Director of Estates & Facilities

About the role:

Bournemouth University is entering a defining phase in its evolution.

With a new institutional strategy, renewed ambition and a clear focus on our future impact, we are reshaping how we engage with students, staff, partners and communities.  At the heart of this transformation is our estate as a window of who we are and a foundation for student and staff experience.

We are now seeking an exceptional Director of Estates and Facilities to play a pivotal role in delivering this ambition.  You will lead a major professional services directorate, overseeing substantial contract tendering, estate master planning and development.

About the person

We are looking for a proactive, strategic and influential leader who brings deep sector knowledge, sharp insight and the confidence to challenge established ways of working. Someone who understands what good looks like across the public and private sectors, who can cut through complexity, and who is energised by the opportunity to lead the delivery of a substantial part of BU’s ambition.

You will operate as a trusted adviser to the University’s Executive, influencing decision-making at the highest level and ensuring our estate is sector leading in terms of safety, ROI and sustainability.

This is a role for someone who thrives on momentum and impact — who can combine strategic clarity with delivery focus, demonstrate leadership that brings people with them, and create the conditions for excellence at pace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Enable a culture that delivers an efficient, ambitious and successful service, whilst balancing the multiple requirements and priorities of colleagues, students and other stakeholder groups. 
• Lead the strategic development of the University’s estate through any capital development, and refurbishment, acquisitions and disposals as well as effective and efficient Facilities Management in line with the university strategy.
• Lead BU’s Sustainability and Carbon Management agenda, ensuring we continue to be and be seen to be an environmentally sustainable university, ranked in the Top 10 in the UK.

Interviews will be held on 26th March 2026.

About the department

Estates & Facilities are a multi disciplinary department that create inspirational and sustainable environments in which teaching, research, sport, enterprise and living can thrive. We offer a range of diverse roles as we continue to develop our sites and help to drive BU’s Climate & Ecological Crisis Action Plan.  At BU, sustainability is a key component when undergoing works to improve our estate. This involves increasing biodiversity around our campuses and taking inspiration from the non-human world to live in harmony with nature.  

A job description for this position is available at the top of this page. If you require this in a different format, please contact us at hrvacancies@bournemouth.ac.uk. 

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