Head of Estates

Put simply, there is nowhere else quite like it. Seven acres of park, playgrounds and Grade II listed community buildings, tucked into the heart of Bloomsbury, dedicated entirely to children and families and where no adult can enter without a child.

It has been this way since 1936 and our jobs and potentially yours, as our new Head of Estates, is to protect this sanctuary for children and young people for generations to come.

This isn’t your average Head of Estates role – it’s a role for someone that cares deeply about their work and someone who will thrive on the prospect of developing and protecting this iconic space for children and young people. The prospect of being able to see the tangible impact of your work in bringing joy to thousands of children and families across London, will hold huge appeal.

What you’ll be doing:

• Overseeing the day-to-day compliance, management and maintenance of our park, playgrounds, sports facilities, and Grade II listed buildings.
• Leading a small, multi-skilled Grounds and Facilities team — recruiting them, developing them, and building a culture they're proud to be part of.
• Overseeing contractors and capital works, from routine repairs to major building projects. 
• Sitting on the Senior Management Team to shape the charity's strategic plans.
• Looking after a grounds and facilities budget of c.£400K.
• Acting as one of four Designated Safeguarding Leads, because looking after this site 
means looking after the children in it.
 

Who we’re looking for:

• An inspiring leader, capable of galvanising and getting the best out of our small but agile team – you’ll thrive on managing people, seeing your team as your greatest asset.
• A systems person, who knows that quality systems and structures are key to consistent, high quality facility management
• Someone who sees the bigger picture but also knows how to balance this with a hands on operational approach when needed.
• Someone with an exceptional attention to detail – you’ll see things that others don’t, set standards at the highest level and help others understand why quality matters.
• An experienced facilities professional, capable of balancing the demands of managing a complex, public space and heritage site.
• A team player – someone with the conviction to own what they do but who also understands 
the value of working and learning from those around them.