Trust Estates Manager

About this Role
We are seeking a Trust Estates Manager at an exciting juncture in the Trust’s development. With 14 years of Making a Difference behind us, we are looking to our next era with great optimism.

The Trust Estates Manager leads the strategic and operational management of the Trust’s estate. The role is responsible for ensuring that all buildings are safe, secure, and maintained to a ‘Gold Standard’, providing an environment where pupils and staff can thrive. The Trust Estates Manager is responsible for developing and implementing estates strategies that align with the Trust’s vision, and ensures best value across all estates-related activities. Working in close partnership with the wider Operations team, Academies and the central team, you will bridge the gap between high-level policy and on-site reality. You will provide professional leadership to the Estates Managers, driving a culture of ‘botheredness’, operational excellence, and environmental sustainability across the entire Trust.

Location: This advertisement will show a location of Digital Media Centre, County Way, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, but this role will be Trust Wide.

Main duties of the post

1. Operational Leadership & Service Delivery

Lead and mentor a team of Estates Managers to ensure consistent service standards, high morale, and clear accountability across all Trust academies.
Set the benchmark for site aesthetics and maintenance; ensure that ‘small’ issues (site tidiness, minor repairs, signage) are managed proactively.
Act as the primary operational link for Academy Principals, ensuring Estates Services meet the unique needs of each school community.
2. Statutory Compliance & Safety (Operational Execution)

Work with the Trust Operations Manager for Safety and Compliance, to implement H&S policies on the ground. You are responsible for the execution of daily/weekly/monthly compliance tasks E.g. fire door checks, water hygiene, playground safety.
Take ownership of the compliance and reactive reporting system at an operational level, ensuring all site teams record data accurately and on time to provide the Trust with a real-time assurance map.
Develop Trust-wide security regimes. Foster a culture of ‘collective responsibility’ where site security is a priority for every staff member on shift.
3. Sustainability & Resource Efficiency

Identify and implement initiatives to reduce the Trust’s carbon footprint, focusing on energy waste, recycling, and efficient building use.
Monitor utility consumption across all sites, resolving anomalies and implementing saving initiatives to ensure maximum cost-efficiency.
Determine specifications for grounds maintenance and FM contracts, ensuring that external providers deliver high-quality results and value for money.
4. Strategic Asset Management

Work with the Capital team to inform the long-term Estates Development Plan (EDP). Ensure that ‘lifecycle’ maintenance is planned so that minor repairs dont escalate into expensive capital projects.
Coordinate the operational set-up of new capital projects, ensuring that once a build is finished, the local site team is trained and equipped to maintain it.
Oversee the performance of day-to-day maintenance contractors, ensuring they adhere to site safety rules and deliver work to the required specification.
5. People, Performance & Finance

Lead the recruitment, induction, and ongoing training of the estates' workforce. Ensure that Site Operatives have the skills and ‘can-do’ attitude required to maintain school environments.
Manage staff performance and sickness absence in line with Trust policies, encouraging professional growth.
Manage delegated operational estates budgets, ensuring all spend is justified, recorded accurately, and achieves best value.
Wellspring is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We are keen to hear from applicants from underrepresented backgrounds and those with identified protected characteristics.

Wellspring Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. All posts are offered subject to enhanced DBS checks. As this role involves working with children and vulnerable adults in regulated activity, please note that it is an offense to apply for the role if barred from engaging in regulated activity with children and vulnerable adults.

References will be requested and an online search carried out for shortlisted candidates, prior to attendance at interview. Further pre-employment checks, including prohibition from teaching, childcare disqualification and section 128 checks, if deemed relevant for the role, will be completed for the successful candidate upon acceptance of the post.

We are committed to equal opportunities and to promoting diversity. We want our people to reflect the diversity of our communities, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, especially from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

If you are currently living overseas or have lived / worked overseas in the last five years please be aware that you will be required to provide an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in, if you are the preferred candidate for the post.