Director of Estates, Facilities & Capital Development | East London NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	East London NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£140,000 - £150,000 Actual pay determined in line with the terms and conditions
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London, E1 8DE
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	9 Nov 2026
Closing date:	9 Dec 2026

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Summary

Director of Estates, Facilities & Capital Development

Salary:Very Senior Manager (VSM) – anticipated £140,000–£150,000 per annum

Location:East London NHS Foundation Trust HQ– base and working arrangements to be confirmed

Shape the future of healthcare environments at East London NHS Foundation Trust

An exceptional opportunity to lead a complex and diverse estates portfolio, influence major capital investment and deliver safer, more sustainable environments for patients, staff and the communities we serve.

East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) is seeking an inspirational, experienced and forward-thinking Director of Estates, Facilities & Capital Development to provide strategic and operational leadership across its extensive estates and facilities portfolio.

This is a significant senior leadership appointment, offering the opportunity to shape the future of the Trust's estate, influence investment priorities and ensure that our buildings, facilities and infrastructure support the delivery of outstanding mental health and community healthcare services.

Reporting directly to the Chief Finance Officer, and accountable to the Chief Executive, you will play an influential role in the Trust's senior leadership arrangements, providing expert advice and direction on estates strategy, capital development, operational performance, statutory compliance and sustainability.

The role

As Director of Estates, Facilities & Capital Development, you will provide strategic direction, operational leadership and professional expertise across the Trust's estates, facilities and capital functions.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development and implementation of a refreshed Estates Strategy, aligned with the Trust's clinical, operational and financial priorities.

• Providing effective leadership and oversight of estates and facilities services, ensuring safe, compliant, resilient and high-quality environments.

• Developing a clear and deliverable approach to backlog maintenance, infrastructure improvement and long-term asset management.

• Leading the Trust's capital development programme, including significant redevelopment projects and strategic property initiatives.

• Overseeing complex contractual and commercial arrangements, including PFI and associated facilities management services.

• Driving financial efficiency, sustainability, service improvement and the effective utilisation of resources.

• Building productive relationships with clinical, operational and corporate colleagues, ensuring that estates and facilities services are responsive to organisational needs.

• Providing expert advice and assurance to the Chief Finance Officer, Executive Team and Trust Board.

• Leading, developing and inspiring multidisciplinary teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Why join East London NHS Foundation Trust?

This is much more than a traditional estates leadership role. It offers a rare combination of scale, influence, challenge and the opportunity to make a lasting difference.

The opportunity to shape the future

You will lead a comprehensive refresh of the Trust's Estates Strategy, developing a clear and ambitious vision for the future of our buildings, infrastructure and services. This will include addressing the challenges associated with backlog maintenance, improving the condition and utilisation of our estate, and establishing a sustainable approach to future investment.

Significant capital development opportunities

With major redevelopment ambitions, including the John Howard Centre and developments in Luton, you will have the opportunity to influence and lead important capital programmes that will shape the future of healthcare provision.

Genuine strategic influence

Working directly with the Chief Finance Officer and alongside senior clinical, operational and corporate colleagues, you will be at the heart of decisions about how the Trust invests in, develops and manages its estate.

The opportunity to make a real difference

Our estates and facilities services are fundamental to the experiences of patients, service users, carers and staff. Your leadership will help create safe, welcoming and effective environments that support high-quality care.

About you

We are seeking an accomplished and credible estates and facilities leader who can demonstrate the breadth of experience, judgement and personal qualities required to succeed in this demanding and rewarding position.

You will bring:

• Substantial senior leadership experience within estates, facilities, capital development or a closely related discipline.

• A strong understanding of the challenges associated with managing complex, operationally critical estates.

• Experience of developing and delivering estates strategies, major capital programmes and organisational improvement.

• Sound knowledge of statutory compliance, risk management, operational resilience and estates governance.

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience of managing significant budgets, contractual arrangements and competing investment priorities.

• The ability to influence and engage effectively with executive leaders, clinical professionals, operational managers and external stakeholders.

• An inclusive, collaborative and visible leadership style, with the ability to bring people together, inspire confidence and deliver meaningful change.

We welcome applications from experienced Directors as well as exceptional Deputy Directors who can demonstrate the capability, ambition and leadership qualities to step into a broader strategic role.

Experience within the NHS or a similarly complex, highly regulated environment will be particularly relevant.

Above all, we are looking for someone who can combine the strategic thinking required to shape our future with the practical leadership needed to deliver results.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification attached to the advert for full details of the role.

This advert closes on Wednesday 16 Dec 2026

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