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Job summary

Main area
Corporate
Grade
Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
374-ER001
Employer
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Cross site
Town
Cross site
Salary
Dependant on Experience
Closing
22/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust logo

Director of Estates and facilities

Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area. 


We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £568 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. 


Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes. 


The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services. 

 

Job overview

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to join our Executive Team as Director of Estates and Facilities.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the strategic development and delivery of high-quality estates, facilities, and sustainable services across the Trust. Your leadership will shape the future of our healthcare infrastructure—ensuring it supports outstanding patient care and staff wellbeing.

 Key Responsibilities

  • Oversee multi-million-pound capital projects and long-term asset care
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety standards
  • Drive delivery of our ambitious Green Plan and sustainability goals
  • Inspire and lead a large multidisciplinary team
  • Manage significant budgets with a focus on innovation and efficiency

 What We’re Looking For

A passionate, forward-thinking leader with a proven track record in estates and facilities management—ideally within a complex healthcare or public sector environment. You’ll bring strategic insight, operational excellence, and a commitment to sustainability.

 

Interviews will be on the 24th September 

 

Main duties of the job

Strategic Leadership

  • Develop and implement the Trust’s Estates and Facilities Strategy.
  • Align estates and facilities plans with clinical and corporate objectives.
  • Lead the Trust’s sustainability agenda, including delivery of the Green Plan and net-zero targets.

Capital Projects Oversight

  • Lead multi-million-pound capital developments.
  • Deliver the 10-year critical infrastructure and medical equipment replacement plans.
  • Ensure projects meet quality, budget, and timeline expectations.

Operational Management

  • Oversee estates maintenance and facilities services (catering, cleaning, portering, security).
  • Ensure statutory and regulatory compliance across all sites.
  • Lead space management and asset care strategies.

Governance and Compliance

  • Ensure robust systems for health & safety, fire safety, and infection prevention.
  • Deliver annual reports on fire safety, security, and compliance.

Financial and Resource Management

  • Manage large budgets with strong fiscal governance.
  • Ensure value for money and financial sustainability.
  • Lead business cases for capital programmes and backlog maintenance.

Leadership and Workforce Development

  • Inspire and manage a large multidisciplinary team.
  • Promote a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure staff are suitably trained and qualified.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Collaborate with clinical leaders, local authorities, ICS partners, and contractors.
  • Build relationships that support integrated, patient-centred services.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year. 

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see  attached job description for more information on the Director of Estates and Facilities 

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Significant senior leadership experience in estates and facilities management within a large, complex organisation
  • • Proven track record of delivering large-scale capital projects • Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and large operational budgets
  • • Experience of working with regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements
Desirable criteria
  • • Experience working at Board level in the NHS or similar public sector organisation
  • • Experience of leading sustainability and net-zero initiatives
  • • Experience of PFI contract management

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • In-depth understanding of estates and facilities operations, including engineering, building maintenance, soft FM services, and capital planning
  • • Strong knowledge of health and safety, fire safety, and statutory compliance
  • • Awareness of environmental sustainability and carbon reduction strategies
Desirable criteria
  • • Knowledge of NHS capital investment processes and business case development

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • • Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Estates Management, Engineering, Facilities Management, or Business Administration) or equivalent experience
  • • Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable criteria
  • • Chartered membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., RICS, IHEEM, CIBSE)
  • • Leadership or management qualification (e.g., ILM, MBA)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkSilver Award 2024 - Wellbeing at Work - East Sussex

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Steve Aumayer
Job title
Deputy CEO
Email address
[email protected]
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