Job Description

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South East Essex Academy Trust (SEEAT), a family of 8 schools (expanding to 9 in September 2025), is looking for a dynamic, experienced Head of Estates to join our central team. This new role has been created to support the growth of the Trust (our number of schools has more than doubled in the last three years) and ensure excellence in managing our estates and facilities.

You will provide strategic leadership and operational management across our schools, ensuring the facilities are safe, well-maintained, and align with our vision for sustainable, effective, and high-quality learning environments. Whether you are an exceptional Estates or Facilities manager looking for the next step in your career or an existing Head of Estates looking for a new challenge, this is an exciting opportunity to develop and implement a comprehensive Estates, Health & Safety, and Sustainability strategy for SEEAT.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead the Trust's Estates and Facilities strategy in alignment with the Good Estates Management for Schools (GEMS) framework.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory regulations and health and safety requirements across the Trust.
• Oversee significant capital projects, manage budgets, and deliver cost-effective maintenance and facilities solutions.
• Manage relationships with external agencies, including contractors, consultants, and PFI partners, ensuring effective facilities management and maximum value for the Trust.
• Provide guidance and support to school-based estates teams, ensuring consistency and quality in estate management.
• Implementing a Trust-wide Sustainability Plan.

Who We're Looking For:

• A team-player who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty (sometimes literally!)
• Proven experience in estates/facilities management, ideally within a multi-site or educational setting.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience managing teams, projects, and external contracts.
• Expertise in Health and Safety, compliance, and statutory regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets effectively and deliver best value.
• Commitment to sustainability and developing environmentally responsible practices across our schools.

You will be working at the very heart of our ambitious central team and will be a key point of contact for the SEEAT Executive team, Trustees, Chairs of Governors, Headteachers, and external stakeholders so it is essential that you have strong interpersonal skills and that your personal values align with our Trust ethos. In return, we can offer flexible working in an interesting environment where no day is the same.

The post is advertised as full time and based at The Deanes, however the nature of the role means that travel to all SEEAT schools should be expected so the successful postholder must have the ability to travel between all eight of our schools, ideally with a full UK driving licence. However, we can be flexible with working hours and hybrid working arrangements.

All applicants will be contacted to have an informal chat with the CEO before shortlisting, and are encouraged to arrange a visit to some of our sites in advance of interviews, but if you'd like to arrange a conversation before applying please don't hesitate to contact Jade Blackburn, Director of People, on 07858 376941 or email hr@seeat.org.

To find out more about the benefits of working for SEEAT please visitour Trust website and for more details on the Trust and this role please view the electronic recruitment pack.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

South East Essex Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects its entire staff to share this commitment. All postholders working in our schools will be considered to work in Regulated Activity and will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, all shortlisted candidates may be subject to online searches that may include social media. For further information please contact HR@seeat.org

Information about the School

South East Essex Academy Trust (SEEAT) is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) with eight schools.

SEEAT was inaugurated on 1st April 2014. It was made up from Westcliff High School for Girls, Prince Avenue Academy, Nursery and Children’s Centre (sponsored by WHSG) and Rochford Primary School and Nursery. The Trust enlarged on 1st September 2014 with WHSG sponsoring the academisation of Holt Farm Junior School. In September 2021 The Deanes School, Hadleigh Junior School and The Westborough School joined us followed by Heycroft Primary School in January 2024.

We are a friendly, collaborative family of schools and we believe that all the schools in the family have become significantly stronger since working together as part of SEEAT.

We are looking to grow in a measured way over the next few years. If you are interested in joining us, we would be happy to talk to school leaders and governors about your options and to share how we believe SEEAT could make a positive difference to the pupils, staff, and families in your school.

Please contact HR at hr@seeat.org for recruitment queries or info@seeat.org for other queries.