Director of Estates

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Final date to receive applications: 11 January 2026

Department:
Estates & Services

Employment Type:

Full Time

Location:

Bath, Somerset – Newton Park

Compensation:
Circa GBP 95,000

Bath Spa University is looking for an exceptional strategic leader to join us as our next Director of Estates. This is a pivotal senior role, shaping the future of our campuses and ensuring our physical environment inspires creativity, collaboration and an outstanding experience for our students and staff.

As a key member of our Leadership Group, you’ll drive the University’s Estates Strategy, oversee capital developments, and ensure our estate is sustainable, resilient and ready to meet the needs of a modern, digitally enabled university. You’ll also play an important role externally, representing the University regionally and building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.

• Leading the development and delivery of our Estates Strategy across a geographically varied and distinctive estate.
• Ensuring our estate infrastructure is safe, reliable, sustainable and aligned with the University’s strategic priorities.
• Managing significant capital and revenue budgets, ensuring value for money and effective resource planning.
• Providing senior leadership on all health and safety matters, emergency planning and estates risk management.
• Building, motivating and leading a high‑performing Estates team who embody our values of Respect, Inclusion, Sustainability and Collaboration.
• Championing the use of data and technology to enhance estate operations and the student experience.
• Providing strategic leadership to the Sustainability Team and supporting our Carbon Reduction Management Plan.
• Developing productive relationships across the University and representing us externally with confidence and credibility.
• Reporting to the Board of Governors where required and deputising for the Senior Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor.

For a full overview of the role, please refer to the Candidate Pack attached to this page.

We’re looking for a senior estates professional with extensive strategic experience in a large, complex organisation. You’ll bring:

• A relevant degree or equivalent experience, plus professional membership (e.g. RICS, CIOB, IWFM).
• Extensive experience of operating at a strategic level for a sustained period of time.
• A strong track record of delivering major estates projects and estates operations at scale.
• Deep knowledge of compliance, regulation and best practice across estates and health and safety.
• Experience managing substantial budgets and overseeing procurement, contracts and supplier relationships.
• Outstanding communication skills – both written and verbal – with the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable recommendations, and to write for diverse audiences including the Board.
• A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to inspire teams and build strong, productive relationships across all levels.
• Innovative and inspiring approach to estate leadership and management.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit a short video about your vision for Estates s is an essential part of the application process, and you will automatically receive the link on application.

Our campuses are among the most stunning in the UK – from historic parkland to award‑winning contemporary learning spaces. You’ll be joining a creative, forward‑thinking institution with a clear sense of purpose and values, and you’ll play a leading role in shaping environments that enrich learning, wellbeing and community.

We offer a wide range of great benefits at BSU, including

• Generous pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme/Teacher’s Pension Scheme). This is a defined benefit pension scheme which pays members a secure income for life, post‑retirement.
• Enhanced paid leave – 41–46 days depending on the role (Full Time) – more details here:
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working, flexible work environment, on‑site nursery, and a sector‑leading enhanced maternity scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers access to on‑demand GP appointments, wellbeing support and advice, and access to counselling.
• Transport schemes including Electric Vehicle Scheme and Cycle to Work.
• Wide range of discounts and financial benefits, accessed through an easy‑to‑use app.

For further details about all our staff benefits, have a look at our rewards page:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.