Estates Director

Equans is looking for an Estates Director to join our team in Edinburgh on a permanent basis. This is a full-time role working 40 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

The Estates Director is the senior accountable lead for all Estates and Technical Services delivered on the account and holds full operational, statutory, financial, and performance accountability for the Hard FM / Technical & Projects Estate. Reporting to the Account Director, the postholder operates as the account-level lead for Estates, with delegated authority to lead, control, and assure technical service delivery.

The role carries accountability equivalent to an account lead for Hard / Technical & Project Services, and represents a significant evolution from a technical oversight position to one of full departmental leadership, including direct line management of senior managers, ownership of statutory risk, budgetary responsibility, and assurance of service continuity, safety, and compliance across a complex acute hospital estate.

What will you deliver?

Senior Estates & Account Leadership

• Act as the senior professional authority for all Estates, Projects and Technical Services matters
• Provide visible, decisive leadership across the Estates department
• Set strategic direction and priorities for Estates service delivery and compliance
• Act as deputy to the Account Director for Estates-related operational leadership
• Provide senior assurance to Equans leadership on technical, safety, and compliance risk

Operational Accountability – Hard / Technical & Project Services

• Hold full responsibility for the delivery of all Hard FM services, including mechanical, electrical, fabric, building systems, business performance and specialist infrastructure
• Ensure effective delivery of planned, reactive, and lifecycle maintenance activities
• Ensure service delivery meets contractual requirements, performance standards, and response times
• Maintain the continuous availability and reliability of critical hospital systems

Statutory Compliance & Risk Ownership

• Act as the Accountable Owner for statutory compliance across the estate
• Ensure robust governance arrangements for statutory inspections, testing, and certification
• Own Estates risk registers, defect management processes, and compliance assurance frameworks
• Ensure non-compliance and risk issues are identified, mitigated, escalated, and resolved
• Lead internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory engagement

Performance Management & Governance

• Own Estates performance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting arrangements
• Ensure accurate, timely, and evidence-based reporting to the Account Director and client
• Challenge under-performance and lead continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure Estates governance aligns with Equans and client requirements

Financial & Commercial Accountability

• Hold budgetary responsibility for Estates services
• Manage cost control, resource allocation, lifecycle planning, and financial risk
• Provide Estates-related commercial insight to support account decision-making
• Ensure Estates resources are aligned to operational and compliance priorities

People Leadership & Departmental Management

• Directly lead senior Estates managers and their teams
• Ensure clear accountability, competence management, and succession planning
• Develop capability, resilience, and leadership depth within the Estates function
• Promote a professional, inclusive, and respectful working culture

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the senior Estates interface with key stakeholders
• Lead complex technical, compliance, and risk discussions with authority and credibility
• Build and maintain client confidence through transparent and professional engagement

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, car or car allowance, bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2x times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are we looking for?

• Proven accountability for statutory compliance and assurance
• Strong commercial and financial management experience
• Experience leading large, multi-disciplinary technical teams
• Significant senior leadership experience in Estates or Technical Services within healthcare or similarly regulated environments
• Experience within long-term service contracts or PFI-type environments
• Excels at operating in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros.  

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services – with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables.

Equans’ 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live.

Equans is a Bouygues group company.

What’s next?

If this role is of interest to you, please click below to register, apply, and track your progress! A member of our Resourcing Team will review your application and be in touch.

As part our commitment to better reflect the markets within which we operate, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010. 

At Equans we’re committed to delivering a culture where everyone’s voice is heard and supported. We know the value a diverse workforce creates, delivering better results for our people, customers, and stakeholders. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do, should you join Equans you’ll find a welcoming and open workplace where you’re supported and encouraged to be your true self at work. 

You’ll also have access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, Young Professionals, Veterans and Reservists Network (VaR).

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a re-location package with this job role.  Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements.

The Equans Resourcing Team supports this job advert. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries must come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.