Head of BBSRC Estates

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.

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

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)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected]

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 [email protected].

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

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 rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.