Director of Estates and Facilities- 2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Location: Much Hadham, HertfordshireSalary: £104,000 per annumContract: Full-time, Permanent

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

About St Elizabeth’s

Set in 60 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, St Elizabeth’s 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.

You’ll also consider how our estate can adapt and evolve to support growth — from off-site provision to new care models — and ensure we’re fully prepared for future regulation, climate impact, and service transformation.

Key Strategic Priorities

This is more than a property role — it’s about forward-thinking leadership across key areas:

🔹 Growth & Scalability

• 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.

🔹 Regulatory & Inspection Readiness

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

🔹 Digital Transformation

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

🔹 Sustainability & Net Zero

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

🔹 Risk & Resilience

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

🔹 Stakeholder Engagement

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

What You’ll Bring

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 (e.g. Ofsted, CQC, HSE)
• 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

Desirable: Professional qualifications (e.g. RICS, CIOB, IWFM) or experience in health, education, or social care settings.

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:

• Salary:£104,000 per annum
• 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. For a confidential discussion, contact our recruitment team at: recruitment@stelizabeths.org.uk

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — early applications are encouraged.

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

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