Head of Maintenance & Facilities

Description

We are an independent charity that loves and looks after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. The palaces are the setting for stories that shape us all, and we’re bringing these stories to people in ways that mean more to them. We want everyone to find themselves in the spaces and stories we share.

This is a pivotal leadership role in which you’ll head up a highly skilled team responsible for the maintenance and facilities services that keep our historic sites safe, compliant, sustainable and beautifully presented. You will shape the strategic direction of maintenance across our estates, lead the modernisation of our services, and ensure we continue to balance innovation with the sensitive care our world‑famous heritage demands. From guiding our transition to green energy and embedding new technologies, to stewarding our historic fabric and providing an exceptional visitor experience, your leadership will directly influence how millions of people encounter our palaces.

Our estate is diverse, complex and extraordinary—spanning centuries‑old structures, specialist conservation needs, public spaces, residential and commercial tenancies, and major operational environments. With significant investment and ambitious sustainability goals ahead, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to lead change at scale.

Your impact
To thrive in this role, you will:

• Develop and deliver a forward‑looking maintenance and facilities strategy that responds to climate change, sustainability and technological innovation.
• Lead the planning and delivery of reactive and planned maintenance, ensuring safety, compliance, efficiency and high presentation standards across all sites.
• Oversee a portfolio of maintenance projects, ensuring robust financial, risk and resource management.
• Safeguard our historic estate by ensuring all work protects and enhances exceptional heritage assets.
• Champion sustainability practices and support HRP’s transition off fossil fuels and towards net zero.
• Build confidence with senior stakeholders through transparent communication, strong collaboration and clear reporting.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing multi‑disciplinary team, promoting a culture of excellence, learning and continuous improvement.

What we’re looking for
Our ideal candidate will bring:

• Senior‑level maintenance and facilities leadership, ideally in heritage, listed or complex multi‑site environments.
• Strong financial, contracting and procurement expertise, with experience managing multi‑million‑pound budgets.
• Demonstrable success managing complex, building‑related projects and driving efficiency and best practice.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with confidence engaging senior internal and external stakeholders.
• A strategic mindset combined with a hands‑on, proactive approach to operational delivery.
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style that motivates teams and builds organisational trust.
• A passion for heritage conservation and an understanding of sustainability frameworks and environmental legislation.

At HRP, we do more than protect the past - we bring history to life for millions of visitors. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, ensuring they are safe, sustainable and inspiring for generations to come.

If, after you have read the person specification, you would like a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson:
Oliver Startup: Oliver.Startup@gatenbysanderson.com
Rebekah Herz‑Bauman, Partner: rebekah.herz-bauman@gatenbysanderson.com

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