Associate Director of Estates and Facilities

Leeds Beckett University is one of the UK’s largest and most progressive modern universities, with a diverse academic portfolio across multiple campuses in the heart of a major UK city. With significant ongoing investment in its physical estate, sustainability agenda and long‑term campus masterplans, the University is seeking an Associate Director of Estates & Facilities to play a central role in shaping the future of its estate.

This is a senior leadership appointment within the Estates & Facilities directorate, reporting directly to the Director of Estates & Facilities and providing strategic and operational leadership across capital development, hard facilities management, statutory compliance, space utilisation and sustainability.

Working closely with the Director and Deputy Director (Soft FM and commercial teams), the postholder will contribute to the development and delivery of the Estates Strategy and play a leading role in campus masterplanning and long‑term investment planning. The University’s estate is both complex and distinctive, encompassing city‑centre campuses, heritage buildings, satellite sites and facilities with varying operational and technical requirements, all supported by ongoing programmes of capital investment, maintenance and optimisation.

This position will suit an ambitious and credible estates leader with experience gained in a large, complex, high‑public‑footfall estate environment. Candidates are expected to bring a strong track record of delivering estates capital programmes, alongside experience and knowledge of hard FM and estates compliance. Experience of masterplanning, space and property management across a multi‑building portfolio would be advantageous.

The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator with the credibility to operate confidently at all levels across a diverse organisation, combined with the leadership capability to motivate and develop high‑performing teams. A proactive, collaborative mindset and a clear motivation to contribute to the success of the Estates & Facilities function and the wider University will be essential to success in the role.

This role represents a compelling career opportunity. The scale, variety and profile of the University’s estate, together with the chance to join a new and dynamic leadership team and to influence the long‑term development of the estate and success of the University, make this an exceptional opportunity for a senior estates professional seeking impact and career progression.

For a confidential discussion please contact our advisors Ben Duffill (ben.duffill@mrgglobal.com) and David Craven (david.craven@mrgglobal.com) of MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and supporting statement and should be sent to david.craven@mrgglobal.com.

For more information please visit: tinyurl.com/2wznspnk

Working here means you’ll have access to a wide range of benefits including our generous pension schemes, excellent holiday entitlements, flexible working, reduced study fees, subsidised fitness facilities and a lot more.

We welcome applications from all individuals and particularly from black and minority ethnic candidates as members of these groups are currently under-represented at this level of post. All appointments will be based on merit.

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