SettleParadigm
Head of Estate Services
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Head of Estate Services
Salary: £74,922 + £5,000 salary supplement + excellent benefits
Location: Wooburn Green, High Wycombe & Letchworth Garden City (Working across both office locations)
Hybrid working: A minimum of 2 days per week in the office or out on visits with the team, 3 days per week working from home
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 per week
Are you looking to join a growing, values-led organisation with a clear social purpose?
At SettleParadigm, we’re proud to be the largest housing group in the region, managing over 30,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.
Everything we do is about delivering excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising number of new affordable homes we build. Through our merger we’ve brought together shared values, skills and ambition, so we can build more affordable homes and make an even bigger difference in the communities we serve.
If you're ready to grow your career in a supportive, inclusive environment while helping to shape stronger communities, we’d love to welcome you on our journey. Together, we’re building a better future.
About the role
We are looking for a Head of Estate Services to lead the delivery of a high performing estate service across our property portfolio. You will provide strategic direction, operational leadership and strong commercial oversight to ensure our estate services meet performance targets, compliance requirements and resident expectations.
You will translate organisational strategy into clear operational plans, ensuring teams and contractors deliver efficient, high-quality services. You will lead a large direct labour workforce and manage external contractors, ensuring value for money, strong performance and high standards of delivery. You will also champion a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across the service.
Travel requirements
This role will be based out of both our High Wycombe and Letchworth Garden City offices. You will support our Estates teams across our entire property portfolio. Additionally, you will be expected to visit our properties, estates, and communal areas along with the wider Estates team. Therefore, a full driving licence and a car for business use, insured for business purposes, are essential.
You'll spend your time working from each office depending on the needs of the team.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of a high performing estate service across a large and diverse property portfolio
- Translate strategic direction into clear operational plans and service delivery models
- Provide visible leadership, driving accountability, collaboration and a motivated culture
- Manage estate services with full ownership of performance, productivity and resident outcomes
- Ensure teams meet strategic objectives, commercial targets and improved satisfaction levels
- Maintain effective, innovative and up-to-date policies, procedures and systems
- Review monthly management data and use analytics to drive performance improvements
- Manage staff resources and implement performance and development frameworks
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, including expanding direct labour delivery
- Oversee direct labour teams delivering grounds, bulk waste and cleaning services
- Act as an escalation point for high-level or complex complaints
- Work with senior leaders to develop estate services strategy, including in-house delivery models
- Promote a strong compliance culture and ensure resident voice informs service design
- Provide accurate monthly reports and presentations to senior leadership
- Lead projects to deliver measurable service improvements
- Manage a budget of approximately 4.5 million, ensuring value for money and financial control
- Ensure procurement, negotiation and performance management of contractors meets regulatory and corporate standards
- Maintain effective operational risk management and assurance processes
- Provide high-quality performance, compliance and risk reporting to senior leadership
- Ensure contractors and supply chain partners deliver safe, compliant and high-quality services
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About you
Experience
- Significant experience managing teams with a track record of improving performance and efficiency
- Substantial experience in contract management, holding contractors to account for performance and value for money
- Experience managing large direct labour organisations delivering front-line services
- Experience procuring large-value service contracts within social housing or public sector environments
- Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures aligned to statutory and regulatory requirements
Knowledge
- In-depth functional expertise and broad business knowledge
- Full understanding of relevant health and safety legislation and estate compliance
- Knowledge of the social housing sector
- Experience managing multi-million-pound budgets
Skills
- Ability to lead, communicate and manage change effectively
- Decisive, focused and able to inspire confidence
- Skilled at interpreting performance data to drive improvement
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to motivate and delegate effectively
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to persuade, negotiate and influence
- Positive, driven and committed to achieving business outcomes
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Other
- Educated to degree level or equivalent, or substantial management experience in DLO and maintenance contracts
- Full UK driving licence
- IOSH Managing Safely
- CIH Level 5 or willingness to work towards (desirable)
- NEBOSH General Certificate (desirable)
Benefits
At SettleParadigm, we believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Our comprehensive benefits and rewards package reflects this commitment.
- Annual salary: £74,922 + £5,000 salary supplement per annum
- 30 days holiday, plus Christmas closure and buy options
- Generous pension scheme – up to 9.5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice
- Family-friendly leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Health cash plan – claim up to £1,800 for everyday health costs (plus free kids’ cover)
- Life cover and income protection
- Flexible working – hybrid options, modern offices, free parking & EV charging
And that’s just the beginning! We’re also thrilled to provide:
- Mental Health First Aiders available to support
- Car leasing via salary sacrifice (for permanent colleagues subject to conditions)
- Funded training, qualifications & apprenticeships
- 3 paid volunteering days in the local communities
- Peer-recognition rewards platform
- Paid professional subscription (one per year)
Working Hours
- 37 hours per week
- Monday - Friday
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.
Accessibility and Adjustments
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required.
Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.
Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.
Closing Date: 17th of September, 2026.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the closing date should we find a suitable candidate.
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