Factual Employment References from your previous employers. These references will be requested before you are issued with an unconditional offer of employment letter.

Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK website. All applicants must review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.

If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard £26.40 or Basic £26.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff). For Enhanced and Standard DBS checks you will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year. This is a condition of your employment.

If you have any questions please contact [email protected] for assistance.