Interim Director of Estates

Location: London (central office with travel across school sites)

Contract: Fixed-term, 3 months, full time

Salary: £80,000 – £90,000 (pro rata)

Start: Immediate / ASAP

The Opportunity

Maxwell Stephens is working with a well-regarded multi-academy trust in London to appoint an Interim Director of Estates. This is a senior leadership role reporting to the CEO, with accountability to the Board through the Finance & Resources Committee. The Trust is preparing to recruit a permanent Director of Estates and needs an experienced estates leader to provide strategic direction, compliance assurance and operational grip in the meantime.

You will lead the estates function across the Trust's primary and secondary schools, ensuring every site is safe, compliant, well maintained and fit for excellent education.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's estate strategy and Asset Management Plan, in line with DfE SEMS and GEMS guidance
• Act as competent lead for Trust-wide health and safety, including fire, asbestos, water hygiene, gas, electrical and structural compliance
• Maintain the central compliance monitoring system and the estates elements of the Trust Risk Register, reporting to the Executive Group and Board
• Direct the capital programme, including deployment of School Condition Allocations and decarbonisation funding
• Oversee PFI contract performance and major service contracts, including IT infrastructure, catering and cleaning
• Manage estates and capital budgets alongside the CFO, with compliant public sector procurement
• Lead and support a small central team of contract leads and an administrator, and set standards for site-based premises teams
• Complete statutory estates returns and represent the Trust with the DfE, local authority, insurers and contractors

What You'll Bring

• Senior estates or facilities leadership across a multi-site organisation, ideally in education, local government or the public sector
• A relevant professional qualification (e.g. RICS, CIOB, IWFM) and NEBOSH or equivalent
• A track record of delivering capital projects and managing DfE capital funding (e.g. CIF, SRP)
• Hands-on statutory compliance management across multiple sites
• Strong working knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook and academy-sector premises requirements
• The ability to explain technical estates matters clearly to headteachers, executives and trustees
• Calm, decisive leadership, especially when responding to premises emergencies

MAT or school experience and PFI experience would be a distinct advantage. Given the short-term nature of the role, candidates who can start quickly and make an immediate impact are particularly encouraged to apply.

This post requires an enhanced DBS check, a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites.

How to Apply

This is a confidential appointment managed exclusively by Maxwell Stephens. To apply or for a confidential conversation, please send your CV to cv@maxwellstephens.com or call Peter Forshaw on 0203 903 4260.