An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Estates Manager to join Fettes College to assume full responsibility for the maintenance and strategic development of the School buildings and grounds as well as day to day operational management of the site and the security thereof.
This is a senior operational management role at Fettes; the successful post holder will report to the Bursar and will have direct line management responsibility for the Head of Maintenance, Head of Grounds and Head of Security with a combined team of over 25 staff. Furthermore, the role requires a close working relationship with the Health & Safety Officer, Head of Housekeeping and Head of ICT although, for the avoidance of doubt, the post holder will have no direct accountability for any of these last three areas.
Package DescriptionThe nature of the role requires a degree of flexibility around hours of work, not least because the School operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during term time. The expectation is that the post holder will be at work between the hours of 8.30 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday but available at other times, perhaps either as a result of a major planned weekend event at the School or an emergency callout. On occasion members of the wider Estates team may be similarly required and it will be the responsibility of the post holder to ensure appropriate cover is in place.
In view of the required flexibility implied above, this is a live in role with accommodation provided on site to the successful post holder.
Annual Salary: The remuneration package will be competitive and will, to an extent, depend on the experience of the successful candidate.
Staff Benefits: In addition to being part of a great team you will be entitled to a range of benefits that include:
30 days holidays and 8 days public holidays.
Subject to the availability of places at the time of first entry, eligibility for a generous staff discount on school fees.
Parking within the campus grounds
Membership of Westwoods gym and health club which offers a range of excellent fitness and leisure facilities including a 25m swimming pool.
Free lunchtime meals during term time, and at other times when catering is provided, and you are on duty.
Life insurance scheme.
Excellent Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
You will be opted into the Fettes Trust Non-Teaching Staff Pension Scheme after 3 months service. This scheme is a money purchase one and full details of it and your options will be made available to you prior to your opt-in date. The Fettes Trust will contribute to the scheme and your contribution will be subject to the minimum overall combined employer and employee contribution limits set by the Pensions Regulator. Fettes operate a contribution matching scheme up to 10% of base salary.
Private healthcare with option to purchase for family members.
Access to various discounts, eg health cover, additional life insurance, retail outlets, etc through our benefits portal (4me).
Main ResponsibilitiesPlease see the full Job Description for duties and responsibilities for this role.
The Ideal CandidateSkills and Experience
Essential
Substantial and successful experience in leading and managing a complex property portfolio and teams from a range of professions
Significant experience in project managing and successfully delivering capital programmes
A demonstrable track record of delivering against objectives
A detailed knowledge of property maintenance and development, with the ability to outsource expertise in these areas where required
A solid understanding of setting and controlling budgets
Desirable
Experience of strategic and operational management of estates within an education environment
Recognised degree and/or professional building services related qualification
Personal Qualities
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise tactfully and assertively with Governors, staff, pupils, visitors, contractors and the general public
Demonstrable leadership skills with the ability to encourage, motivate and inspire teams and assume or delegate responsibility where appropriate;
Unflappable with a sense of calm perspective and self-awareness
Output driven and delivery focused with the ability to work under pressure, delegate as required and meet deadlines and targets
Good business acumen and commercial awareness
IT literate across a broad range of common Microsoft applications
Professional manner and approach
About the school/organisationABOUT FETTES
Fettes College is a leading HMC co-educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co-educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 785 students. There are 594 students in the Senior School (13-18 years) and 191 students in the Preparatory School (7-13 years). Fettes follows the English curriculum of GCSEs, and the dual pathway of A Levels and IB. Our full-boarding ethos ensures weekends are vibrant and fun.
The academic staff in the Senior School consists of the Head and 91 full-time members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further 29 full-time teaching staff. Fettes is a collaborative community in which every member is working towards fully realising their potential whilst supporting those around them.
The school stands on a stunning and secure 100-acre site, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose-built teaching block (the Spens Building) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including a purpose-built co-educational U6th House) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all-weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent.
We have a commitment to build even more ground-breaking facilities, including a Wellbeing Centre and construction of new Science and Innovation buildings.
As well as our teaching staff we employ over 220 Operational Staff across the many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.
OUR VISION
We have created and developed a bold new vision for Fettes, one which focuses on what we believe Fettesians should aspire to be, the skills they will need in life and the impact we want them to make in the world.
We have called this vision Fettes Moving Forward: A place to live. A place to learn. A place to grow. You can find out more about the vision - and how it shapes and informs Fettes' future at www.fettes.com/vision
Please also watch (with sound on) our film below - Ode to Place - which complements the vision and captures the ethos of Fettes College and what a Fettes education means.
THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE
Fettes College will ensure that our students:
Feel valued and respected as individuals
Receive the highest possible quality of education, engaging them in rigorous and relevant opportunities in a dynamic curriculum that creates lifelong learners
Feel safe, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, while possessing a willingness to take on responsibility
Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves
Develop a sense of self-confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners, leadership skills and teamwork
Value a sense of community
Are surrounded by inspirational caring staff
Feel represented and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.
“Our Students will leave the school knowing themselves, looking out for others, capable of thinking critically and ready to make a positive mark on their rapidly changing world. They will be bold and visionary yet compassionate; they will possess a global perspective and be ready to embrace the opportunities of the future” Helen Harrison, Head
