Estates Director

The Opportunity

Winchester College is a boarding school for boys in Years 9–13 and, from September 2026, the Sixth Form will welcome girls as boarders too. Founded by William of Wykeham in 1382, Winchester is one of the world’s most famous and distinguished schools. The School currently educates around 740 pupils, with plans to grow to over 900 in the coming years. In September 2025, The Pilgrims’ School, a pre-prep and prep school, merged with Winchester College, providing opportunities for collaboration and strengthening the schools’ shared vision of delivering an education of exceptional quality and breadth.

Winchester is currently delivering an ambitious programme of development designed to ensure that the School continues to be a leader and influencer in education. As part of this programme, Winchester continues to invest in the quality of its facilities, operations and support services and is now seeking to appoint an Estates Director.

This is a significant new leadership role with responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the estates of Winchester College and The Pilgrims’ School. Reporting to the Estates Bursar, the Estates Director will provide leadership across maintenance, facilities management, housing, grounds and associated operational services, ensuring that the estate continues to support the delivery of an outstanding educational experience.

This is far more than a traditional estates management role. The successful candidate will inherit a committed and experienced team and will play a central role in raising service standards, strengthening operational performance and fostering a culture of customer-focused delivery. The role spans responsibility for planned and reactive maintenance, compliance, health and safety, housing, grounds and river management, and a broad range of soft facilities services across a complex and historically significant estate.

Applications are welcomed from accomplished estates, facilities, property or construction professionals with significant leadership experience in a complex operational environment. Candidates will possess a proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams, managing operational budgets and delivering high-quality services, together with strong stakeholder management and communication skills. Experience within education is not essential.

Winchester College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to the College’s safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, right to work checks and an enhanced DBS check.