Campus Operations Director Uk Visa Sponsorship

Job Description

Campus Operations Director
University of Reading

The University of Reading is seeking to appoint a Campus Operations Director to lead the delivery of high-quality campus and facilities services across its diverse and expansive estate portfolio.

With a rich history spanning nearly 100 years, the University of Reading is a globally recognised institution known for excellence in teaching, research, and enterprise. Our campuses—Whiteknights, London Road, and Greenlands—comprise one of the UK’s most beautiful university environments, serving over 19,000 students and nearly 4,000 staff.

Our operational estate covers more than 200 buildings and 250,000m² of space, ranging from academic and research facilities to sport, residential, and enterprise buildings. In addition, our investment portfolio includes a wide variety of property types, with over 500 tenants spanning sectors such as innovation, retail, commercial, and rural industries.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of campus operations at the University. Reporting to the Director of Estates, the Campus Operations Director will lead a multi-disciplinary team across both Hard FM (Planned & Reactive Maintenance, Grounds) and Soft FM (Security, Cleaning, Post, Portering, Building Support). The postholder will champion a culture of collaboration through the ‘One Estates’ ethos and ensure all facilities services are customer-focused, innovative, compliant, and aligned with best practice.

Key priorities include delivering the Maintenance Plan on schedule and within budget, addressing backlog maintenance, supporting the Decarbonisation Plan, and improving HESA condition ratings.

We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in estates operations and the management of complex, large-scale property portfolios (with budgets over £10 million). The successful candidate will have a proven track record in service improvement, stakeholder engagement, and the management of diverse facilities in 24/7 operational environments.

Applicants should bring senior leadership experience in similarly complex organisations and demonstrate the ability to inspire and lead diverse teams. Strong communication, interpersonal, and strategic planning skills are essential.

The University offers a competitive benefits package including:

Generous annual leave (40 days incl. public holidays and university closure days)

Exceptional pension scheme (USS – www.uss.co.uk)

A strong focus on employee wellbeing

Flexible and hybrid working options

For further information about working at the University of Reading, please visit: www.reading.ac.uk/working-at-reading

Visa Sponsorship
Based on the applicable SOC code, this role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants are advised to check their eligibility against the points requirements. More information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Diversity and Inclusion
The University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We are proud supporters of the Athena SWAN Charter, the Race Equality Charter, and LGBT+ equality. We are also a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. Applications for job-share, part-time, and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

Application Process
View the candidate brochure: Candidate Brochure
(If you require this in a different format, please contact: michael.hewlett@mrgglobal.com)

For a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment partner:
Michael Hewlett, MRG – michael.hewlett@mrgglobal.com

Applications should include a comprehensive CV and supporting statement, sent to the above email.

Key Dates

Application deadline: 5 May 2025

First-stage interviews (MRG): w/c 5 & 12 May 2025

Final interviews (on campus): w/c 2 June 2025