Estates and Facilities Manager

Candidate Brief
ESTATES AND FACILITIES MANAGER
March 2026

WELCOME TO NATIONAL MARITIME
MUSEUM CORNWALL

OUR MISSION
To be a place where people come to enrich
their understanding of the sea and Cornwall

OUR VISION
To be a nationally significant Museum in
Cornwall

OUR AIM
To be a nationally recognised and locally
valued museum, offering an enjoyable and
educational visitor experience, celebrating
Cornwall’s maritime links and traditions, and
contributing to its creative economy.

Our current exhibition, Surf! celebrates a century of surfing in
Cornwall, and reveals how the county has become a
global stage for surf innovation, activism and a trailblazer in
blue health. It explores how Cornish surf culture has influenced
music, film, fashion and art with unseen works by leading
contemporary artists including Damien Hirst and Abigail
Fallis. Through 100 surfboards, the exhibition uncovers the
hidden histories of once unknown female surfers, reveals the
1920s pioneers who led the way and spotlights the surf
champions made here today.

ABOUT NATIONAL MARITIME
MUSEUM CORNWALL

National Maritime Museum Cornwall is an independent,
modern, multi award-winning museum beautifully
showcasing the historical, current and future role of the
sea in shaping Cornish, national and international culture.
We care for a wide range of objects, boats, pictures and
archive material that relate to the maritime heritage of
Cornwall and beyond.

Located beside the third largest natural deep-water harbour in
the world – Britain’s traditional gateway to the Atlantic and one
of Europe’s finest sailing waters, the building was custom
designed and built on land that was once covered in the sheds
of boat builders.

The Museum has 15 galleries over five floors, exhibitions which
explore the overwhelming influence of the sea on local, national
and global history and culture.

We are specialists in maritime heritage, particularly that of
small boats, supported by the UK’s foremost small craft
collection. Our in-house boat workshops allow us to conserve
historic boats and undertake build projects, supporting the
disappearing craft of traditional wooden boat-building.

We work hard to mount national-quality thought provoking and
culturally relevant exhibitions built on cross-sectoral collabora-
tion, rigorous academic research and a commitment to bring
world-class artefacts from national collections to Cornwall.

The initial key priorities for the Estates and Facilities Manager
role will be to:

•  Review task management processes, including workloads,

priorities, practices and compliance efficiencies.

•  Review and overhaul health and safety record keeping with

the aim of maximising use of software to free up the
facilities team to carry out maintenance and exhibition
tasks.

•  Review weighting of planned prioritised maintenance

projects.

•  Establish good landlord-tenant relationships in Tidemill

House.

•  Establish good working relationships with the Falmouth BID.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Estates and
Facilities Manager to lead the strategic and operational
management of our estate and facilities.

This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring our build-
ing, facilities, offsite Boat and Collection Store (Ponsharden),
infrastructure, and all external grounds within the Museum’s
remit are safe, compliant, sustainable, and fit for purpose.

The Estates and Facilities Manager will oversee a complex
commercial property portfolio, so it is essential that you have an
understanding and proven experience of managing commercial
leases and property legislation.

The successful candidate will oversee maintenance, health and
safety compliance, capital projects, contractor management,
and facilities operations, ensuring high standards of service
delivery at all sites.

You will be a confident communicator who can build strong
relationships, bring people together behind shared goals and
work diplomatically with partners. Highly organised and
proactive, you will have a successful track record of managing
projects to time, budget and quality. You will have commercial
acumen, negotiation skills, and the ability to manage and
coordinate multiple stakeholders to maximise estate efficiency,
profitability, and long-term sustainability.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title
Department
Reporting to
Direct reports
Hours

Estates and Facilities Manager
Senior Management Team
Director
Maintenance Operatives
Full-time - 35 hours per week

Summary
The Estates and Facilities Manager is a key member of the
Senior Management Team, reporting to the Director. The post
holder will play a pivotal role in the operation of the Museum
with specific responsibility for the efficient management,
maintenance, and development of the museum’s estate,
facilities, buildings, offsite Boat and Collection Store building
(Ponsharden) and all external grounds within the Museum’s re-
mit. They will also assist the Director by overseeing health and
safety compliance across all museum activities.

The post holder is responsible for the strategic and operational
management of the Museum’s commercial property portfolio.
This includes overseeing leases, ensuring asset performance,
managing landlord-tenant relationships, and supervising
maintenance and compliance activities. The role therefore
requires strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and
the ability to manage and coordinate multiple stakeholders to
maximise estate efficiency, profitability, and long-term sustain-
ability.

The post holder will also act as the Manager of the Discovery
Quay Square trading company and will prepare quarterly
reports to the Directors of the trading company. Ideally the post
holder will be on the committee of the Falmouth BID.

The post holder will ensure that the Museum’s properties are
safe, compliant, and welcoming for visitors, staff and volunteers,
while supporting operational and strategic goals. This will be
achieved through the effective management of planned pre-
ventative and reactive repair work by the Facilities Team, and
where required and appropriate, outsourced service contracts.

•  Maintain accurate property records, including leases,

contracts, and compliance certificates, ensuring all properties
comply with statutory and regulatory requirements (e.g. fire
safety).

•  Act as a main point of contact for tenants, landlords, Event

Square stakeholders, managing agents, and suppliers.
•  Resolve estate-related enquiries, disputes, and issues in a

timely, professional manner.

•  Act as the Manager of Discovery Quay Square Limited,

organising biannual committee meetings and ensuring the
smooth operation of the public space known as ‘Events
Square’.

•  Working with the Visitor Experience and wider team, ensure
that events held on Events Square, such as Falmouth Food
Festival and The Big Wheel, are compliant with Health and
Safety, and advise accordingly.

•  Working with the Boat Collection Manager ensure effec-

tive management of our offsite Boat and Collection Store
building (Ponsharden).

Key responsibilities

•  Strategic and operational management of the Museum’s
commercial property portfolio, which includes overseeing
leases, ensuring asset performance, managing landlord-ten-
ant relationships, and supervising maintenance and
compliance activities.

•  Lead the Museum’s maintenance provision ensuring costed,

budgeted and programmed work plans are in place.

•  Ensure the Museum remains safe and legal at all times in all

areas of Health and Safety.

•  Assist the Senior Management Team with strategic

thinking and deliver expertise to help shape and deliver
future ambition.

•  Coordinate and prepare reports for the Director, Board of
Trustees, committees, funders and stakeholders in all
areas relating to estates, property and maintenance and key
performance management as required.

•  Ensure strategic, financial and organisational issues are

prioritised, appropriate action taken, and risk is monitored
and mitigated.

•  Ensure all procurement is undertaken ethically and in the

interests of the Museum.

Estates Management

•  Manage the Museum’s commercial property portfolio to
ensure optimal operational and financial performance.

•  Act as the main point of contact for issues and matters from
our commercial tenants, ensuring a quick response to any
building issues, including the management of leases, rents
and seating licences.

Health, Safety and Compliance
With the support from external Health and Safety Advisers:

Facilities Management
With the support and working with the Maintenance Operatives:

•  Ensure compliance with all statutory regulations, including

•  Oversee the maintenance, repair, and improvement of

health and safety, fire safety, fire evacuation, electrical safe-
ty, water hygiene, security, accessibility, emergency prepara-
tion, and building regulations.

•  Responsible for drafting the Health and Safety Policy, and
associated policies and procedures, ensuring they are re-
viewed regularly and updated.

•  Oversee and approve risk assessments, inspections, and

incident investigations, maintaining accurate compliance
records and documentation.

•  Lead and chair the Museum’s Health and Safety Committee.
•  Advise the Director and Senior Management Team on
compliance and legislation with regards to Health and
Safety.

•  Develop and test business continuity and emergency

response plans (disaster plans e.g. fire, flood, or security
incidents).

•  Provide advice and support to other departments or

stakeholders on Health and Safety matters.

•  Maintain accurate documentation for audits and inspections.
•  Keep up to date with relevant regulations, such as those
relating to Health and Safety and building standards.

buildings, plant, and equipment.

•  Lead, develop and manage planned preventative

maintenance (PPM) programmes to protect collections,
buildings and infrastructure.

•  Oversee reactive maintenance for the Museum’s estate,

grounds and buildings ensuring a timely resolution of issues.

•  Ensure regular Museum, grounds and property inspections
are carried out to identify maintenance requirements.
•  Manage the response to emergencies and unforeseen
maintenance issues in an efficient and timely manner.
•  Manage contractors and service providers relating to

premises and estate management, ensuring high-quality,
cost-effective delivery, and compliance with our required
Contractor Pack documentation.

•  Oversee security, waste management, and grounds

maintenance across all sites.

•  Work closely with the Visitor Experience, Learning and
events teams to facilitate smooth delivery of public
programmes, exhibitions, and venue hires.

•  Ensure timely response to maintenance issues to minimise

disruption to visitors and operations.

•  Monitor and manage the building systems (BMS, lighting), to

ensure comfort, efficiency, and preservation standards.
•  When required, assist the Maintenance Operatives by

providing hands-on support.

•  Ensure all assets are appropriately recorded and maintained

within asset management systems.

•  Liaise with the curatorial teams to ensure environmental

conditions meet collection care standards.

•  Part of the management team for on-call out of hours

emergency cover.

Budget and Procurement

Staff Management

•  Develop and manage the estates and facilities budgets,
monitoring expenditure, ensuring value for money and
financial control.

•  Oversee procurement processes, contracts, and service level
agreements, ensuring external contractors, suppliers and
service providers, deliver the best value and meet the needs
of the Museum.

•  Manage relationships and service agreements with contrac-
tors relating to premises management, Health and Safety
and building operation.
Identify opportunities for cost efficiencies and external
funding for capital projects or environmental improvements.

•

•  Ensure efficient and cost-effective operation of essential

services, such as utilities and power supplies.

Project and Capital Works

•  Plan and project manage small capital and refurbishment

projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget
and to required standards.

•  Lead, motivate, support and develop the Facilities team.
•  Responsible for the completion and setting of annual   ap-
praisal objectives, holding an appraisal meeting each year
with direct reports.

•  Ensure facilities support operational efficiency at all times.

Car park management

•  Effective management of the Museum car park, regularly

reviewing the car park contract and signage.

•  Ensure the car park is maintained to a high standard and
any issues are rectified effectively in a timely manner.

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the job holder
may be required to undertake other duties as may reasonably
be required.

Competencies

Essential

•  Highly organised and proactive, capable of managing

projects to time, budget and quality

•  Understanding of commercial leases, estates management

principles, and property legislation

•  Proven experience managing estates and facilities within a

heritage, cultural, or public facing setting

•  Experience of managing leases, commercial property, and

landlord/tenant obligations

•  Experience of managing maintenance programmes, and

service contracts

•  Strong understanding of building maintenance, health and

safety, and statutory compliance

•  Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation and

statutory compliance

•  Experience of managing contractors and stakeholders

(estates, commercial tenants, car park)

•  Experience of building relationships with tenants, contractors,

landlords, and external stakeholders

•  Experience of managing budgets and procurement, as well

as financial and management reporting

•  Excellent negotiation and communication skills
•  Ability to manage a complex workload
•  Strong organisational skills, methodical and accurate, with

the ability to prioritise competing demands

•  Confident communicator who can build strong relationships,

bringing people together behind shared goals

•  Ability to work diplomatically with partners, external

stakeholders, commercial tenants, contractors and suppliers

•  Pro-active in problem solving in a dynamic environment
•  Strong leadership and people management capability
•  Excellent project management skills

•  Customer service orientation
•  Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, and

strategies

•  Willingness to undertake any training required
•  Flexible approach to working hours, weekends and bank
holidays will be required as part of a rota, with the
occasional evening

Desirable

•  Certification in Health and Safety (NEBOSH, IOSH),

compliance, or project management

•  Degree or professional qualification in Estates Management,

Facilities Management, or related field

•  Practical ‘hands-on’ experience and recognised trade

qualification (City and Guilds)

•  First Aid qualification
•  project management experience (capital, refurbishment or

exhibition works)

•  Experience working in or with museums, galleries, or

heritage building

Salary and Benefits

•  Circa £40,000-£45,000, depending on experience
•  Pension contribution equal to 5% of your annual salary
•  Death in service benefit of 2 x your annual salary

Application Process

•  Closing date for applications Monday, 30 March 2026 at

•

9.00am
Interviews will take place at the Museum on Thursday, 9
April 2026

How to apply
Please return your completed application form to
lindafrost@nmmc.co.uk or Linda Frost, Head of Human
Resources, National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Discovery
Quay, Falmouth, TR11 3QY.

Equal Opportunities
National Maritime Museum Cornwall is an Equal Opportunities
employer and is committed to creating a culture where
individual differences are valued and respected.