Head of Estates (Campus Development) - NERC HO

NERC Head of Estates Transformation 
Natural Environment Research Council
Salary: £58,868 per annum
Band: UKRI Band F
Contract Type: Open Ended
Hours: Full-time
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: Friday 16th October 2026
Provisional Interview Date: 3rd / 4th November 2026

Background:

UK Research and Innovation is an entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintain is world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at wwww.ukri.org.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the largest funder of environmental science in the UK. We invest £300 million each year in research, training and innovation through UK universities and research centres. Our scientists study and monitor the whole planet from pole to pole, from deep Earth and oceans to upper atmosphere and space. Through collaboration with scientific partners, business and policy-makers, our science supports sustainable economic growth and improves public wellbeing. Our Headquarters in Swindon provides the corporate policy, planning and administrative focus for NERC.  

The NERC UK property portfolio consists of 91 buildings over 15 sites including research centres, field sites and storage facilities. There are complex real estate arrangements across the portfolio.

The NERC Estates Transformation Programme delivers against the the NERC UK Estates Strategy. It is a new c.£200m, 4-year programme to deliver a fit purpose estate which enables globally leading science to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth. It will deliver a mix of capital investments and longer business case planning activity. Effective leadership, management and expert advice will be central to this programme.

Role Purpose

The Head of Estate Transformation provides leadership of the entire estate transformation programme, ensuring effective delivery of the NERC Estates Strategy. The role is responsible for programme governance and budgeting. strategic planning, risk management assurance, stakeholder engagement, and oversight of delivery through others. The postholder will work closely with NERC Head of Estates and Centre leads to ensure a ‘one team’ approach which ensure seamless delivery of BAU and transformation activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing leadership and oversight for the entire estates transformation programme ensuring clear alignment with the NERC Estates Strategy. 
• Translating organisational objectives into structured programme with clear deliverables schedules, dependencies and resource requirements.
• Advocating for the programme and its benefits within UKRI and beyond. Oversight of programme governance, strategic risk management and assurance activities. 
• Budgeting and close financial tracking/assurance for the programme. 
• Owning and maintaining programme documentation, including plans, risk registers, dashboards, decision logs and benefits information.
• Senior level engagement and stakeholder management including across Centres and within UKRI 
• Ensure all building safety information is collected, verified and handed over accurately to statutory duty holders, supporting the Golden Thread requirements.
• Harmonising project interfaces with other estate‑related workstreams to ensure alignment, avoid duplication and identify shared opportunities.
• Promoting data‑driven decision making and continuous improvement across all project activity.
• Preparing detailed executive level reports, briefing papers and updates for senior leaders and internal/external stakeholders.
• Deputising for the Associate Director for Estates and Sustainability where needed

Personal Specification  

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in an estates leadership role (S)
• Experience in leading and managing complex estates or capital programmes, delivering high quality outcomes within defined time, cost and scope parameters. (S&I)
• NEC, APM, RICS or IWFM accreditation. (S)
• Strong financial oversight capability, including budget setting, cost control, forecasting and ensuring transparent financial reporting. (S&I)
• Experience in producing, maintaining and governing programmes control documentation, ensuring robust planning, tracking and decision making. (S&I)
• Demonstrable strength in project & programme governance, applying structured oversight, assurance processes and compliance with organisational standards. (I)
• Proven ability to identify, assess and manage project risks and opportunities. (S&I)
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. (S&I)
• Experience of decarbonisation activity within the built environment (S&I)

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience within public sector, science, or technical sustainability or estate environments. (I)
• A passion for generating positive sustainability outcomes across the built environment (I)

Behaviours

• Strategic, influential, resilient and outcome focused. (I)
• Outcome focused. (I)
• Willingness to travel and work flexibly to meet operational needs  (I)

Visa Sponsorship 

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org. 

About hybrid working

We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and occasionally at other UK locations.

NERC HO staff will be assigned to Tier 2 meaning a standard expectation of 40–60% onsite attendance (pro-rated against working time) including those hosted by NERC HO. This will come into effect on 1st October 2026.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.