Director of Estates Operations and Capital Projects

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on

Job Description - Director of Estates Operations and Capital Projects ()

Job Description

Director of Estates Operations and Capital Projects ( Job Number: )

Estates and Facilities

Grade 10 : - Competitive

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Working Arrangements : Working 5 days out of 7 days. We operate hybrid working and are on site a minimum of three days per week, depending on business needs.

Closing Date : 16-Sep-2025, 10:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement : Not Applicable.

Director of Estates Operations and Capital Projects

Durham University is seeking a strong strategic leader for the role of Director of Estates Operations and Capital Projects.This senior position plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the University's estate strategy, supporting world-class research, education, and student experience.

As one of the UK's leading universities, Durham offers a unique and historic setting, a global outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, and a warm and inclusive community.Our refreshed University Strategy () sets ambitious goals for delivering transformative education and research, supported by a world-class estate.

Durham's estate is central to achieving our strategic goals.This post will lead the Estates Operations, and Projects and Infrastructure teams, (approximately 130 staff), and manage a diverse estate portfolio of around 344 buildings, including over 70 listed buildings.Areas of responsibility include property assets and space management, building and engineering maintenance, energy, and capital projects and infrastructure delivery.The role is accountable for a revenue budget of £18m and a capital budget between £20-50m per annum.

Strategic leadership and operational management are required across several key initiatives, including management of the capital plan, development of the strategic asset management plan, providing premises assurance and enabling digital campus transformation. This is an exciting time to be joining the Estates and Facilities Senior Leadership Team as custodians of such a high quality and diverse property portfolio. This post will require strong emotional intelligence qualities and excellent communication skills to successfully work with internal and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with senior leadership experience in estates operations and capital project management ideally with experience of leading change in operational service and capital project delivery models.

For further information about the role and the Person Specification, please view our applicant pack .

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women, and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What you need to submit

A CV: and

A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification detailed in the applicant pack .

For further information on this role, please contact Ian Rooney, Director of Estates and Facilities, .

For details of how to apply for this significant appointment, please visit the Durham University recruitment portal.

The closing date for applications is, midnight on Tuesday 16 September 2025.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on