Job vacancy: Strategic Estates Manager, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Warrington

Job summary

Main area: Estates
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 493-ICB-8379094

Employer: NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board
Employer type: NHS
Site: NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Headquarters (with travel across Cheshire and Merseyside)
Town: Warrington
Salary: £57,528 - £64,750 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 03/11/2026 23:59

Strategic Estates Manager

NHS AfC: Band 8a

An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of the changing shape of NHS commissioning in Cheshire and Merseyside. Our current organisational structure supports effective working both locally and across Cheshire and Merseyside as we develop as an Integrated Care System.

The population of Cheshire and Merseyside is diverse and growing and we are keen to see that diversity recognised within our own workforce. As an employer we seek to open opportunities for our staff to gain new skills, gain knowledge and develop careers in heath and care.

We welcome students, staff, people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation, physical abilities, backgrounds, and philosophies and those who are accepting of others. Our goal is to support all of our workforce in their work, if you believe you can bring your skills and experiences and an open-minded approach into our fast paced and dynamic organisation, we are committed to providing a positive and supportive experience for all of our staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will need to build and maintain constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to:

Internal ICB staff including managers, colleagues, and senior management as appropriate
National and regional colleagues at NHS England
ICS partners, including portfolio leads, Local Authorities and Provider Collaboratives
Non-NHS organisations
Members of the public and service users as appropriate
Matrix work across all other teams to address interdependencies and ensure alignment of mutual objectives.
External consultancy, as required.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

To support the Head of Estates and Senior Strategic Estates Manager and the wider team to develop and deliver the C&M infrastructure strategy, including 5-Year Clinical & Strategic Commissioning Plan 2026/2031 and Population Health Improvement Plan
To engage with NHS and Non-NHS system leaders with regard to the NHC programme agenda
To collaborate with partner organisations to ensure that local estates strategies and plans support the C&M infrastructure strategy, and that estates is an effective enabler of the integrated care system and its objectives.
To be responsible for the delivery of estates projects to a high standard, on time and in a cost-effective manner. To lead and project manage the delivery of C&M priority projects (both place-based and C&M projects), working with partner organisations to identify needs and solutions, develop business cases to support effective decision making within the ICB and to facilitate project delivery and completion.
To work with all local partners to ensure that the community and primary care projects are adequately resourced so that they can be delivered, by either managing them personally or by agreeing external resource or advice with the Head of Estates.
To ensure that every project has adequately considered financial, sustainability and clinical implications, and that alternative options have been properly considered with respect to digital transformation and changing ways of working.
To lead negotiations on new developments to ensure maximum contributions are secure from individual developments.
To evaluate and monitor all sites to support the long-term disposals/utilisation and potential moves, in line with the C&M and local infrastructure strategies. This will involve horizon scanning and notification to the ICB capital planning function.
To lead on operational issues arising within the Places, and to liaise and recommend solutions to the rent review team on issues and lease concerns, space utilisation, voids or premises moves.
To form and implement robust governance and delivery plans to support priorities.
To actively represent the ICB’s interests in the Premises Estates Groups (PEG’s), or similar local estates committee, in order to facilitate project delivery and to provide transformation delivery information and analytical advice and expertise.
To report transparently on a monthly basis to the PEG’s and the ICB Strategic Estates Group (SEB) or similar strategic estates committee & C&M forums on the progress of projects and operational issues, flagging any risks and concerns and advising on their resolution.
To proactively and effectively manage estates stakeholders across NHS C&M and partner organisations across different teams and at all levels, responding to and resolving conflicts between stakeholders through facilitation or other appropriate mechanisms.
To employ effective communication, negotiation and influencing skills to enable an effective change management with stakeholders at all levels (including senior management) who may hold differing and contentious views.
To present relevant data and analytics to secure buy-in and facilitate resolutions to complex negotiations, and to explain complex transformation delivery challenges to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
To provide and convey complex, sensitive and contentious information, including presenting information about projects and dependencies to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in formal settings.
To produce papers for ICB committees, as required (Devo Place and ICB level)
To ensure that there are close links between estates planning, digital transformation and the net zero carbon agenda.
To work closely with the local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to understand current and future pressures for the health estate for multiple Places and ensure that plans and strategies reflect them.
To work closely with the local authorities to ensure alignment with the local development plans and other public estates rationalisation and to ensure that the ICB has access to S106 and CIL funding as appropriate.
To work with One Public Estate on potential funding opportunities and joint projects and to represent the ICB’s estates team
To be responsible for identifying, managing and escalating key risks to the Head of Estates, and other relevant committees

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties, which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with their manager. This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements, and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation. It will be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder on an annual basis.

Ensure to read the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the role.

Person specification

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential criteria

Educated to master’s level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in Assurance and Governance.
Extensive knowledge and expertise: The estates’ team “subject matter expert” on a number of specialised areas (TBC) dependant on skill set Strategic NHS Estates including One Public Estate and to assist in developing and delivering the C&M infrastructure strategy, including 5-Year Clinical & Strategic Commissioning Plan 2026/2031 and Population Health Improvement Plan Working with other NHS/Non providers including Acutes, Community Services, Mental Health, NHSPS, Local Authorities, VCSE, etc. Managing complex projects and relationships in conjunction with multi agency partners over short, medium and long term plans Managing and mitigating complex risks at a Strategic level proposing and applying relevant governance
Proven and significant leadership experience.

Skills

Essential criteria

Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Experience of researching best practice (globally, private, and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation)

Desirable criteria

Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects

EDI

Essential criteria

Experience of researching best practice (globally, private, and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation)

In the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated above in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application form as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.

Additional information relating to the role can be found in the Job Description below. Please note that candidates will be shortlisted against the criteria outlined within the Person Specification (also below), therefore, to avoid disappointment please ensure you meet the requirements of the role before applying and that you are able to demonstrate these requirements throughout your application form.