Estates Operations Manager Candidate Information Pack

ESTATES OPERATIONS MANAGER CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK

OUR UNIVERSITY

Consistently rated top for jobs.

96% of our graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating.

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024)

Leader in sustainability and climate change research, teaching and engagement.

Ranked joint first in the UK for Quality Education (Times Higher Education’s University Impact Rankings 2025)

The University of Worcester is a thriving engine of opportunity with a global reputation for inclusion and innovation. Our maxim, ‘Inspired for Life‘ is at the heart of what we’re about.

We aim to support students and staff and motivate them to use the skills that they develop to build a better world.

In practice this means an institutional commitment to inclusion, democracy, social benefit, and the transformative power of higher education.

At Worcester, diversity is the key to creativity. Our inclusive culture, friendly university community and dedication to impactful academic endeavour make the University of Worcester an enjoyable and highly rewarding place to work.

Our culture is characterised by the same commitment to diversity and inclusion that underpins our work in all areas of university life.

We are consistently outstanding on environmental sustainability and, because we are committed to becoming the most inclusive employer we can be, we are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident employer, and a signatory to the Mindful Employer charter.

ST JOHN’S CAMPUS Our St John’s Campus is home to the University’s central services, St John’s student village, sports facilities, the Peirson Study and Guidance Centre and bespoke teaching spaces for all subject areas.

CITY CAMPUS The City Campus is located in Worcester City Centre and is home to the University’s Worcester Business School, The Hive Library, Jenny Lind building and the McClelland Health and Wellbeing Centre.

OUR CAMPUSES SEVERN CAMPUS Situated between the St John’s Campus and the City Campus, the Severn Campus is home to the University Arena, the Riverside building, the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building and the Elizabeth Casson Building.

LAKESIDE CAMPUS Located just outside Worcester our Lakeside Campus is a fantastic outdoor learning and activity centre.

Project Management The delivery of all new buildings and major refurbishment projects on campus.

Maintenance Maintenance and repair of buildings and infrastructures across all campus sites.

Space and Data Management Information held on the University space database, AutoCAD drawings and floorplans.

ESTATES Estates covers a wide range of various tasks that can be both reactive and planned.

Our team consists of the Maintenance Team, Project Managers, Infrastructure and Energy, each helping to maintain and improve the operational running of the University.

We take pride in being able to proactively contribute to the daily running of the University by maintaining grounds and buildings across every campus, as well as procuring new buildings and inclusive facilities for all.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THE DUKE’S BUILDING

Opened in 2025, The Duke’s Building is a three-storey flexible teaching space designed to cater for health professional students across as a variety of courses as they train to become the next generation of healthcare workers.

ELIZABETH GARRET ANDERSON BUILDING Named after the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in the UK, the building provides outstanding facilities for the University’s health students.

ELIZABETH CASSON BUILDING The Elizabeth Casson Building is used predominantly for Paramedic Science simulation, supporting high-fidelity, pre-hospital, and emergency care learning.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Estates Operations Manager Department: Estates Services Reporting directly to: Director of Capital Developments and Campus Infrastructure Other contacts Internal: Project Managers, colleagues within the Estates and Facilities Department, Staff at all levels within the University, students, and visitors.

External: Contractors, Engineers, Consultants, Peers at other Universities, Insurers, External Agencies.

Band 8: £44,746 to £56,535 per annum

Opportunity to progress to £61,759 subject to performance and the university reward scheme

MAIN DUTIES 1.To lead the Estates Services team in establishing and delivering maintenance programmes (planned, condition, inspections, and reactive) to positively impact the staff, student and visitor experience through enhanced operational availability of the Estate whilst reducing business risk through increased safety and compliance.

2.Lead, manage, and mentor the in-house Estates Services’ labour force (including recruitment, training, and managing performance, delivering a flexible and responsive service with a strong customer focus) providing technical and pastoral support for the wider team.

3.Operate effective communication systems throughout the service and facilitate team meetings, one-to-ones, development days, and two-way communications. To work collaboratively with all Departments and Faculties within the University, ensuring effective communication at all levels.

4.Develop and maintain a maintenance training & development matrix to ensure that staff potential is maximised, that staff opportunities for personal development are optimised and the Performance Review process is completed for all staff, with consideration for succession planning.

5.To act as the University’s Responsible Person for certain legislative compliance matters, not limited to Water Hygience and Abestos; overseeing the University’s legislative compliance on all Estates related matters.

6.Manage and lead the implementation of statutory inspection and maintenance regimes of the Mechanical/Electrical systems, plant, and equipment (including but not necessarily limited to the following services), updating the asset register in relation to the condition and value of the same: Mechanical distribution systems Passenger / goods lifts Mechanical heating systems Fixed wire testing AHUs / FCUs Gas distribution Ventilation Air conditioning Insurance inspections Other mechanical services 7.Ensure all contractors, working for the Estates Services Department, are effectively managed and provide a responsive, cost-effective service. The post holder will, in conjunction with others, develop and implement SLAs and KPIs. The role holder will liaise with multiple stakeholders to ensure operations are carried out with minimal disruption to University operations in a safe way.

8.To work with the University’s Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Manager to embed good practice in energy management and sustainability into all aspects of the operations and procedures of contracts and wider Estates team.

9.Further develop and implement polices and strategies to deliver a high quality, effective service whilst ensuring value for money and safety compliance of the works undertaken, by in-house and external specialist suppliers and consultants / contractors. Contribute to processes by converting condition survey output into forward maintenance plans and schedules.

10.To plan and oversee the development and operation of the University’s Building Management System and Controls strategy linking to University policies and industry best practice. This will require working with a number of colleagues across the University along with the University’s incumbent BMS engineering partner.

11.Play a proactive role in fire safety across the University including Halls of Residence. As a member of the Estates & Facilities Fire Strategy Group you will ensure that fire safety and associated compliance is well managed to a high standard. You will take a lead role in relation to compartmentation, fire alarm systems, maintenance of building fabric and management of contractors on university premises.

12.Continuously develop innovative and improved ways of working and delivery of services through continuous improvement techniques as well as using initiative to resolve issues as they arise to ensure the impact to the University is minimised.

13.Developing a comprehensive asset management strategy / plan for all buildings, plant equipment and infrastructure in both practical and financial terms taking into account business risk and whole life value for money - ensuring all PPM is carried out in accordance with manufacturer specifications. This will also include ensuring new buildings a brought into maintenance plans and contracts.

14.Provide support for the compilation of financial business cases in support of additional maintenance resources for campus development as required.

15.Contribute to the specification of operational requirements and the design of new build capital developments, refurbishments and other such works to ensure effective on-going building operations once the new / refurbished facility is commissioned / handed over, playing an active role in the commissioning and hand over of refurbishment / new build projects (where appropriate this will involve a ‘Soft Landings’ process).

16.Support and contribute to the development and implementation of the University and departmental business continuity and disaster recovery plans, as well as being a member of the Facilities Managers Out of Hours Duty Manager rota.

17.To respond / support business critical incidents as appropriate. This may involve attending site outside of normal working hours.

18.Project manage small refurbishment schemes carried out either by the in-house team or external contractors.

19.To be a key stakeholder in the development, management and operation of the University’s CAFM and compliance software systems.

20.To act as a point of liaison with Academic Institutes and Service Departments for all Estates related operational service requirements to provide a customer focused service.

21.To further develop and implement polices, including safety and sustainability related, across the operations of the Estates Services Team and wider University.

22.Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job; participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff in their development and training.

23.Take steps to ensure and enhance personal health, safety, and well-being and that of other staff and students.

24.Carry out these duties in a manner that promotes equality of opportunity and supports diversity and inclusion, that supports the University’s duty to secure and promote freedom of speech within the law and takes into account the University’s commitment to environmentally sustainabe ways of working. * The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.