Head of Estates and Compliance
We are seeking a Head of Estates and Compliance to manage an enthusiastic Estates team.
This is the 950th anniversary year and we are seeking a Head of Estates who can bring fresh ideas and initiative to enable the team to manage the Cathedral estate and also manage the commercial and residential property portfolio.
Position: Head of Estates and Compliance
Location: Chichester (hybrid working considered)
Hours: Full-time (we welcome applications from part-time candidates or those wanting flexible working arrangements)
Salary: £55,000 pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: Pension contribution, pro rata of 34 days’ leave including bank holidays, Employee Assistance Programme, free onsite parking, and flexible working opportunities
Closing Date: 9.00am on Tuesday 13 May 2025
Interview date: Chichester on Thursday 29 May 2025
The Role
This is an exciting time to join a small, dedicated team as it looks to the future with ambition and purpose. Every member of the team plays a vital role in preserving this extraordinary heritage while helping the Cathedral to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The Head of Estates vacancy has arisen because the current post-holder is looking forward to their retirement. The Estates team comprises two maintenance staff who ensure that the Cathedral estate is maintained to an excellent standard and an Estates Co-ordinator who looks after the administration including budgets, but has also played a key role in the Eco Church gold award.
You will also be joining an enthusiastic management team who work together to ensure that the Cathedral’s operations are as effective as they can be.
Whether it’s managing conservation projects, developing new ways to use spaces, or delivering environmental improvements, this role offers a unique chance to shape the future of an exceptional and much-loved place.
If you have a passion for heritage, a sharp eye for operational delivery, and a heart for sustainability, we’d love to hear from you.
A copy of the job description is available once you click to apply.
About You
The estate you will care for is rich in architectural and historical significance, and this role is pivotal in helping to unlock its potential. We are looking for someone who combines practical experience with strategic vision: a skilled professional who can ensure the estate is safe, compliant and well maintained, while also identifying opportunities to generate income, improve sustainability, and support the Cathedral’s wider mission.
You will have:
• Experience in estate or facilities management, ideally within a heritage or ecclesiastical setting
• Experience of working within an historic or listed building
• Demonstrable success in leading conservation projects in historic buildings
• Experience in budget management and financial planning
• Proven track record of leading and developing teams
• Experience in working with planning and heritage officers
About the Organisation
The Cathedral is a living, working place of worship that has been at the centre of life in Chichester for over nine centuries. It is the Mother Church of the Diocese, which covers East and West Sussex and it is also a visitor attraction, a venue for music and the arts and an all-round hub for the community welcoming over 350,000 visitors each year. Staff do not have to be Christian, but you should understand the Christian mission.
You may also have experience in areas such as Estates, Compliance, Estates and Compliance, Head of Estates, Head of Compliance, Head of Estates and Compliance, Director of Estates, Director of Compliance, Director of Estates and Compliance, Estates Director, Compliance Director, Estates and Compliance Director, Facilities, Historic Buildings, Heritage. #INDNFP
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a four-on-four off shift pattern.
Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Horsham Y Centre provides 24-hour supported housing services offering medium levels of housing-related support for young people aged 16-25 with 50 bedspaces and shared communal facilities. We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and work towards aspirations so that they can move on to enjoy fully independent futures. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs, relationship building and wellbeing. Situated in the middle of Horsham, the service has strong links with and contributes to the local community.
We are looking for a Housing Night Worker to join our Horsham Y team. Main areas of responsibilities are:
Safety and security
- Provide a friendly and professional front-of-house welcome to residents, visitors and staff, and ensure the building is safe, secure quiet and welcoming
- Maximise the wellbeing of residents and visitors by ensuring adherence to health and safety protocols and house rules, all within the terms of tenancy agreements
- Assess and monitor the risks presented by residents to ensure they can keep themselves safe and, where possible, continue their development
- Record all incidents and accidents and share appropriately with the wider team, your manager and, if necessary, the central safeguarding team
Engagement with residents
- Welcome residents home and provide informal and responsive support so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and acquire the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
- Ensure resident’s views, aspirations, concerns, and ideas are sought so they can play an active role in influencing the services they receive
- Proactively promote the services on offer and ensure residents are encouraged to engage with those services
- Contribute to, or support, evening groupwork activities so that residents can access tailored solutions that meet their needs, wishes and aspirations
Administration and housekeeping
- Undertake tasks as directed, including but not limited to: inputting data, assessments, reviews, case notes onto our client database and entering new residents details/closing ex-resident records
- Completing health and safety/compliance checks, and recording estate inspectors and room checks
- Adding maintenance requests to our property services system
General
- Work as part of a team, on a rota four on four off shift pattern, alongside another Housing Night Worker, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective at night, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
- Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
- Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice
There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.
If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.
This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.
Experience and knowledge
- Experience of working in a customer facing environment, remaining calm and solution-focused when dealing with challenging behaviour
- Basic understanding of the support needs of young people and/or adults at risks
- Understanding of the impact of trauma on others, and the ability to work with a strengths-based approach with people who may be in distress
- Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and Health and Safety check lists
- Basic knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and/or vulnerable adults, and the ability to maintain professional boundaries (training provided)
Skills and abilities
- Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate record keeping (vital for handover to colleagues working day shifts)
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong relationships
- Ability to work lone work, work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
- IT skills, including proficiency in MS Office 365 package, as well as healthy and safety and client management systems (training on YMCA DLG systems provided)
- Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 11 May 2025 at midnight
Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role
An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.
Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.
YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.
We believe every young person has the right to discover their potential.


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