Job Introduction
Deputy Head of Estates
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated professional to join DHU Healthcare as Deputy Head of Estates, Facilities and Health & Safety.
Working closely with the Head of Service, the post-holder will provide expert leadership and operational oversight to ensure full compliance with statutory legislation, NHS guidance and CQC standards. The role includes leading on Health & Safety strategy, managing risk, and supporting safe and effective service delivery across multiple DHU locations.
Location: Derby
Work Pattern: 37.5
What DHU can offer you:
Working Patterns: We recognise that 9-5 doesn’t work for everyone, so we have a range of working patterns available to suit your work/life balance. Our friendly team will work with you to find the best fixed pattern for us both.
Competitive salary: £53,770-£60,721
Generous annual leave entitlement: Standard 25 days + 8 bank holidays, increasing with service up to 33 days + 8 bank holidays. Pro Rata/ Per Annum
What your typical day looks like:
Support the Head of Service in overseeing estates, facilities, and health & safety operations across multiple DHU sites.
Lead on the development, implementation, and monitoring of health & safety strategies, policies, and improvement plans.
Manage planned preventative maintenance, facilities projects, and compliance with relevant legislation.
Provide expert advice and lead investigations into health & safety incidents, ensuring reporting and regulatory compliance (e.g., RIDDOR, CQC).
Maintain strong working relationships with internal departments and external partners to ensure safe, effective site management.
Monitor non-clinical risk assessments and support a proactive culture of health & safety awareness across the organisation.
Line-manage and support the development of a small team, ensuring performance management and training compliance.
Contribute to the development and communication of service policies, ensuring audit readiness and consistent implementation.
Support the preparation of reports for leadership and regulatory bodies, highlighting health & safety performance and service improvements.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement, customer service excellence, and compliance across all estates and health & safety functions.
To be a successful Deputy Head of Estates you will need:
Minimum 5 years’ experience in health & safety and facilities management within the NHS, healthcare, or a large complex organisation.
Level 6 Health & Safety qualification (e.g. NEBOSH Diploma) and Level 4+ in Facilities Management.
Strong leadership background, including formal leadership training and experience managing high-performing teams.
In-depth knowledge of health & safety legislation, risk management, and HSG65 safety management principles.
Demonstrated experience leading complex estates and facilities projects, with technical understanding of building services.
Proven ability to develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, and guidance aligned to NHS/governance frameworks.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
Skilled in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and confident producing professional reports and presentations.
Strong organisational, time management, and problem-solving skills, able to manage multiple competing demands effectively.
Full driving licence and willingness to travel between sites across a large geographical area, including out-of-hours locations.
Employee benefits:
Health Cash Plan: After six months with us, you'll enjoy 24/7 GP access for you and your family, along with a free Level 1 Health Cash Plan covering dental, optical, and therapy costs to support your health and well-being whenever you need it.
Access to the DHU Hub: Offering exclusive shopping and entertainment discounts, well-being resources, a health portal, and our enhanced Employee Assistance Programme.
NHS Pension Scheme: Rest assured knowing your future is secure with our NHS pension scheme. Already an NHS employee? We acknowledge your continuous service and commitment to healthcare excellence allowing you to bring your existing pension pot and holiday allowance with you!
Car Lease Scheme: DHU has teamed up with NHS Fleet Solutions to offer a salary sacrifice scheme for colleagues. As part of our citizenship commitment and active approach to reducing our carbon footprint, we can provide you with lease options on a brand-new hybrid or electric car.
Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave: We understand the importance of family, which is why we offer enhanced maternity and paternity leave to support you during this special time in your life, supported by a robust Family Friendly policy.
Referral Programme: Share the benefits of working at DHU with your network and you can earn cash rewards through our Employee Referral Programme.
Free Parking: We know how expensive public parking can be! Most of our sites offer free, secure parking for your vehicles.
We understand that digital applications may not be suitable for everyone. If you need to apply in a different way that better meets your needs, please reach out to us, and we will gladly accommodate your application in a format that works for you. For more details about our recruitment process, click here, or contact our team of talent acquisition professionals by emailing: Careers@DHUHealthCare.nhs.uk.
At DHU Healthcare, we take pride in our diversity and foster an environment where every person feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work, free from discrimination or bias. We warmly welcome applications from all individuals, reflecting the rich diversity of the communities we serve. To read more about our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion pledge and see the progress we have made, please click here.
We are proud to be a forces-friendly organisation and are dedicated to supporting Veterans, Service Leavers, Reservists, Cader Force Adult Volunteers, and military spouses/partners. We value the unique skills and contributions you bring and strive to create a workplace where you can thrive.
#IND4 - Corporate