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Assistant Director (Estates and Support Services) – NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Band 8D - Salary Range £107,810 to £112,426 per annum
Contract type: Permanent
Base: Flexible
An opportunity to shape the future of healthcare environments and services
This is a rare opportunity to take on one of the most influential operational leadership roles within NHS Ayrshire & Arran, leading services that directly affect the experience of patients, staff and communities every single day.
We are looking for someone who wants more than simply managing services. We are looking for someone who is excited by the opportunity to shape, influence and modernise services on a significant scale.
We are looking for a leader who can bring people together, create momentum, challenge traditional thinking and help shape what comes next.
Why this role is different
Few leadership roles offer this breadth of influence.
This post sits at the centre of how NHS Ayrshire & Arran will evolve over the next decade spanning estates, facilities, sustainability, operational support services and organisational transformation.
You will have the opportunity to:
- influence strategic decisions at senior organisational level
- modernise services that support thousands of staff and patients every day
- lead large-scale transformation and improvement programmes
- shape sustainable environments and future ways of working
- work across organisational boundaries with health, local authority and national partners
- leave a visible and lasting legacy across Ayrshire & Arran
About NHS Ayrshire & Arran
NHS Ayrshire & Arran provides acute, community and mental health services for a population of approximately 360,000 people across East, North and South Ayrshire.
We are ambitious about the future of our services and infrastructure. Through our Caring for Ayrshire vision, sustainability agenda and ongoing transformation programmes, we are redesigning how healthcare environments and support services contribute to safer, more effective and more person-centred care.
The Opportunity
As Assistant Director of Estates & Support Services, you will provide strategic leadership across a diverse and complex portfolio including:
- Estates and facilities management
- Catering, domestic, portering and laundry services
- Energy, sustainability and environmental management
- Security, transport and car parking
- Major estate developments and refurbishment programmes
- Compliance, governance and fire safety
- Partnership working across health and local government
You will lead services delivered by over 1,000 staff and help shape environments and systems that underpin patient care across the whole organisation.
What we are looking for
We are interested in people who:
- think strategically but remain focused on delivery
- are energised by challenge, complexity and improvement
- can build strong relationships and bring people with them
- have experience leading change within large, complex organisations
- demonstrate strong emotional intelligence, resilience and visible leadership
- are confident influencing at senior level
- are motivated by public service and improving outcomes for communities
You may come from the NHS, wider public sector or another large operational environment.
What matters most is your ability to:
- create confidence and momentum
- develop high-performing teams
- balance strategic vision with operational reality
- improve services through innovation, collaboration and modernisation
You will be supported by experienced technical and operational teams. This role is about leadership, direction and enabling improvement at scale.
What you will gain
This role offers the opportunity to:
- develop a nationally significant leadership portfolio
- influence services across an entire healthcare system
- work with experienced and committed multidisciplinary teams
- lead major programmes of change and service redesign
- shape sustainability and environmental strategy
- contribute directly to improving patient and staff experience
- grow professionally within a progressive and ambitious organisation
Alongside the scale and complexity of the role, Ayrshire offers an exceptional quality of life — with coastline, countryside, strong communities and excellent connectivity.
Candidate Profile
You will bring:
- substantial senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation
- experience of organisational transformation and service improvement
- strong financial, governance and resource management capability
- excellent communication, influencing and partnership-working skills
- degree-level qualification with Masters-level education or equivalent experience
- commitment to continuous improvement and public-sector values
Full UK Driving Licence: A full UK driving licence is essential for this role as you will be required to work across various sites.
If you want to find out more about the role, please contact:
Nicola Graham, Director of Infrastructure and Support Services Nicola.Graham3@aapct.scot.nhs.uk.
RIGHT TO WORK / CERTIFICATES OF SPONSORSHIP
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.
It is essential that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored before submitting your application form.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. When considering if a post meets the salary threshold for sponsorship, please note the salary advertised is based on a full-time contract and must be pro-rated for part-time positions. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks.
Please visit here for further information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
- You should apply for this post by completing the application process on NHS Jobs Scotland.
- DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.
- Posts close at midnight on the indicated date. Late applications will not be accepted.
- For help to complete an application on NHS Jobs Scotland, please follow this link: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/
- To view our accessibility statement, please follow this link: https://www.eess.nhs.scot/jobtrain-accessibility-statement/
- Please note that our correspondence method is by email, therefore please ensure you enter your email address accurately.
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- Please contact JobTrain Candidate Support Hub: https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home - for advice and support with any system issues.
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- Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments.
- Some of our vacancies are for internal candidates only. If you are a staff member, please ensure you update your NHS Jobs Scotland account profile to reflect that you are employed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
- Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.
