Head of Estate Operations

We are a large historic Estate in Yorkshire, with a mix of heritage buildings, modern facilities, retreat and event spaces, holiday cottages, farmland, woodland, and a significant nature recovery programme.

The Estate is complex, active, and growing. It now needs stronger coordination across property, land, maintenance, contractors, procurement, health and safety, and capital projects.

The role

We are looking for an experienced Head of Estate Operations to lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of all property and land work across the estate.

This is not a hands-on maintenance role. There are already capable team leaders on the property and land sides. What is needed is the person above them: someone who can see the whole estate, set priorities, manage budgets and contractors, and turn many moving parts into a clear plan.

What you will do

• Plan and prioritise all property and land work across the estate
• Lead the annual maintenance programme across historic and modern buildings
• Give clear direction to the property and land team leaders
• Coordinate internal teams, external contractors, and multiple workstreams
• Manage procurement, budgets, purchasing, and cost control
• Oversee repairs, refurbishments, and occasional capital projects
• Integrate the nature recovery programme into the wider estate plan
• Ensure health and safety requirements are met across all areas of the department • Make sure the right work happens at the right time, with the right resources

• An experienced estate, property, facilities, or land management professional
• Strong in project management, planning, procurement, budgets, and contractor management

• Used to coordinating teams and contractors across a complex site
• Comfortable with both day-to-day maintenance and larger refurbishment projects
• Confident around compliance, health and safety, and operational risk
• Practical, organised, calm, and decisive
• Able to bring structure and clarity to a large estate with many moving parts

• Flexible working hours available
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Pension contribution
• Free access to Sanctuary Wellbeing Schedule
• Subsidised food at Utopia Bistro
• Family & Friends discounts on Sanctuary events and stays
• Opportunity to work in a beautiful and unique environment
• Free parking