Interim Head of Estates in East Sussex

Interim Head of Estates – Education sector (Multi Site)
Sussex
Outside IR35
3 days on site per week (2 days remote) | 5 days per week

Panoramic Associates is currently working with a growing multi-academy trust on the Sussex to appoint an experienced Interim Head of Estates to take strategic ownership of a multi-site specialist education estate through a key growth period.

This is a senior estates leadership role focused on oversight, compliance, direction and strategic planning.

Responsibilities of the Role:
• Lead estates management in line with Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS), covering compliance, maintenance, condition and strategic planning.
• Oversee statutory servicing and planned/reactive maintenance, ensuring works are scheduled, logged and well governed.
• Manage DfE estates returns and contribute to/maintain the Asset Management Plan.
• Develop estates strategy to support growth plans, including future sixth form, specialist and SEND provision.
• Support legal and land/property matters including leases, transactions and educational designation, working with legal advisers.
• Work closely with capital partners and the wider capital programme function to align priorities and unblock delivery.
• Manage contractor performance and standards across the estate.
• Lead on estates and H&S compliance, supporting external audit readiness (including summer audit activity).
• Provide clear reporting and assurance to senior stakeholders and trustees.

To be successful in the role you will have:
• Senior-level estates leadership experience (ideally MRICS or equivalent).
• Strong background in estates strategy, compliance governance and contractor management.
• Experience of land/property transactions and lease/legal estate matters.
• Multi-site experience.
• Education experience is welcome but not essential (public, private or commercial estates backgrounds are all relevant).

Next Steps
If you have the relevant experience and are available to start in November 2026, we would like to hear from you.