Job Description

Title: Trust Estates Lead
Salary: NJC Point 36 to 40 (currently 345,718 - 349,764 per annum).
Hours: 36 hours per week, 52 weeks per year (flexible working requests will be considered).
Accountable to: Chief Operating Officer
Location: This post is based at the LDST Hub, 11 Damfield Lane, Maghull, L31 6DB. However, the post holder will be required to travel to schools across the Liverpool Diocese covering Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St. Helens, Warrington, Wigan, and West Lancashire. Remote working will also be available when appropriate.
Summary
This is a challenging strategic role within the Trust, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. The Trust Estates Lead will be responsible for leading the implementation of estates strategies for the schools within our Trust and working closely with senior leaders and site management teams at each school to ensure all aspects of each school site, including upkeep, care, maintenance, security, health and safety and facilities management, are in line with statutory and regulatory requirements.
This role is key to ensuring that our schools provide a safe, accessible and welcoming environment in which pupils and staff can deliver their best. You will have the opportunity to work closely with key stakeholders within our schools and within the Central Trust Team.
You will contribute to upholding the Trusts vision, values and ethos and treat everyone within the Trust with respect, offering high levels of support and customer service.
Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To support in the development of, and ensuring the implementation of, a long-term vision and strategy for effectively managing designated aspects of the Trusts estate, in alignment with educational priorities and Governance requirements.
• To ensure that Trust estates are safe and compliant in line with relevant policies, legislation and the DfEs Good Estates Management Guide.
• To promote and manage lettings arrangements across multiple schools, working with the Central Finance team and school-based colleagues.
• To develop and manage the estate budget(s), monitor expenditure and obtain the best value from providers, developing annual business plans and budgetary submissions.
• To support the delivery of the Trusts major capital programme funded by Schools Condition Allocation (SCA)

Strategic Development

• To contribute to formulating the Trust estates strategy by assisting in the evaluation of each site and usage options and proposing creative solutions for improvement projects.
• To support school senior leaders and site management teams to develop and manage a 5-year capital programme, a maintenance programme, effective planned preventative maintenance scheduling for each site and cyclical maintenance in terms of decorating, carpet replacements and blinds etc that enables an effective programme of work, which is costed out and fed into the Trust budgeting cycle.
• To implement the estates strategy, directing the activities of staff, consultants and contractors, where appropriate, for the execution of such plans, and manage progress regarding time, quality and cost.
• To develop strong and positive working relationships with school staff including senior leaders and site management staff to maximise the potential of the estate.
• Responsible for providing any premises related pre-conversion due diligence for any new schools joining the Trust.

Estates Management and Development

• To work closely with the COO and school leaders to develop and maintain the Trusts Estates Strategy.
• To ensure Asset Management Plans and condition data for all schools is both accurate and complete.
• To ensure that development plans for the Trusts estates are regularly updated, prioritised and costed.
• To ensure the annual submission of the Land and Buildings Collection Tool, Capital Spend Survey, and any other estates related statutory returns as required by the DfE.
• To oversee local schools site teams, including Site Managers, Maintenance Officers, Caretakers and Cleaners.
• To be responsible for the appropriate deployment of Estates staff across LDST schools, ensuring adequate levels of staffing.
• To oversee the effective performance management of all Estates staff in line with Trust policies and procedures.
• To ensure that annual programmes of maintenance are in place and that planned preventative maintenance is completed on schedule and within budget, keeping the Trusts estate operational and safe.
• To ensure that all registers and records of maintenance and Estates works are adequately maintained.
• To develop and maintain an asset register ensuring that all fixed plant, machinery and equipment is properly maintained and inspected to meet legal requirements.
• To oversee capital projects as directed by the COO, including procurement and oversight of contractors delivering the Trusts major capital programme funded through School Condition Allocation.
• To quality control works carried out by contractors and the LDST internal workforce.
• To ensure the timely submission of any insurance claims relating to estates-based activities.
• To oversee the management of utility contracts, ensuring the resilience of utility services to meet future demands.
• To develop an effective and efficient sustainability plan for the Trusts estate, ensuring best practice in energy conservation in the use of heating, light, water etc. is developed and maintained.
• To oversee the financial management and effective use of Trust estates and capital budgets.
• To comply with the Trusts financial procedures on matters relating to finance and procurement of estates related projects.
• To ensure the ongoing review of relevant school resources and contracts, considering any opportunities for centralisation and streamlining.
• To oversee the efficient and effective cleaning of the Trust estates in liaison with school site management teams.

Maintenance of Grounds and Buildings

• To ensure that the fabric of each school is maintained to a high standard and meets the individual schools current and future needs.
• To work with school site management staff to ensure the daily maintenance of all areas of each school. This will involve both reactive maintenance and planned preventative programmes.
• To work with school site management staff to support them in formulating and managing medium- and long-term building programmes.
• To prepare annual, costed plans for repairs and upgrades of each site, giving knowledge and expertise where necessary.
• To work with estates staff to ensure all works are within budget and managed accordingly.
• To ensure that school grounds are effectively maintained, including the management of the grounds maintenance contracts.

Provision of Utilities and Estate Services

• To ensure all utilities provision, including water, gas, electricity and other provisions are effectively managed to leverage the purchasing power of the Trust, and that usage minimises waste.
• To oversee schools compliance with the Trusts overall sustainability agenda including the management of waste and recycling.
• To develop estates management policies and procedures which address areas such as emergency management, business continuity and other estates related policies.
• To take responsibility for risk management with regards to each estate, including disaster and business continuity planning and managing the development and maintenance of a risk register.

Health and Safety, Fire Safety and Security of the Trust Estates

• To manage the contractual agreement with the Trusts outsourced Health and Safety service level agreement provider, including monitoring performance delivery against contractual terms.
• To ensure that the Trust properly discharges its duties under its Health & Safety Policy; the Health & Safety at Work Act; COSHH regulations; and any other relevant statute, regulation or directive in all matters relating to the management of Trust estates and catering.
• To ensure that contractors operate safely in accordance with the Trusts Health & Safety Policy and any other relevant statute, regulation or directive.
• To act as the Trusts Project Manager and responsible Health & Safety Coordinator for Construction Design Management projects. Also, to act as the Trusts Asbestos Control Manager and the Legionella Control and Health & Safety Manager.
• To ensure that fire risk assessments and other statutory and non-statutory testing and inspections are completed in a timely manner and by staff/contractors, who are appropriately qualified.
• To ensure that the Trusts Health & Safety management systems are complete and accurate, and that processes and practices are consistent across all schools.
• To coordinate and ensure the implementation of the Trusts responsibilities in relation to maintaining health & safety statutory documentation.
• To review and develop existing and new policies in line with statutory requirements, and to manage any necessary consultation processes.
• To ensure that buildings are safe and secure at all times and adhere to both Health & Safety requirements and statutory Ofsted guidelines for the health and wellbeing of staff, pupils and visitors.

Lettings

• To promote the safe and efficient use of school facilities for lettings where possible.
• To ensure that the Trust builds strong relationships with community users of Trust estates.
• To assist in the annual updating of the Trust Lettings Policy and relevant charges for facilities hire for approval by Directors.
• To support and advise school administrative staff to ensure that all required paperwork is in place prior to a letting being implemented. Relevant documentation includes DBS details, insurance policies and other documents listed in the Trust Lettings Policy.

Supplementary Support

• Be aware of, and comply with, policies and procedures relating to child protection, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
• Contribute to the overall Christian ethos/work/aims of the Trust.
• Attend and participate in meetings.
• Participate in training and other learning activities as required.
• Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others.
• Other duties as directed by the COO within the broader boundaries of the role.
• Play an appropriate part in child protection procedures, such as relating relevant factual information and recording/reporting disclosures to the designated teacher/relevant professional.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. Staff will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description. The Trust reserves the right to alter the content of the job description, after consultation with the post-holder, to reflect changes to the job or services provided, without altering the general character or level of responsibility.
Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to keeping children safe. Any offer of employment will be subject to statutory pre-employment checks including satisfactory references, online checks, Enhanced DBS, and Barred List checks. This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020) and shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any relevant criminal history prior to interview. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate their Right to Work in the United Kingdom.