Job summary
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is on a bold journey to transform its Estates services -- and we are looking for an exceptional Deputy Director of Estates to help lead the way.
This is a senior leadership role at the heart of one of the most ambitious Estates Teams in the NHS. You will provide visible leadership to a diverse team of senior managers and frontline staff, building a culture that promotes customer focus, accountability and ambition. At the same time, you will play a pivotal part in ensuring our hospitals and community sites are safe, compliant, resilient and fit for the future, while driving improvements that directly support outstanding patient care.
We are building a team that aims to be recognised as the best Estates service in the NHS. If you are a proven leader with technical expertise, strategic vision and a passion for developing people and services, this is your opportunity to make a visible impact in a high-profile and supportive organisation.
Main duties of the job
As Deputy Director of Estates, you will lead senior managers across engineering, operations, contracts and digital estates, ensuring our services are safe, compliant, resilient and customer-focused. You will chair statutory safety groups, oversee multi-million-pound budgets, and provide visible assurance on compliance, risk and performance.
You will play a central role in delivering the Estates Operational Strategy, driving cultural improvement, performance improvement, and modernising systems while supporting the operational handover of capital schemes. The role also deputises for the Director of Estates across the wider Property Services portfolio, representing the Directorate at senior Trust forums and with external partners.
We are seeking a values-driven leader with a strong track record in estates management and statutory compliance. You will bring financial and commercial acumen, the ability to influence at Board level, and a passion for building high-performing teams that deliver outstanding service.
About us
Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.
We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.
We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.
We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact Pam.Daley@nhs.net (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.
We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Master's degree in Estates, Engineering, Facilities Management or a related discipline, or equivalent senior-level experience gained in a large and complex estates environment
- In-depth technical knowledge of healthcare estates standards and legislation, including HTMs, HBNs, HSE and CQC requirements
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to estates leadership and compliance
Desirable
- Chartered membership of a relevant professional body (IHEEM, CIBSE, CIOB, RICS or equivalent)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience in Estates within the NHS or a comparable regulated environment, with responsibility for multiple sites or a large, complex portfolio
- Proven accountability for statutory compliance across engineering, infrastructure, and property portfolios, including successful management of Authorised and Competent Persons frameworks
- Evidenced success in driving cultural change, workforce engagement, and implementation of leadership development and succession planning
- Experience of leading contract and supplier performance management, including commercial negotiations and risk management
Desirable
- Experience of working across system/Integrated Care System level, or in collaboration with multiple organisations
- Experience of property and land management, including leases, licences, and occupancies
Specific Skills
Essential
- Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to build, develop and motivate teams to deliver high performance
- Excellent governance and assurance skills, with expertise in risk management, statutory compliance, and use of systems
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex estates, financial, and performance data and translate this into clear decisions and actions
- High degree of digital literacy, with practical knowledge of CAFM systems, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Building Management Systems (BMS), and Microsoft 365 applications
Desirable
- Knowledge of sustainability and net zero strategies in healthcare estates
- Understanding of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract environments and their interface with retained Estates
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Master's degree in Estates, Engineering, Facilities Management or a related discipline, or equivalent senior-level experience gained in a large and complex estates environment
- In-depth technical knowledge of healthcare estates standards and legislation, including HTMs, HBNs, HSE and CQC requirements
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to estates leadership and compliance
Desirable
- Chartered membership of a relevant professional body (IHEEM, CIBSE, CIOB, RICS or equivalent)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience in Estates within the NHS or a comparable regulated environment, with responsibility for multiple sites or a large, complex portfolio
- Proven accountability for statutory compliance across engineering, infrastructure, and property portfolios, including successful management of Authorised and Competent Persons frameworks
- Evidenced success in driving cultural change, workforce engagement, and implementation of leadership development and succession planning
- Experience of leading contract and supplier performance management, including commercial negotiations and risk management
Desirable
- Experience of working across system/Integrated Care System level, or in collaboration with multiple organisations
- Experience of property and land management, including leases, licences, and occupancies
Specific Skills
Essential
- Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to build, develop and motivate teams to deliver high performance
- Excellent governance and assurance skills, with expertise in risk management, statutory compliance, and use of systems
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex estates, financial, and performance data and translate this into clear decisions and actions
- High degree of digital literacy, with practical knowledge of CAFM systems, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Building Management Systems (BMS), and Microsoft 365 applications
Desirable
- Knowledge of sustainability and net zero strategies in healthcare estates
- Understanding of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract environments and their interface with retained Estates
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
