Head of Maintenance and Technical Projects

Head of Maintenance and Technical Projects

Education Partnership North East (Northumberland, Sunderland or Ashington College) - (Recruiting through The Supply Register)

Salary: £51,295 - £53,128 per annum
Contract: Full Time | Permanent
Location: Any EPNE Campus (Northumberland, Sunderland or Ashington) with travel across the region and flexible hybrid working.

The Supply Register is delighted to be recruiting on behalf of Education Partnership North East (EPNE) for a newly created Head of Maintenance and Technical Projects position.

EPNE is one of the North East’s leading education providers, supporting students across Sunderland College, Northumberland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form. With a diverse estate of approximately 70 buildings across multiple campuses, this is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of the organisation’s estates and facilities service.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Estates, the Head of Maintenance and Technical Projects will provide regional leadership for all hard services, maintenance operations and technical projects across EPNE’s estate.

This is a senior operational role where you will lead a team, manage contractors, ensure statutory compliance and deliver a safe, reliable and value-for-money service. You will work closely with campus leaders, estates colleagues and external partners to ensure buildings remain fully operational and support the delivery of outstanding education.

You will oversee areas including electrical and mechanical services, fire systems, gas, ventilation, air conditioning, planned maintenance and technical projects. While you do not need to be the technical expert in every discipline, you will have the knowledge and confidence to challenge contractors, manage performance and ensure high standards are maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the regional maintenance and technical teams.
• Ensure compliance across all hard services and statutory requirements.
• Manage maintenance contracts, contractor relationships and service delivery.
• Oversee technical projects, refurbishments and improvement works.
• Manage budgets and ensure value for money across estates services.
• Support procurement and tendering activity for technical contracts.
• Develop processes and systems to improve operational performance.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture across in-house and contracted teams.
• Work collaboratively with campus teams through regular site visits and inspections.
• Provide technical advice and support to senior estates leadership.

About You

You will be an experienced estates, facilities management, property or building services professional with a strong understanding of hard services and compliance within a complex environment.

You will have experience of:

• Managing maintenance operations across a large or multi-site estate.
• Leading and developing teams.
• Managing contractors and technical service contracts.
• Delivering planned maintenance and improvement projects.
• Working with budgets, procurement and compliance requirements.
• Building effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

• A confident communicator who can engage with senior leaders, contractors and operational teams.
• A professional, approachable leadership style and the ability to drive positive change are essential.
• Experience from sectors including facilities management, commercial property, social housing, student accommodation, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, leisure or similar environments will be considered.

Essential Requirements

• Leadership and management qualification (CMI Level 7 / ILM Level 5-7 or equivalent preferred)
• Project management qualification such as Prince2 or Agile PM
• NEBOSH, IOSH or equivalent Health & Safety qualification
• Level 2 Maths and English
• Full UK driving licence

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £51,295 - £53,128
• 35 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Flexible working opportunities following induction
• MyLifestyle benefits platform offering employee discounts
• Optional health cash plan including dental and eye care
• NHS Fleet Scheme
• Free parking across Northumberland campuses
• Opportunities for professional development

If you are an experienced estates or facilities professional looking for the opportunity to lead technical maintenance across a large and diverse education estate, we would love to hear from you.

Safeguarding Statement

The Supply Register and Northumberland College are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All applicants will be subject to appropriate safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS.