Director of Estates

Tel: 01953 609012 

Email: ea@setrust.co.uk or hr@setrust.co.uk

Website:  https://www.se-trust.org

• Salary – competitive
• Permanent
• Full time
• All Year Round

Sapientia Education Trust is a successful and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust serving schools across Norfolk and Suffolk. Established in 2016, the Trust has grown to 22 schools, educating almost 9,000 pupils across primary, secondary and sixth form provision. With further schools expected to join the Trust in the coming years, we are entering an exciting new phase of growth, development and opportunity.

Our central teams provide expert support across education, finance, HR, ICT, health and safety, governance and estates. Together, we work in partnership with school leaders to remove barriers, drive improvement and ensure our schools have the resources they need to succeed.

THE ROLE

To lead the strategic development of a multi-site education estate and help shape the future of one of East Anglia's most successful Multi-Academy Trusts.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious and forward-thinking estates leader to help shape the future of a highly respected and expanding organisation.

As Director of Estates, you will join the Executive Team at a pivotal point in the Trust's development. With a growing family of schools and significant investment planned across our estate, you will provide the strategic vision, leadership and expertise required to ensure our buildings and facilities continue to support the highest standards of education for years to come.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead all aspects of estate management across the Trust's diverse portfolio, from strategic asset planning and major capital projects to compliance, sustainability, health and safety, maintenance and estate development.

This role offers an outstanding platform for an experienced estates professional who is passionate about delivering meaningful impact. Whether through developing innovative estate strategies, securing investment, improving sustainability or delivering transformational capital projects, your work will directly support the education and wellbeing of thousands of children and young people across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Pre application visit

If you would like to visit the Trust or would like an informal discussion, please contact Briony Rigwell – Executive Assistant to the CEO by calling 01953609012 or emailing - ea@setrust.co.uk

How to apply

A Candidate Recruitment Pack is available from ‘Attachments’.

For this vacancy, if you click on the ‘Apply for Job’ button, you will be redirected to our website to apply via the online application form, along with a supporting letter of no more than 800 words, detailing how your experience equips you for the post and what you would bring to us.

Applications are considered on receipt; therefore, early applications are encouraged.

We reserve the right to interview before the application closing date, should we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Closing date:   17 August 2026, 12 noon

Interview date:   w/c  24 August 2026

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be required to undergo appropriate safeguarding and pre-employment checks. In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education, references will be sought for shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check with barred list. If you have information to declare it may be protected under the Exceptions Orders and you may not be required to declare it. You will be asked to make a criminal conviction declaration if you are shortlisted for the post. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.