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Head of Estates
HEAD OF ESTATES – CORAM'S FIELDS
📍 Location: Coram's Fields, 93 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DN
💷 Salary: £50,000 per annum
⏰ Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (includes occasional evening and weekend work)
📄 Contract: Permanent, reporting to the CEO
✨ Benefits: 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), defined contribution pension, tax-free childcare scheme, cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme (EAP)
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Head of Estates holds overall responsibility for day-to-day management of Coram's Fields' unique seven-acre park and playgrounds dedicated to children, in the heart of central London — including the management of a number of Grade II listed buildings, home to a wealth of community services for children and families.
Our historic park and buildings are the charity's most valuable assets, providing joy to hundreds of thousands of children and families each year. Stewarding these assets is a critical part of what we do.
We're looking for someone who will relish the opportunity and responsibility that comes with looking after such an iconic space — someone capable of seeing the bigger picture while balancing this with a hands-on operational approach, and who can get the very best out of a small but agile team.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
- Overall responsibility for high-quality management and maintenance of our park, playgrounds and facilities, including our Grade II listed buildings
- Develop and implement a systematic maintenance programme of daily, weekly, monthly and annual checks and inspections, managing the site to best practice and exceeding compliance
- Develop effective systems for reporting maintenance and health and safety issues, prioritising tasks and scheduling work
- Carry out, oversee or supervise repair and maintenance work as part of planned preventative maintenance (plumbing, electrical, brickwork, painting, carpentry)
- Accountability for legal compliance across the site, liaising with external organisations on playground inspections, fire and electrical testing, tree condition surveys and more
- Manage and coordinate external contractors, from regular outsourced services to planned capital improvement works
- Lead on Health & Safety for on-site events, ensuring all events are delivered safely through effective planning
- Contribute to the charity's strategic and business plans as an integral member of the Senior Management Team
- Develop and manage the annual estates budget (c.£400K) alongside the CEO and COO
- Ensure risk assessments are developed, documented and regularly reviewed across all aspects of building and facility management
- Line manage the Grounds and Facilities team, creating a strong, positive, high-performance culture
- Lead recruitment, induction, training and development across the team
- Identify investment priorities and work with the CEO, SMT and Trustees on our future vision, capital projects and funding opportunities
- Identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of our estate, balanced with the conservation needs of our listed buildings
- Act as main point of contact (with Senior Premises Officers) for park-based volunteers
- Serve as one of four Designated Safeguarding Leads, helping maintain Coram's Fields as one of the safest spaces for children in London
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WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Essential:
- Industry-recognised health and safety qualification relevant to the role (e.g. IOSH)
- Facilities management qualification or significant experience in this area
- Minimum 5 years' experience managing buildings and facilities of a similar nature
- Experience of landscape (parks and open spaces) management
- Demonstrable experience developing and implementing building and facility management systems, including online systems
- Significant experience managing and leading a multi-skilled team
- Experience developing risk assessments and ensuring compliance
- Budget management experience, ideally at a similar level (c.£400K)
- Outstanding leadership skills and the ability to motivate a team
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to anticipate challenges
- Practical skills in one of: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, brickwork
- Excellent knowledge of building and facilities management and compliance regulations (e.g. fire safety)
- Strong IT skills, including Outlook and Excel
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Desirable:
- Advanced health and safety qualifications (e.g. NEBOSH)
- Experience managing listed buildings
- Experience managing and supporting volunteers
- Experience contributing to strategic direction as part of a senior team
- Safeguarding, risk assessment and first aid training
How to apply
CV and cover letter, addressing all the criteria outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification (please note, applicants may be required to submit additional information at a later stage). The applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview before the application deadline. Applicants are therefore encouraged to make early applications for the role should they be interested.
Applications should be returned to Loura Handovsky (Front of House) and should be submitted by e-mail only to loura@coramsfields.org.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted within seven days of the closing date. If you have not heard from us within this period, please assume your application unsuccessful.
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