West Dean College
Interim Deputy Director of Estates & Campus Services
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Interim Deputy Director of Estates & Campus Services
About West Dean
West Dean is truly distinctive. We bring together internationally recognised education across arts, craft, conservation, design, and horticulture, delivered across our campuses in Sussex and Bloomsbury, London. Alongside this, we steward an historic estate and gardens that welcome tens of thousands of visitors each year, as well as the remarkable legacy and collections of our founder, Edward James.
We are now advancing an ambitious strategy to 2031, designed to focus our priorities and drive long-term success. Estates and Campus Services will play a central role in delivering this vision—conserving and enhancing the estate, supporting outstanding student, visitor, and staff experiences, embedding environmental sustainability, and strengthening operational resilience.
About the Role
This is a pivotal 12-month interim leadership role at the heart of West Dean’s Estates and Campus Services function.
Core Responsibilities
As Interim Deputy Director, you will:
- Act as the operational lead across a diverse portfolio including:
- Campus services
- Hospitality
- Events
- Gardens
- Residential accommodation
- Property
- Facilities
- Provide day-to-day leadership to a team of experienced Head of Department chairs, ensuring the safe, consistent, and high-quality delivery of services across the estate.
- Work closely with the Director to strengthen operational performance, integration, and governance.
- Embed a more data-driven approach to decision-making:
- Enhance performance visibility
- Improve financial and operational oversight
- Develop a more joined-up customer journey across student, visitor and commercial activities
- Lead priority improvement projects, ensuring sustainable operational change and long-term impact.
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As part of the senior leadership team, you will:
- Contribute to organisation-wide planning and decision-making.
- Collaborate with colleagues across:
- Academic functions
- Commercial functions
- Operational functions
This is unique opportunity to shape how a complex estate operates and delivers value during a period of continued development and growth.
About You
Key Qualifications
The successful candidate will be an experienced senior leader with:
-
A strong track record in complex, customer-facing environments such as:
- Estates
- Facilities management
- Hospitality
- Visitor attractions
- Similar diverse operational settings
-
A proven ability to deliver operational transformation, driving measurable improvements in:
- Performance
- Service quality
- End-to-end service redesign
Note: These achievements should ideally be demonstrated within an interim or fixed-term role.
Leadership Attributes
You will combine strategic acumen with hands-on delivery, establishing credibility quickly through:
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- Hands-on collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams (including senior managers).
- Ability to work across organisational boundaries to:
- Align priorities
- Enhance performance
- Deliver high-quality services
- A relentless commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence.
- Leadership style:
- Collaborative, visible, and pragmatic
- Underpinned by sound judgement and fast decision-making.
Core Focus Areas
-
Operational excellence
-
Effective governance
-
Data-driven decision-making to drive performance
-
Strong understanding of:
- Financial awareness
- Operational resilience
- Compliance, risk, and health & safety
Motivational Fit
You will be motivated by the opportunity to contribute to an organisation blending education, heritage, and visitor experience.
How to Apply
West Dean is using MRG (search consultancy) to support this recruitment initiative.
To arrange an initial confidential conversation, please contact retained advisors:
- Sian Gardiner
- Michael Hewlett
Application Requirements
Send applications in one email to Sian Gardiner including:
- A comprehensive CV
- A supporting statement demonstrating:
- Your suitability for the role
Closing date for applications: Sunday 28th June 2026
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