Head of BBSRC Estates

Job summary

Head of Estates
Salary: £58,589 Per Annum
Band: UKRI Band F
Contract: Open-ended
Hours: Full Time
Location: Polaris House, Swindon.
Reports to: Associate Director of BBSRC Estates
Travel Required: Yes (Please note the Travel required option at the top of the page is in error)

Closing Date: 23:59 on Monday 29th June 2026
About the role

Lead and oversee the strategic management, planning, and assurance of the BBSRC estate. Ensure asset protection, legal compliance, effective investment, and consistent, high quality estate management across BBSRC-supported Institutes and UKRI-owned assets.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Estate Leadership

• Develop and deliver the BBSRC Estates Strategy aligned with corporate objectives.
• Provide strategic assurance for capital investment programmes and the BBSRC Estates Panel.
• Lead estate-related risk management and provide expert guidance on statutory, safety, sustainability, and environmental requirements.

Institute Oversight & Assurance

• Provide strategic direction to BBSRC Institutes in producing long-term asset management plans.
• Oversee annual and multi-year planned maintenance programmes to protect UKRI freehold asset value.
• Monitor Institute KPIs, compliance, and estate performance, reporting regularly to senior stakeholders.
  

Compliance, Sustainability & Security

• Ensure legal compliance across the estate, including owner surveys, asbestos, legionella, and wider statutory duties.
• Embed sustainability into estate planning and represent BBSRC at UKRI risk, sustainability, and security forums.
• Provide physical security guidance and coordinate UKRI security returns.
  

Estate Operations & Professional Services

• Manage contracts, frameworks, and consultants, including valuations, audits, and specialist services.
• Lead periodic condition surveys, maintain property datasets, and support UKRI reporting requirements.
• Provide expert estates advice on planning, building control, health and safety, and procurement.
  

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong working relationships across BBSRC, UKRI, and Institute estate teams.
• Chair twice-yearly estate leader meetings and ensure actions are progressed.
• Work with the Head of Real Estate to provide lease advice and support lease creation or renewal.
  

Capital Investment Programme

• Support the Estates Investment Panel by managing business case calls, reviewing submissions, and monitoring approved capital projects.
• Approve Institute payment requests against approved business cases.
  

Representation & Professional Development

• Represent BBSRC senior leaders at internal and external meetings.
• Maintain professional competence and promote continuous development across estate teams.

Person specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• HNC/HND in estates, building, or engineering. (S)
• Professional membership (RICS, CIOB, IWFM, CIBSE, APM, or equivalent). (S)
• Strong communication, time management, and the ability to manage ambiguity. (S/I)
• Effective stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills. (S/I)
• Clear, concise report writing. (S/I)
• Ability to lead, prioritise, and empower others across multiple concurrent tasks. (S/I)
• Solid understanding of estates compliance, health & safety, and risk management. (S/I)
• Experience producing technical specifications and tender documentation. (S/I)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and estates management IT systems. (S)
• Willingness to travel across the UK, including overnight stays. (S/I)
• Commitment to professional development. (I)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,589, UK Research and Innovation contributes £16,973 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : UKRI Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org