Director of Estates, Environment and Facilities

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset is delivering a £500m transformation programme that is reshaping how care is delivered across our hospitals. A new clinical model, major estate redevelopment and digital transformation are already underway, bringing significant and sustained change across the organisation.

This is not a maintenance role. It is a defining one.

At UHD, estates and facilities are not a backdrop to care – they are central to it, underpinning patient care, staff experience and organisational performance.

The Director of Estates, Environment and Facilities sits at the centre of this, providing leadership across a critical portfolio that supports every aspect of how care is delivered.

This is an opportunity to lead through complexity, shaping infrastructure, services and environments that are safe, resilient and aligned to the Trust’s future.

For further insight into the scale, scope and impact of this role, please view the recruitment brochure under the ‘Supporting Links’ section on NHS jobs.

A Recruitment and Retention Premia (RRP) and relocation expenses will be considered for this role in line with Trust policies and subject to internal review.

Our closing date for applications is 12 midnight on Sunday 19th July.

Shortlisting will take place by Wednesday 22nd July.

We will be contacting applicants by Friday 24th July.

The interview selection process will take place on Thursday 13th August. Please ensure you are available on this date.

Main duties of the job

This role leads estates,facilities and environmental services at scale, ensuring they consistently support high-quality patient care and a positive staff experience.

A central focus is enabling transformation, ensuring new developments, services and clinical models are delivered safely and embedded effectively into day-to-day operations.

Alongside this, strong operational grip is essential, with clear oversight of compliance, risk and performance to provide assurance to the Executive Team and Board within a complex and evolving environment.

The role also plays a key part in shaping a sustainable future for the organisation, leading delivery of the Trust’s Green Plan and embedding environmental sustainability across services.

As a senior leader, the postholder contributes beyond their portfolio, working across professional and organisational boundaries to support Trust-wide priorities and long-term success.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Degree as a minimum, with evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Chartered engineer/surveyor or equivalent status
• Degree or Post Graduate level professional qualification in an Estates or Environmental related discipline

Experience

Essential

• Track record in delivering environmental goals and practices within a large-scale organisation
• Extensive experience in managing NHS or similar complex estates services, for safe, cost effective services
• Demonstrate expertise in infrastructure investment planning and implementation. This includes experience of large contract procurement and management
• Significant budget management experience (capital and revenue) and track record of delivering financial targets
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to lead and deliver complex projects across stakeholders
• Experience in a senior management role at Director or Deputy Director level in a large complex organisation

Desirable

• Experience of working in a QMS directed environment
• Management of other FM services
• Experience of senior leadership requirements and working at/with Director level in NHS hospital environment
• Ability to use CAD or similar design software
• Experience of acquisition and disposal of assets/land and property

Skills

Essential

• Excellent understanding of quality management systems and their application in a healthcare setting
• Clear understanding of infrastructure and engineering systems, (e.g. power, medical gas, water and disposal
• Ability to think strategically and manage operationally
• Excellent report writing skills with the ability to analyse and interpret complex information and be able to present succinctly and clearly
• Matrix management (the ability to manage and influence others when there is not a direct line management relationship)
• Strong commercial acumen
• Ability to undertake duties associated with the provision of emergency on call including attendance on site out of normal hours as required within 60 minutes
• High level of technical and management knowledge gained within a highly complex environment, managing multiple tasks simultaneously and often to very short deadlines.

Desirable

• Familiarity with renewable energy technologies and energy-efficient practices
• Working/dealing with press and media enquiries

Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of estates compliance and legal duties
• Comprehensive understanding risk management approaches and good practice
• Good knowledge with regard to Sustainability and Carbon Reduction

Closing Date: 19 July 2026