Head of Estates

About the School

Crosfields is a thriving day school which welcomes girls and boys from 3-16 years of age.  Set across 45 acres overlooking the Reading stadium, it boasts a vibrant community offering a broad and thorough education. 

About the Role

We are looking to appoint a forward leaning, experienced Head of Estates to succeed the current incumbent who is retiring after 15 years in the role.  The role has broad responsibilities for the maintenance and management of the School’s 45 acre site.

The School has set upon an ambitious programme to extend its provision to 16 (Year 11) by September 2023.  Our phase one senior school building was opened in November 2021.  Ancillary projects and phase two of the senior school project will need to be delivered over the next 18 months as well as continuing to improve the existing estate.    

The role reports directly to the Bursar and is a key member of the Support Team leadership group.  

Key Areas of Responsibility 

To maintain and improve the fabric and infrastructure of school buildings and grounds ensuring they are fit for purpose and meet all statutory and regulatory compliance requirements.   

To project manage and deliver capital projects up to £0.5M in value and to support the development of larger projects in conjunction with the wider management and design teams. 

To supervise, lead, motivate and develop the Estates Team including Maintenance, Grounds and Housekeeping. 

Main Duties 

Property Management 

Maintain a 5 year pre-planned maintenance programme to include statutory, regulatory, routine and ad-hoc maintenance requirements as well as improvements to the fabric of the estate, grounds, furnishings and equipment. 

Undertake necessary surveys and maintain data on the condition of plant, furnishings, equipment, building, services and grounds to inform future strategic and funding decisions. 

Place and manage all general maintenance contracts to fulfil the requirements of the pre-planned maintenance programme.    

Schedule all necessary and good practice maintenance inspections and requirements; follow up on tasks arising and maintain records for inspection using Assurity+. 

Undertake tenders for contracts and works in accordance with the School’s procurement guidelines. 

Maintain a library of plans for all buildings and services and the corresponding operational and maintenance manuals. 

Communicate with all stakeholders regarding emergency, immediate, holiday and long term estate plans and works.   

Ensure satisfactory arrangements are in place for the ordering, storage and stock control of workshop materials, equipment and furniture. 

Finance and Governance 

Prepare annual submissions for all estates budget lines in conjunction with the Head of Finance.  Annual operating budget is £435k excluding salaries and capex. 

Scrutinise and authorise all contractor invoices to ensure that they reflect work undertaken and value for money. 

Monitor and manage financial performance against budgets and provide forecast of outturn on a termly basis. 

Provide Governors with termly updates on estate matters. 

Project Management 

Develop project briefs for small works and capital projects in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and provide detailed costed schemes of works in preparation for budgetary approval. 

Programme and manage small works and capital projects utilising in-house skills and external contractors as befits the work to be undertaken. 

Health & Safety 

Ensure all statutory and regulatory requirements relating to the estate are met. 

Organise the arrangements for the day to day safety of the school buildings and grounds through the safety procedures and compliance requirements set out in the Health & Safety Policy.  Specific responsibilities are:    

• Onsite traffic management
• Asbestos management
• Legionella management    
• Arrangements for contractors

Carry out delegated duties in respect of fire safety with specific responsibility for the maintenance of Fire Risk Assessments.  

Ensure risk assessments and method statements are in place for general site hazards as well as work carried out by the Estates Team and third party contractors. 

Hold day to day responsibility for site security, including key custodian, and undertake a Security Risk Assessment on an annual basis in accordance with the Security and Lone Working Policy. 

Ensure Safe Start procedures are in place for all contractors working on site.   

Ensure the Estates Team is able to provide an immediate response to, practical support and/or guidance in respect of any emergency maintenance situation or crisis management incident. 

Sustainability 

Embed sustainability into practices, policies and future planning.

Work with the Assistant Bursar to monitor and manage energy and water consumption across the school. 

Audit, review and improve waste management across the school with a view to reduce waste to landfill. 

Produce and maintain a woodlands management plan. 

Implement the Biodiversity Plan. 

Line Management 

Support members of the Estates Team through the Professional Development Review programme and individual and team training plans. 

Qualifications, Experience and Personal Characteristics   

•  Minimum 8 years’ experience in construction and/or facilities management with a technical or professional qualification .   
• Proven Ability to plan and deliver projects     
• Experience of preparing and managing significant budgets     
• Commercial experience including contracting and tendering    
• Health & Safety management preferably with NEBOSH or similar qualification    
• Working knowledge of fire safety and other relevant regulations and industry best practice    
• Experience in managing, championing and leading an operationally focussed team    
• Track record of finding pragmatic solutions and delivering on commitments    
• Strong organisational skills and confidence in managing multiple work streams concurrently     
• Willingness to work hard and lead by example    
• Flexible and adaptable in approach    
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and collaboration skills     
• Confident with IT especially Excel, project planning tools and CAD  

Please find candidate pack attached for further details, including salary and benefits.

Crosfields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and all applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.