DIRECTOR OF ESTATES
CANDIDATE PACK
Welcome Thank you for taking an interest in the role of Director of Estates at Buckinghamshire New University. We are a modern university, with a proud 130-year history of transforming our students’ lives. Our richly diverse student body has a high proportion of students drawn from ethnic minorities and from low participation areas. We build social capital as well as skills and competencies to help our students reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen careers and professions.
We have a distinctive high-quality educational offer coupled with well-developed regional, national and international partnerships. Our staff are adept in using employment-focused and skill-based teaching in a learning community which features small class sizes with highly interactive research-informed teaching and employment related studies. This is reflected in the University being awarded Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework to recognise the quality of our teaching. We are proud to have risen 90 places to rank joint 29th in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2020. Furthermore, we have risen year on year in the sector league tables and are proud to be ranked 77th in the Guardian League table (2021). In the National Student Survey, our average student satisfaction is consistently in the upper quartile of all UK Universities, and satisfaction with the Students’ Union consistently placing us within the top five in the UK. Like other institutions in the sector, our external environment poses significant challenges. However, this is an exciting time to join the University as we complete on delivery of our Impact 2022 strategy and commence our Thrive 2028 strategy. We aim to build on the transformative work to date to ensure BNU thrives across all areas of delivery and performance. Impact 2022 saw us improve and enrich the student experience through innovative and employment-focused education and realign our professional services in support of our strategic aims. Our strategic aims are to become a University that is highly connected, permeable, student- and customer focused, business-oriented, strategically aligned and impactful. We will build our reputation on a sector leading, flexible, inclusive, enquiry-based and employer informed education, designed around the needs of our students. Key to our success will be growth in domestic and international student numbers. We will develop our research and knowledge exchange activities, securing research degree awarding powers, and generating impact with reach and significance to benefit our partners and communities. We will be a University that always meets its social responsibilities. To deliver our strategy we will
better align our resources, developing and implementing new strategies for our people, technology, finance and estate. We will develop our commercial activities to strengthen and diversify our income. We will grow a culture of excellence in customer service. January 2022 sees us commence an ambitious estates development at our High Wycombe campus to enhance our students’ experience. It is in this exciting context that we are looking to enhance our Estates Directorate through the appointment of a new Director of Estates, to shape and lead the Estates, Health and Safety, Security and Sustainability functions within the Directorate. As we complete our Impact 2022 journey and commence our Thrive 2028 journey, the Director of Estates will play a crucial role; as part of the senior leadership team; in delivering the aspirational objectives set out in the University’s strategy. We are seeking an individual who has a strong track record of delivering positive outcomes in an organisation which has a complex multi-site estates operation, someone who wants to purse an opportunity to utilise their experience, skills, passion and insight to drive the University Estates Directorate forward. We are seeking an individual who is ambitious in supporting the University in the delivery of its mission to transform lives through inspiring, employment- and profession-focused education, and enabling our students positively to impact society.’
Professor Nick Braisby Vice-Chancellor
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HI STORY OUR
The Schools of Science, Art and Technical Instruction were opened.
1893
Tuition was given to ex-soldiers and sailors of the First World War. It was then known as Chepping Wycombe Technical Institute and School of Art.
1920
After the Second World War, increased demand for technical education led to the College of Further Education being opened on a new site in Alexandra Road.
1963
High Wycombe College of Art and Technology merged with Newland Park College of Education to form Buckinghamshire College of Further Education.
1975
The college became one of the UK’s new independent Higher Education Corporations.
1989
The college became a polytechnic institute.
1992
Missenden Abbey was purchased by the University.
1995
Buckinghamshire College was awarded University College status by the Government, in recognition of its high standards of teaching, training and research, and became Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.
1999
University title was achieved and the new name, Buckinghamshire New University was approved, meaning that the institution was now officially a University.
2007
An additional site was established in Uxbridge, west London, providing state of the art theaters for the nursing division.
2009
The Gateway building at the High Wycombe Campus won an architectural award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
2010
Buckinghamshire UTC was given the go-ahead by the Government. The UTC is jointly led by Aylesbury College and Buckinghamshire New University.
2011
Relaunch of our Aylesbury Campus.
2019
Opening of our campus at Pinewood Studios.
2020
Commencement of the High Wycombe Heart of the Campus Estates Development Programme
2022
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3.
Key facts
FINANCIAL RESULTS YEAR ENDED 2020 -21 £M Financial results year ended 2019-20 £m Income: 151.5 Employee costs:
(36.0) (incl. restructuring costs)
Other operating expenses:
(112.0)
Surplus for the Year:
3.4 6.6
Actuarial (loss)/gain in respect of pension schemes:
Total comprehensive income for the year
12.8
Capital Expenditure
2.4
STUDENT PROFI LE 2020 -21 Total registered enrolments:
20,072 16,147 1,649 17,796
Full-time undergraduate: Part-time undergraduate: Total undergraduate: Full-time postgraduate: Part-time postgraduate:
649
1,627 2,276 51:49 61:39
Total postgraduate: Female: Male (%) Non BME: BME (%)
STUDENT COMPOS ITION BREAKDOWN BNU:
6,734 12,102 1,236 20,072
Partners (UK):
Partners: (Overseas):
Total:
STUDENT AGE GROUPS 2020 -21 Age 16-20:
4,595 3,438 2,342 9,688
Age 21-25: Age 26-29: 30+ years:
STAFF PROFI LE OCTOBER 2021 Permanent staff:
664 272 392 240 318
Permanent academic staff:
Permanent professional service staff:
Associate Lecturers:
Atypicals:
Female: male (per cent):
60:40 70:24
Non BME: BME (%)
4.
Our mission & vision
Our strategic vision builds on our historic mission, to provide education within a vibrant, inclusive community that inspires learning, develops potential, and widens participation in order ambitiously to transform lives. Our current University strategy, Impact 2022, has galvanised an expansion of work in the University’s core endeavours – Education and Research & Knowledge Exchange – supported by cross-cutting work to develop social responsibility and reputation, customer service, the One University, and commercial activities, all underpinned by strategies for our key resources – people, financial, estates and digital. We aimed for our students and staff to love being at the University, proud of an organisation that helps them to grow, to develop and to make a real difference. We developed our behavioural values - DRIVE (overleaf ). We aimed to deliver by 2022 our vision to be a University with sector-leading impact, renowned for an education that is flexible, built around the needs of its students, and vocationally-based, ensuring their career success. Above all, aimed to become a University that is financially strong, built on growth in student numbers, with an excellent reputation for student experience and outcomes, delivering as a strategic partner, and building skills in our communities. The strategy aimed to create a University that is highly connected, permeable, student and customer-focused, business-oriented, strategically aligned and, above all, impactful. We will build our reputation as a sector- leading, flexible, inclusive, enquiry-based and employer informed education, designed around the needs of our students. We have developed our research and knowledge exchange activities, generating impact with reach and significance to benefit our partners and communities. We are a University that always meets its social responsibilities.
To deliver our strategy we have worked to better align our resources, developing and implementing new strategies for our people, technology, finance and estate. We have developed our commercial activities to strengthen and diversify our income. We have developed strategic partnerships, drawing on the advantages of our unique position within Buckinghamshire and our proximity to London. Impact 2022 set the University ambitious targets to be realised in just a few short years. Our aim was to achieve a recurrent annual surplus of 7-10%; underpinned by growth in student numbers to 7,000-7,500 FTE; holding staff costs to less than 50% of income; and liquidity in excess of 150 days. We aimed to improve our reputation to 80th or better in aggregate across league tables. We aspired to achieve TEF Gold, based on NSS scores of better than 85%, and retention and highly skilled employment indicators scoring above benchmark. At the end of 2022 we will formally close Impact 2022 and evaluate its success. Already it is clear that we will meet or come close to meeting many of our most challenging targets. The University’s finances are now very strong, underpinned by dramatic and sector-leading growth in student numbers. Our continuation scores have improved, as have our graduate outcomes, and our position in league tables has risen markedly, currently standing at 99th. Our TEF plans have been interrupted by revisions to the scheme, and of course COVID-19 has also interrupted our aspirations for continuing very strong performance in student satisfaction. Nevertheless, we anticipate summarising Impact 2022 as having been a strongly successful strategy.
5.
This year our focus has shifted to the new University strategy, which we currently call Thrive 2028. Thrive builds on Impact 2022 in prioritising innovative and life changing education that is accessible to all learners; expanding the reach of the University working in partnership with learners, communities, partners, employers and the wider society; delivering research and innovation that impacts and enhances lives and society; ensuring the University is a learning organisation that continuously excels and improves organisational effectiveness; and delivering financial sustainability
This will include work on significant, multi-year projects to transform the institution, building on our current success. These are: • Student outcomes • Health and well-being • Digital • Sustainability and carbon net-zero • Academic footprint • Civic University
through growth, expansion, and investment. We will prioritise work in four broad areas: • Supporting Students to Succeed • Delivering Knowledge and Skills • Fit and Agile Organisation • Supporting our Places and Partners
DRIVE - BEHAVIOURAL VALUES
D R DYNAMIC We actively influence events and seek opportunities to provide excellent services to our students, customers and colleagues.
I
RESPONS I BLE We take personal responsibility for our
INCLUS IVE We respect and value each other as individuals and actively champion a vibrant, inclusive community that transforms lives.
behaviour and deliver on our commitments to others and the University.
WE WI LL : Positive indicators • Be open and enthusiastic to new opportunities • Question barriers to change in a constructive way • Be flexible and agile • Always give our best • Seek new ways of working
WE WI LL : Positive indicators • Behave with integrity and transparency
WE WI LL : Positive indicators
• Respect and value difference • Make sure everyone has a voice • Care for ourselves and others • Always promote an inclusive culture • invest in personal wellbeing
• Be aware of our impact • Take ownership and be accountable • Collaborate well with colleagues • Focus on solutions over problems
V E VI S IONARY We embrace change and are brave in taking calculated risks to support the growth and impact of the University in the wider community.
EMPOWER ING We listen to others to
establish understanding and encourage the freedom to excel.
WE WI LL : Positive indicators • Foster new ideas from any source • Strive for continuous improvement • Set aspirational goals • Be enterprising and commercial • Adopt a mindset of curiosity
WE WI LL : Positive indicators
• Recognise and reward ideas • Show ‘it’s alright to make mistakes’ • Nurture development • Work effectively with colleagues • Adopt a growth mindset
6.
7.
Our Achievements in 2020-21
Top 30 university (27th) for student satisfaction with quality of teaching, up 21 places
Financial highlights
Rose 15 places to rank 77th place in the Guardian University Guide 2022, third consecutive improvement in overall position
10th highest in UK for our spend on services and facilities, up 27 places 25th highest in UK for our student- staff ratio
7th highest postgraduate employment rate in the UK (98%) across multi-faculty UK universities 84.8% student continuation rates, exceeding sector benchmark
8.
Donations through BNU’s Give to Refresh initiative to tackle hygiene poverty supported 890 local families using a food bank.
University community raised £4k for RAG charities: the Julius Little Foundation and The Florence Nightingale Hospice.
%
29% rise in postgraduate students in 2020-21 74% increase in degree apprenticeship learners 2020-21 year
£1.54m funding for BNU Students’ Union to support the best student experience at BNU
3150 pupils took part in our schools outreach activities
Students volunteered 7,000+ hours of their time to help others
BNU was shortlisted in three categories for THE Awards 2020, widely known as the Oscars of higher education - which ‘highlight and champion the very best of the talent and creativity that shines out from’ the UK’s universities.
9.
Campuses
HIGH WYCOMBE CAMPUS Our main campus sits prominently in the centre of High Wycombe and continues to develop in line with the University’s strategic direction. High Wycombe has a vibrant, friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Students benefit from new and evolving facilities that enable them to achieve their potential, both practically and academically. Over the last few years, we have invested heavily in renovating and expanding the High Wycombe Campus to provide students with cutting-edge resources and facilities. Our state-of-the-art building, the Gateway, won a RIBA Award in 2010 and comprises a learning resource and technology centre, events hall, gym, sports science laboratory, dance, drama, music and video production studios, a library and meeting rooms.
Bucks Students’ Union is housed on site, along with a student bar, cafés and an entertainment venue. The University has three self-catering halls of residence in High Wycombe which provide 885 single study bedrooms. The Human Performance, Exercise & Wellbeing Centre opened in 2015 to bring together our existing health and sports provision with new undergraduate programmes. The Centre also houses a sports injury and physiotherapy clinic open to the public, a human performance laboratory and a three-lane running track with motion-capture technology. In January 2022 the University commenced an ambitious £15m re-development of its High Wycombe campus to create the heart of the campus. This will provide new student social space including a student hub and refreshment facilities.
10.
BNU BASED AT PINEWOOD STUDIOS Our small and growing site at the world renowned Pinewood Studies enables our students studying creative courses linked to the film and TV industries to learn right in the heart of this exciting industry.
AYLESBURY CAMPUS Our newest campus continues our vision of offering education that equips students with the skills that employers are looking for. The new campus provides access to degree level courses and professional development programmes, allowing individuals to access employer-led education and training locally, and for employers to work in partnership with us to meet their needs. Based at the head of the Grand Union Canal basin, next to the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury, the campus includes specialist and general teaching facilities.
MI SSENDEN ABBEY Missenden Abbey is a dedicated conference and events venue set in ten acres of beautiful grounds in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. This unique part of the Buckinghamshire New University estate is also used as a training facility and hosts BNU- accredited postgraduate and professional short courses. Missenden Abbey was originally founded in 1133 by a group of Augustinian Canons from Arrouaise in Northern France. After being forfeited to the crown following the dissolution of the monastery and changing hands a number of times throughout its impressive 800- year history, it became an impressive part of the Buckinghamshire New University estate in the 1990s. The University has ambitious plans to relaunch Missenden Abbey as a high end boutique hotel providing opportunities for our students to gain valuable work experience on our international hotel management programmes.
UXBRIDGE CAMPUS Our Uxbridge Campus opened its doors to students in 2009. It is the home of our prestigious nursing and health care practice courses and is based in the centre of Uxbridge. The School of Nursing & Allied Health benefits from the fantastic facilities this campus offers, including an impressive range of specialist medical equipment and high-tech learning facilities such as clinical skills rooms and simulation manikins. The campus is contained within one building and students enjoy the same friendly and inclusive atmosphere that flows throughout the University. Permanent representatives of Bucks Students’ Union are based at Uxbridge, and it also has its own café. A shuttle bus runs regularly between our High Wycombe and Uxbridge campuses, ensuring students are able to benefit from facilities on both sites.
11.
University partnerships and reach
The University has extensive connections with industry and employers across the public and private sectors, in the region, UK and internationally. In addition to informing the content of curricula across the institution and providing opportunities for work placements and live briefs, BNU uses these connections to generate a range of knowledge exchange activities that produce positive impact on the business and generate income for the University. BNU is one of the few smaller institutions to receive a Higher Education Innovation Fund allocation from Research England and has also been successful in securing funding from Erasmus+, Horizon2020, and the LEP to support knowledge exchange activities. Supported by a central Research and Enterprise team, all Schools have targets for income generation from enterprise and research activity, and develop solutions for organisations relevant to the sectors in question. The University provides space to two businesses relevant to its mission, and continues to extend its partnerships with other organisations that are able to support knowledge exchange. Apprenticeships are also a fast growing element of the University’s services to business, with significant income projected across higher and degree apprenticeships in both the public and private sectors. Business incubators operate on University premises at Aylesbury and High Wycombe, relating to health and social care and digital sectors, with a third in creative industries planned for the near future. A health accelerator programme with Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust and an innovative partnership accelerator programme with Imperial College London, and the Francis Crick Institute amongst others, also ensure the University’s growth and its impact on growing and nurturing fast growth knowledge businesses.
12.
Role description
JOB TITLE : SCHOOL /DI RECTORATE : GRADE : LOCATION: HOURS :
Director of Estates Estates and Facilities University Management Group High Wycombe based but will be expected to work at other University sites and locations. Full time Chief Finance Officer Estates and Facilities, Health, Safety and Security, Environment and Sustainability
RESPONS I BLE TO: RESPONS I BLE FOR :
PURPOSE OF JOB: As a member of the University’s Management group, you will take strategic responsibility for planning, creating and operating the University’s Estate portfolio including Health & Safety, Security and Sustainability. We operate campuses in High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Pinewood and Uxbridge, and a hotel and conference centre: Missenden Abbey.
5. Plan, instigate and deliver maintenance and refurbishments to ensure the ageing parts of our estate are redeveloped in line with the University’s strategy and priorities. Manage contractors and third party maintenance providers, ensuring contractual arrangements support value for money. 6. Lead the University’s environmental and sustainability agenda to ensure we achieve set targets for climate improvement and carbon reduction (net zero by 2030). 7. Provide expert advice and guidance on all aspects of health, safety, security and environmental matters, and to ensure legislative compliance with all health, safety and security requirements. 8. To undertake such other duties as allocated by the Chief Finance Officer.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONS IB I LITIES OF THE ROLE
1. Provide strategic leadership and management for Estates Services (including student accommodation), develop and implement the University’s long term estates and infrastructure strategy, in partnership with our local communities and strategic partners. 2. Lead on health, safety, security & environmental matters for the whole University, and co-ordinate the community liaison initiatives, working closely with the Local Authority as required. 3. Own the current Estates master plan and ensure it is designed to meet the future needs of our students, staff and local community. Drive innovation, particularly at our Missenden Abbey and Pinewood locations. 4. Lead the delivery of high quality and customer focused services for University students, staff and other stakeholders across the various sites; ensuring that our campuses are welcoming and have a strong sense of identity.
13.
Role description
EDUCATION, QUALI FICATIONS & TRAINING • Undergraduate degree level qualification. • Professional qualification with a relevant degree. • Experience of leading, transforming and managing a professional estates and property function. KNOWLEDGE • Developing and implementing an estates and infrastructure vision and strategy. • Strong track record of achievement in strategic estates leadership and management, with extensive knowledge of both capital development and facilities management. • Personal and professional commitment to the University’s vision and core values. • Experience of leading and transforming teams to deliver quality customer services relating to Estates, facilities, healthy, safety and security in a complex organisation and in a multi-location environment. • Clear ability to actively participate as a member of University meetings, Committees and to represent the University externally. • Excellent understanding of and significant experience of managing Health and Safety; sustainability and environmental agendas. • Writing and presenting reports and papers to Executive/Board level meetings. • Strong track record in procuring services, suppliers and effective contract management. • Working in HE/Student environment. SKI LLS • Strategic thinking, with the proven ability to, inspire, innovate, transform, lead and manage change. • Demonstrable leadership skills with a strong focus on customer service. • Engage and persuade senior colleagues and external stakeholders over whom the post-holder has no direct managerial control.
• Ability to manage a complex property estates and facilities portfolio, staff and budgets. • Excellent negotiation skills, particularly in relation to financial and contractual matters. • Excellent oral and written communication skills, and high-level IT and financial skills. • Demonstrable ability to build strong relationships and partnerships with others. • Strong commitment to equality and diversity in education and employment. • Commitment to enhancing the learning experience of students.
BUCKS BEHAVIOURAL FRAMEWORK
• Finding solutions: Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. • Using resources effectively: Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. • Achieving results: Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.
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How to apply Should you wish to apply for this position, please send a CV and covering statement outlining key matching experience and rationale for applying for the post. Applications should be sent to our recruitment advisors,The Management Recruitment Group:
Michael Hewlett M: 07972 579 938 E: michael.hewlett@mrgpeople.co.uk
Ben Duffill M: 07976 125 010 E: ben.duffill@mrgpeople.co.uk
Closing date for applications is Sunday 1st May 2022 MRG preliminary interviews will be w/c 2nd May 2022. Formal interviews at the university are scheduled for w/c 16th May 2022
17.
High Wycombe Campus Queen Alexandra Road High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 2JZ Aylesbury Campus Walton Street Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7QG
BNU based at Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios Pinewood Road Iver Heath Buckinghamshire SL0 0NH Missenden Abbey London Road Great Missenden Buckinghamshire HP16 0BD
Uxbridge Campus 106 Oxford Road Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 1NA
Telephone: 0330 123 2023 Fax: 01494 524 392 International: +44 1494 605 259 Email: advice@bucks.ac.uk
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This publication was produced by Buckinghamshire New University in April 2022 © Buckinghamshire New University 2021
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