Interim Head of Property, St John Ambulance

Contract Type: FTC (24 months)

Location: Birmingham & Sheffield

Base pay range: Competitive (exact pay based on skills and experience)

Benefits

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) – increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Cycle to work scheme and Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – Blue Light and NHS discounts, mobile phone, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping

About Us

St John Ambulance is a charity with a rich heritage, serving over 1,416 employees and 31,000 volunteers to save lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. We support communities with physical and mental health first aid, develop outreach services and empower people with vital clinical skills. We also run a social enterprise network delivering first aid training and supplies to businesses and consumers.

Job Summary

St John Ambulance has embarked on a strategic reduction of its property portfolio and has created a project team to focus on this challenge. The Interim Head of Property role will manage all day‑to‑day estate functions, leading facilities and property management activities, ensuring the estate is financially, legally and environmentally sustainable, and reducing operational property expenditure.

About You

You will be educated to degree level and/or equivalent senior level experience in Facilities & Estate Management across a large geographically spread portfolio. You’ll be a member of a recognised professional body (RICS, IWFM, CIOB, CIBSE or similar) and hold a professional real estate qualification. You will have strong experience of:

• Delivering strategic and practical changes across a large estate portfolio, including successful delivery of facilities management services
• Influencing Key Stakeholders and demonstrating value for money across all transactions
• Managing a complex property estates and facilities portfolio with associated staff, outsourced contracts and budgets
• Leading and developing an effective and well‑motivated, multi‑disciplinary and multi‑task estates and facilities management team

About the Role

• Professionally lead the estate and facilities service to ensure high‑quality service delivery from available resources in line with relevant policies and procedures
• Provide strategic leadership for effective Property management involving internal and outsourced teams across Estates, Health and Safety and Facilities management
• Provide timely and accurate advice to the Board and Senior Management Team on major aspects of Estates and Facilities Management on the retained estate
• Prepare, balance and manage Property budgets in accordance with Financial Regulations and Capital and Revenue budget allocations
• Lead the Property team in reducing operational costs through individual actions and bundling of service delivery through partners
• Offer a first‑class business partnering service to the wider community, acting as a critical friend and advisor
• Communicate effectively with external stakeholders including the Health and Safety Executive, technical contractors and architects; chair meetings of senior staff and technical project teams
• Manage all operational functions including building, electrical and mechanical services, contracts, statutory compliance, cyclical and minor works programs, and utilities/energy management contracts
• Review property lease terms regularly and maintain health & safety compliance
• Develop robust Key Performance Indicators to maximise net financial efficiency while maintaining quality and safety standards
• Negotiate with suppliers, contractors and lessors to achieve win/win outcomes, protecting interests and supporting strategic programme delivery
• Prepare all property business cases for acquisitions, leases, refurbishments and disposals, ensuring stakeholder input
• Lead large departmental projects such as high value contract tenders; track progress, flag issues, risks and secure value for money throughout
• Champion compassionate leadership and St John values; engage, involve and empower people in problem‑solving and improvement
• Actively promote diversity and a variety of perspectives across the organisation
• Perform any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities, band of the post and skills and qualifications of the post‑holder

Equal Opportunity

St John Ambulance is committed to increasing the diversity of our team and best reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve. We value all individuals and provide a supportive environment that values unique differences and demonstrates authentic allyship.

Safeguarding

We promote safe recruitment practices. All successful applicants will undergo pre‑employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the role.

Application Note

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.