Director of Estates and Facilities - 2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Location: Much Hadham, Hertfordshire
Salary: £104,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time, 2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Lead with purpose. Shape the future. Build spaces that empower lives.

About St Elizabeths
Set in 60 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, St Elizabeths is a national charity supporting children, young people, and adults with complex needs including epilepsy, autism, learning disabilities, and health conditions.

Our integrated site is home to a School, College, residential care, supported living, and on-site health services. Everything we do is underpinned by our values: Aspirational, Collaborative, Joyful, and Compassionate.

We're now seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking estates leader to join our Executive Team and take responsibility for the future of our built environment ensuring it supports our services today and scales to meet the needs of tomorrow.

About The Role
This is a strategic leadership opportunity to shape the future of a multi-disciplinary, regulated estate across education, health, and social care.

As Director of Estates and Facilities, you will lead the long-term vision for our infrastructure, ensuring our spaces remain safe, futureproof, and aligned with the ambitions of a growing organisation. You'll oversee major capital projects, environmental strategy, digital transformation of estates systems, and ongoing compliance across all services.

Key Strategic Priorities

• Shape an estate strategy that supports future expansion into new geographies and service models.
• Plan infrastructure for offsite and outreach services in care and education.

Growth & Scalability

• Ensure robust, inspection-ready environments in line with CQC, Ofsted, HSE, and SEND standards.
• Build a culture of proactive compliance across all sites.

Regulatory & Inspection Readiness

• Drive adoption of CAFM systems and smart building technologies.
• Use data to enable predictive maintenance, optimise space use, and enhance safety.

Digital Transformation

• Lead decarbonisation and retrofit initiatives aligned to net-zero goals.
• Secure external funding to enable sustainable, future-facing development.

Sustainability & Net Zero

• Develop estate-wide business continuity and emergency plans.
• Address risks posed by aging infrastructure, service disruption, and climate change.

Risk & Resilience

• Collaborate closely with service users, families, regulators, and commissioners.
• Ensure estate design and decisions reflect the needs of vulnerable individuals and inclusive practice.

Stakeholder Engagement
We're looking for a standout leader who blends technical excellence with strategic vision and who's ready to make a meaningful difference through place, design, and leadership.

Essential Experience And Qualities Include

• Proven experience in a senior estates or facilities leadership role
• A track record of delivering high-value capital projects and master planning across multi-site estates
• Strong understanding of compliance frameworks and regulated services
• Passion for sustainability, digital innovation, and inclusive estate design
• Inspirational leadership with the ability to motivate multidisciplinary teams
• A proactive, collaborative mindset with excellent stakeholder engagement skills

Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a unique charity with a proud history and bold ambitions. You'll be joining a values-driven Executive Team, leading one of our most critical functions at a time of real growth and innovation.

We Offer

• Annual leave: 30 days plus service-related increases
• Healthcare: Bupa private medical cover
• Pension: Generous contributory scheme
• Wellbeing: Employee assistance, free parking, subsidised meals, and a beautiful countryside campus
• Development: A culture that invests in leadership, professional growth, and continuous learning
• The opportunity to shape one of the UK's most distinctive models of integrated education, care and health provision

How To Apply
To apply, please submit your CV and a short supporting statement via our website.

St Elizabeths is committed to diversity, inclusion and safeguarding. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS clearance and reference checks.