Head of Maintenance & Infrastructure

Interview Date: Wednesday 02 September 2026

Shape the future of one of the South East's most diverse university estates. Lead critical engineering services. Make a lasting impact.

We're looking for an experienced Head of Maintenance & Infrastructure to provide strategic and operational leadership for the maintenance, engineering and compliance of our estate. Leading multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, electrical, building fabric and infrastructure services, you'll ensure our campuses remain safe, compliant and fit for the future while driving service excellence, value for money and continuous improvement.

This is an opportunity to lead a critical function at an exciting time of change. You'll play a key role in shaping the future maintenance strategy for a major university estate, working alongside experienced colleagues on projects that directly support teaching, research and the wider university community. If you're looking for a role where your technical expertise, leadership and strategic thinking will make a tangible difference, we'd love to hear from you.

As Head of Maintenance & Infrastructure you can expect to be involved in:

• Leading the delivery of planned and reactive maintenance, engineering services and statutory compliance across a large and complex estate.
• Managing multidisciplinary in-house teams and specialist contractors to deliver safe, efficient and customer-focused maintenance services.
• Developing maintenance strategies, technical standards and infrastructure plans that support the University's long-term ambitions.
• Providing expert technical leadership on compliance, asset management, engineering risk and capital maintenance programmes.

What will you bring to the role?

• Extensive experience leading Hard FM, engineering or maintenance services within a large, complex operational environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical and building services, together with a detailed understanding of statutory compliance and health and safety legislation.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to motivate multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets and deliver high-quality services through both in-house teams and contractors.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence senior colleagues, manage competing priorities and drive continuous improvement.

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number CS-415-26-R

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