Director of Estates and Facilities

Esht; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - GBP 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare trust in Eastbourne is looking for a dynamic Director of Estates and Facilities to lead strategic development and delivery of high-quality services. In this vital role, you will oversee multi-million-pound capital projects, manage significant budgets, and drive sustainability initiatives. Applicants should have extensive senior leadership experience in facilities management, a Master's degree, and a commitment to operational excellence and staff wellbeing. Join a team dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care.

Benefits

Access to NHS pension scheme

Free psychological support

Onsite parking available

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale capital projects.
• Experience working at Board level in the NHS or similar public sector.

Responsibilities

• Oversee multi-million-pound capital projects and long-term asset care.
• Develop and implement the Trust’s Estates and Facilities Strategy.
• Manage large budgets with strong fiscal governance.

Skills

Leadership in estates and facilities management

Budget management

Strategic planning

Sustainability initiatives

Education

Master’s degree in Estates Management, Engineering, or related field

Chartered membership of a relevant professional body

Job description

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.

We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.

Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

Job overview

We are seeking adynamic, entrepreneurial and visionary leaderto join our Senior Leadership Team asDirector of Estates and Facilities.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the strategic development and delivery of high-quality estates, facilities, and sustainable services across the Trust. Your leadership will shape the future of our healthcare infrastructure across East Sussex —ensuring it supports outstanding patient care and staff wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee multi-million-pound capital projects and long-term asset care
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety standards
• Drive delivery of our ambitiousGreen Planand sustainability goals
• Inspire and lead a large multidisciplinary team
• Manage significant budgets with a focus on innovation and efficiency

What We’re Looking For

A passionate, forward-thinking leader with a proven track record in estates and facilities management—ideally within a complex healthcare or public sector environment. You’ll bring strategic insight, operational excellence, and a commitment to sustainability.

Interviews will be held on the 12th March.

Main duties of the job

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the Trust’s Estates and Facilities Strategy.
• Align estates and facilities plans with clinical and corporate objectives.
• Lead the Trust’s sustainability agenda, including delivery of the Green Plan and net-zero targets.

Capital Projects Oversight

• Lead multi‑million-pound capital developments.
• Deliver the 10-year critical infrastructure and medical equipment replacement plans.
• Ensure projects meet quality, budget, and timeline expectations.

Operational Management

• Oversee estates maintenance and facilities services (catering, cleaning, portering, security).
• Ensure statutory and regulatory compliance across all sites.
• Lead space management and asset care strategies.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure robust systems for health & safety, fire safety, and infection prevention.
• Deliver annual reports on fire safety, security, and compliance.

Financial and Resource Management

• Manage large budgets with strong fiscal governance.
• Ensure value for money and financial sustainability.
• Lead business cases for capital programmes and backlog maintenance.

Leadership and Workforce Development

• Inspire and manage a large multidisciplinary team.
• Promote a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure staff are suitably trained and qualified.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with clinical leaders, local authorities, IC S partners, and contractors.
• Build relationships that support integrated, patient‑centred services.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete your applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description for further information on the Director of Estates and Facilities

Person specification

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in estates and facilities management within a large, complex organisation
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale capital projects • Experience managing multi‑disciplinary teams and large operational budgets
• Experience of working with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements
• Experience working at Board level in the NHS or similar public sector organisation
• Experience of leading sustainability and net-zero initiatives
• Experience of PFI contract management

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of estates and facilities operations, including engineering, building maintenance, soft FM services, and capital planning
• Strong knowledge of health and safety, fire safety, and statutory compliance
• Awareness of environmental sustainability and carbon reduction strategies
• Knowledge of NHS capital investment processes and business case development

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Estates Management, Engineering, Facilities Management, or Business Administration) or equivalent experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Chartered membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., RICS, IHEEM, CIBSE)

Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Our vision is to be:

• The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.

Our mission is to:

• Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.

Our strategic objectives are to:

• Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
• Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients’ experiences.
• Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.

Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive and
• Well led

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.