JOB TITLE: Assistant Head of Estates
LOCATION: Petty Pool Vocational College, Pool Lane, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2DR
REPORTS TO: Head of Estates and Capital Development
SALARY: £39,385.38 -£44,328.59 per annum – depending on qualifications and experience
HOURS: 35 hours per week, Monday – Friday
Role Purpose
Assistant Head of Estates will play a key strategic and operational role in the planning, management and delivery of estates, facilities, repairs and maintenance services across the Petty Pool Estate, including APS (Autism Practical Support) and Petty Pool in the Community and will pivotal in the succession planning for the Estates department
The role has overall responsibility for ensuring the estate is safe, secure, compliant, well-maintained and welcoming, supporting learners, staff and visitors. This includes oversight of maintenance, grounds, health and safety, site security, housekeeping and catering services.
Working closely with the Head of Estates, the Estates & Site Manager will ensure services support a positive learner experience and align with Ofsted expectations, particularly in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, behaviour and attitudes, and the quality of the learning environment.
Roles and Responsibilities
Leadership, Management & Coordination
Qualifications and Experience
- Deputise for the Head of Estates in their absence in all aspects of the role
- Lead, manage and coordinate all estates, facilities and site services, including maintenance, grounds, housekeeping and catering
- Provide line management and operational oversight to estates, housekeeping and catering teams, setting clear objectives and performance expectations
- Develop, monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for the estates and facilities function, ensuring services are effective, responsive and continuously improving
- Plan, schedule and prioritise maintenance and facilities works, using in-house staff and external contractors
- Allocate and oversee work orders, monitoring progress, quality, compliance and timeliness of delivery
- Support recruitment, induction, training and development of estates and facilities staff
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, service excellence and continuous improvement across all facilities teams
Estates Maintenance & Operations
- Oversee planned, preventive and reactive maintenance across all buildings, plant, equipment and external areas, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, building fabric and grounds
- Ensure all maintenance activities meet SFG20 standards, statutory requirements and best practice guidance
- Use data from maintenance systems and KPIs to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities
- Contribute to longer-term estates planning, asset management and lifecycle maintenance in partnership with the Head of Estates
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Take operational responsibility for health and safety across the estate, ensuring robust systems, processes and monitoring arrangements are in place
- Conduct and oversee regular inspections, audits and risk assessments of buildings, plant, equipment and working practices
- Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, statutory testing, and internal policies
- Maintain accurate and auditable records to support inspections, internal assurance and Ofsted evidence requirements
- Act as a visible leader for health and safety, promoting a strong culture of safe working practices for staff, learners, contractors and visitors
Site Security & Safeguarding of the Estate
- Oversee the security of the site, ensuring appropriate systems, procedures and staffing arrangements are in place
- Monitor and review site security arrangements, including access control, alarms, CCTV and contractor management
- Ensure estates and security arrangements support safeguarding responsibilities and contribute to a safe learning environment in line with Ofsted expectations
- Respond to security incidents, near misses and concerns, ensuring lessons learned are captured and improvements implemented
Budget, Performance & Resource Management
- Work with the Head of Estates to manage and monitor estates, facilities and related budgets, ensuring effective cost control and value for money
- Monitor contractor performance against service level agreements and KPIs, taking action where standards are not met
- Support procurement and contract management for maintenance, housekeeping, catering and specialist services
- Manage inventories of tools, equipment and consumables, ensuring all resources are compliant, maintained and fit for purpose
Customer Service, Quality & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the primary point of contact for estates and facilities matters for staff and learners
- Ensure service requests are handled efficiently, professionally and with clear end-to-end communication
- Use feedback, performance data and KPIs to drive service improvements and enhance the learner and staff experience
- Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure estates services contribute positively to behaviour, attendance, wellbeing and the overall learning environment
- Support the organisation in preparing for inspections and audits by providing clear evidence of estates performance, compliance and continuous improvement
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Qualified to, or working towards IOSH or NEBOSH Certificate
- Experience of working within robust Health and Safety Management System
- Experienced in wide range of DIY/Maintenance
Desirable
- Hold or be working towards a Basic First Aid Certificate
- Experience of working within Further Education
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across the organisation and with other stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational skills, with ability to cope with a full and varied workload, prioritise and work to deadlines.
- Positive and collaborative attitude and willingness to go the extra mile to help themselves and others achieve goals.
Personal Competencies
Essential
- Ability to work calmly under pressure, prioritise & manage own workload
- Flexibility, enthusiasm and a positive attitude at all times
- Honesty, fairness and reliability in all matters
Petty Pool Values:
Our values:
- Ambitious – Striving for excellence in everything we do
- Brave – Fearless in our boldness
- Creative – exploring innovation and embracing change
- Collaborative – feeling valued and adding value
Non-Term-Time
Staff Benefits:
- 28 days annual leave, plus 8 public bank holidays
- On-site parking
- Company Sick pay (after passing probationary period)
- Employer-funded BHSF Health & Wellbeing Plan, helping with everyday healthcare costs including dental, optical and therapies, alongside 24/7 GP and counselling support
- Free meals when commuting by car sharing, walking, or cycling
- Bike rack
- Eye care vouchers
- Company pension
- Smart casual dress
This role offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to a values-led charity dedicated to improving life chances for young people with learning disabilities. Petty Pool is proud to have been recognised as Outstanding to Work For 2025 by Best Companies, reflecting our strong culture, values and commitment to our people.
Closing Date: Tuesday 18th August 2026 at 4:00pm
Pay: £39,385.38-£44,328.59 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
*
1. Do you hold, or are you working towards, an IOSH or NEBOSH qualification? (Essential)
2. How many years' experience do you have working in Estates, Facilities, Property Maintenance or a related environment?
3. Do you have experience managing Health & Safety compliance, including risk assessments, audits and statutory inspections within an estates or facilities environment?
Please provide brief details
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
