Deputy Director of Estates and Campus Services

Shape the future of a working heritage estate by leading the teams delivering exceptional experiences across West Dean’s estate, campuses and gardens.

West Dean is a distinctive institution with a 6,300-acre estate in Sussex, a specialist London campus, a centre for craft and conservation and a visitor destination welcoming more than 80,000 people each year. Across higher education, short courses, gardens, hospitality and estate management, we bring together heritage, creativity and public life in a way that is genuinely unique.

Who we are

The Edward James Foundation, through West Dean College of Art, Design, Craft and Conservation, West Dean Gardens and the wider estate, is internationally recognised as a place where creativity, craft and conservation come together in a unique environment. Founded by Edward James, our mission is to advance creativity, conserve heritage and care for place.

About the role

You will lead four Heads of Department and a large multidisciplinary team operating across a seven-day environment. The role requires visibility, presence and sound judgement, balancing long-term planning with immediate operational priorities.

Working closely with the Director and wider senior team, you will strengthen service standards, support commercial performance, improve operational resilience and help deliver capital and improvement programmes. You will deputise fully when required and represent Estates and Campus Services across the organisation.

This is a hands-on leadership role within a complex and highly active estate. It requires someone who enjoys variety, is calm under pressure and can lead with clarity in a fast-moving environment where flexibility is essential, and the role does not follow a rigid 9–5 structure.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an experienced operational leader who is comfortable working across estates, hospitality, campus services or similarly complex environments. You will have led multidisciplinary teams in live, customer-facing settings and understand what it takes to deliver safe, consistent and commercially sound services.

You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience across estates, facilities, hospitality, campus or visitor operations.
• The ability to oversee multiple service areas and align them around shared standards and performance.
• Sound financial judgement and experience in improving efficiency and commercial outcomes.
• Strong understanding of compliance, health and safety and risk management.
• Confidence in leading experienced teams and

Applications close at 9 a.m. Friday 10th April.

Please click below to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.