Senior Estate Manager (Wakehurst)

IWFM Regional/Special Interest Group; East Grinstead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious botanical organization in East Grinstead is seeking a Senior Estates Manager to lead the delivery of Estates services and operational strategy at Wakehurst. The role involves managing multidisciplinary teams while ensuring compliance and high standards of health and safety. Ideal candidates will have a degree in Building or Facilities Management and significant experience in large estates operations, demonstrating strong leadership and sustainability strategies. This position offers flexible working arrangements alongside an excellent benefits package.

Benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Generous annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted gym membership

Competitive pension

Employee discount scheme

Free entry to national museums

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading medium to large estates or maintenance operations.
• Experience in developing robust maintenance regimes and managing utilities.
• Strong expertise in managing building and engineering infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Estates services.
• Support capital projects, sustainability, compliance, and facilities.
• Ensure high standards of health and safety and develop maintenance strategies.

Skills

Building and Facilities Management

Health and Safety Compliance

Contractor Performance Management

Strategic Operational Thinking

Team Development

Customer-Focused Service Delivery

Sustainability within Estates Maintenance

Education

Degree in Building or Facilities Management

Job description

Overview

We are currently seeking a Senior Estates Manager at Wakehurst to provide strategic and operational leadership for the delivery of Estates services, including PPM, asset management, and both hard and soft FM services across a complex and diverse site. Reporting to the Head of Estates Operations & Maintenance, the role will support capital projects, sustainability, compliance, facilities, and the Estates Helpdesk, while overseeing multidisciplinary teams and contracted suppliers. The post holder will ensure high standards of health and safety, statutory compliance, and customer service, develop robust maintenance and sustainability strategies, support historic and heritage assets, and build strong stakeholder relationships to drive Estates excellence and long–term operational resilience.

The post holder will have a degree in Building or Facilities Management, or equivalent experience, with a proven track record of leading medium to large estates or maintenance operations. They will demonstrate strong expertise in managing building and engineering infrastructure, contractor performance, health and safety, and statutory compliance across complex estates. Experience in developing robust maintenance regimes, managing utilities and critical systems, and supporting historic or heritage buildings is essential. A consultative leadership style, strategic operational thinking, and proven success in team development, customer–focused service delivery, and sustainability within estates maintenance operations are required.

Interviews are due to take place on 12 March

This role is based at Wakehurst with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

About Us

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well–being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world's plants and fungi.

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work–life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.