Job Description

The University of Lancashire is seeking to recruit to the key leadership role of Executive Director of Estates and Campus Services. The role presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of the University of Lancashire estate, driving forward ambitious plans for campus development, regeneration, optimisation, operational excellence, and sustainability.
The University of Lancashire is an international, multi-campus university tracing its roots back to 1828 and leading the way in modern learning today. One of the largest universities in the UK, with over 39,000 students, the University was named Edufuturists 'University of the Year' in 2023, in recognition of our work to ignite change and transform learning for the benefit of society and future generations.
We are just over midway through our seven-year Strategic Plan 2021-2028 with the mission of being recognised as a leading UK university, with national and international influence, delivering real-world, practice-based education from our Preston, Burnley, Blackburn, West Cumbria, and Cyprus campuses.
The Executive Director of Estates and Campus Services will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the University's estate strategy, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives. This includes overseeing large-scale and diverse teams responsible for planning and delivering capital investment and estate optimisation through to the provision of high-quality estates, facilities management and campus services, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, customer experience, and value for money.
The impact of the University to students, staff and the community, combined with the scale and diversity of its estate portfolio, offers a unique and exciting challenge. Working with partners across the public and private sectors, the Executive Director will play a pivotal role in the placemaking agenda on the places we operate in. They will lead the Estates and Campus teams in driving efficiency through estate optimisation and the delivery of excellent estates services, contributing to the University's strategic objective of sustainable growth.
We are seeking an individual with a proven track record of developing and implementing estate strategies resulting in transformative outcomes relating to end-user experience and property and land optimisation. The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills and will demonstrate a compelling motivation and passion to take up the role and deliver success and impact for the University and the region over the long-term.
The candidate brochure can be viewed
To arrange a confidential discussion please contact our retained advisors David Craven, (david.craven@mrgglobal.com), Michael Hewlett (michael.hewlett@mrgglobal.com) or Ben Duffill (ben.duffill@mrgglobal.com) of MRG.
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 22nd of June 2025.
We are proud to be a diverse, multicultural university. We are committed to building a truly inclusive culture where diversity is championed. Applications are particularly welcomed from individuals who will support the diversification within the University and support its development of a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all.