The Brief
St John’s Winchester approached us to recruit a Head of Facilities & Estates to oversee their historic almshouse estate and wider property portfolio in the heart of Winchester.
This was a key hire, reporting directly to the CEO, with responsibility for both the day-to-day running of the estate and the long-term strategic direction of their assets.
The role required a strong balance of:
• Operational FM delivery
• Strategic asset management
• Compliance and health & safety leadership
• Stakeholder and contractor management
On top of that, the successful candidate needed to understand the sensitivities of working within a charitable organisation managing heritage properties.
The Challenge
This wasn’t a standard FM hire.
The client needed someone who could:
• Manage a live residential estate with a strong focus on resident wellbeing
• Oversee historic and listed buildings with care and compliance
• Develop a long-term estates strategy (10–30 years)
• Lead both in-house teams and external contractors
• Take full ownership of health & safety and regulatory compliance
Finding someone with the right mix of technical knowledge, leadership, and cultural fit was critical.
Our Approach
We worked closely with the client to fully understand both the technical requirements and the values behind the organisation.
Our process included:
• Targeting senior FM professionals with heritage and residential experience
• Focusing on candidates with proven strategic estates planning capability
• Assessing strong compliance and H&S leadership experience
• Shortlisting individuals who could operate confidently at board level
We ensured every candidate presented could handle both the hands-on operational side and the long-term strategic responsibilities of the role.
The Outcome
We successfully placed a high-calibre Head of Facilities & Estates who brought:
• Strong experience managing complex property portfolios
• A proven track record in compliance, safety, and asset performance
• The ability to lead teams while maintaining high service standards
• Experience working within sensitive or regulated environments
The successful candidate is now responsible for:
• Leading the estates and maintenance function
• Delivering planned and reactive maintenance
• Driving sustainability and energy improvements
• Supporting the charity’s long-term financial and operational goals
The Result
The appointment has strengthened the organisation’s ability to:
• Manage its estate more strategically
• Maintain high standards of safety and compliance
• Improve long-term asset performance
• Support residents with a safe, well-maintained environment