The British Embassy in Muscat is part of a worldwide network that represents the UK’s political, economic, security, and consular interests overseas. We are seeking a highly motivated and proactive individual for the position of Head of Estates under the Corporate Services Team, at the grade of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) on a fixed-term contract of one (1) year, with a possibility of renewal.

To provide senior strategic leadership and overall accountability for the delivery of estates, accommodation and logistics services at British Embassy Muscat. This will include managing an enhanced estate with a number of Government Departments and ensuring delivery of 1HMG service level agreement. The role ensures that the Embassy estate is safe, compliant, operationally effective and delivers value for money, in accordance with FCDO policies, processes, UK health and safety standards, and local regulatory requirements.

The jobholder leads and oversees all construction, maintenance and accommodation activity, including the management of complex and high‑value contracts, forward planning, and risk management. The role requires strong leadership, professional judgement, effective estates management, good communication skills and the ability to provide clear assurance and advice to senior stakeholders.

This role reports to the Head of Corporate Services, with a requirement to deputize when required.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Provide clear strategic direction and leadership to the Estates, Facilities, Transport and Technical teams, ensuring alignment with FCDO priorities, processes, standards and operational needs.
• Foster a high‑performing, inclusive and professional working culture, supporting staff development, wellbeing and performance management.
• Lead organisational change within the estates and logistics function, ensuring readiness for future operational requirements, sustainability objectives and capital programmes.
• Provide senior‑level advice and assurance to the Head of Corporate Services and senior leadership on estates performance, health and safety, risk exposure and value‑for‑money.
• Lead the Post Platform Committee (PPC), providing evidence‑based recommendations and clear justifications.
• As the deputy in the team, assisting HCS to run the team and taking on works / projects  as required for the Department and cover the head of team role as required.
• Prepare and respond to any audit and assessment requests, ensure compliant record keeping.
• Ensure that a proactive risk management approach is taken to all work, ensuring compliance with UK and local standards.
• Responsible for estates contingency plans and act as the coordinator in crisis situations.

Estates Management

• Lead, deliver and communicate all London‑led and local estates policies across the Embassy estate, ensuring alignment with FCDO standards and effective engagement with all stakeholders.
• Hold overall accountability for Health & Safety governance across the estate, acting as the appointed H&S Administrator and Fire Safety lead, ensuring training, compliance records, risk management and statutory obligations are fully met.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all estates, accommodation and technical operations, ensuring the estate is safe, compliant, operationally effective and continuously fit for purpose.
• Lead and manage all estates‑related procurement, tendering and contract delivery, ensuring full compliance with FCDO procurement guidelines, strong commercial governance, KPI management and value‑for‑money outcomes.
• Maintain oversight of all external contractors and service providers, ensuring contract performance, safety standards and quality requirements are met and risks to the Post are effectively managed.
• Own and oversee Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), estates projects and small works programmes, ensuring delivery through effective project management, technical assurance and liaison with FCDO stakeholders (ESD, FMCU, FCDOS).
• Exercise strategic oversight of the residential accommodation portfolio (Embassy, Ambassador’s Residence, MQ houses and rented apartments), ensuring compliance with FCDO safety standards and effective provision of furnishings, appliances and equipment.
• Advise senior management and London on estates‑related risks, cost effectiveness, affordability and value‑for‑money, providing evidence‑based recommendations, including through leadership of the Post Platform Committee (PPC).
• Lead sustainability and environmental initiatives across the estate, ensuring alignment with FCDO global targets and incorporating sustainability into estates planning and delivery.
• Maintain ownership and integrity of estates data and governance systems, including asset registers, Forward Maintenance Register and estates databases (Planon / Pyramid), ensuring accurate reporting, forecasting and audit readiness.
• Hold delegated budgetary responsibility for estates, maintenance and related expenditure, approving purchases and controlling spend through effective financial planning and oversight.
• Provide effective communications and guidance to all staff across the estate, including on 1HMG platform.

Maintenance and Technical Oversight

• Overall responsibility for routine building maintenance across the Estate
• Oversight of the operation and maintenance of the estate, ensuring that systems are maintained and services delivered in accordance with FCDO policies and technical standards, whilst delivering value for money.
• Ensure clear, consistent communication with contractors and service providers, cascading maintenance standards, service expectations, safety requirements and performance reminders, and addressing issues promptly through formal instructions, meetings and documented follow‑up.
• Management of the Hard /Soft Facilities Maintenance

Health & Safety

• As the lead on estate related health and safety activity, ensure implementation of FCDO’s H&S policies and risk management procedures. Oversight of posts’ health and safety compliance records.
• Act as the focal point for staff H&S queries and promote the Embassy’s health and safety mission statement
• Lead with respect to fire safety as the appointed Fire Safety Manager

Budget responsibility and accountability

• Overall accountability for estates, maintenance, furniture and project budgets.
• Profile, monitor and control expenditure to deliver within approved budgets.
• Approve estates‑related purchases and ensure financial probity and transparency.

Procurement

• Lead on all procurement and tendering where expenditure relates to the estate. Ownership of all purchasing/ contract’s delivery, ensuring actions are carried out according to the FCDO Procurement guidelines.
• Maintain and monitor performance of commercial contracts through operating procedures and Contractual KPI Management, and Service Level Agreements.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required as specific responsibilities could change in the future, and this would be at the discretion of the line manager. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.

Key Behaviours:

Candidates will need to demonstrate the following behaviours and the Embassy values during the interview:

• Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Our Values:

The British Embassy Values (Trust, Respect, Integrity and One Team) are important in helping us to deliver for the UK internationally. Wherever we work in the world, we share a set of values that guides our decision-making, sets standards for our behaviour and helps us deliver the UK’s national interest internationally.

• Trust: Be reliable, open, and dependable in our actions and communications.
• Respect: Acknowledging each other’s skills, opinions, and experiences and honouring each other’s ideas, beliefs, and culture.
• Integrity: Taking responsibility for our decisions and actions and standing up for what is right, not what is easy.
• One Team: Being kind, helpful, supportive, open to challenge so that we can all work at our best towards achieving the same goal.

These values are underpinned by the UK Civil Service values (Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, Impartiality) and complemented by values all One HMG colleagues bring from their own department, service or administration.

• 6-10 years of experience in Estates, Facilities Management or Engineering sector.
• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Property Management, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification or professional accreditation (e.g. IWFM, RICS, CIOB, NEBOSH).
• 6-10 of experience leading and managing a diverse and multi-disciplined team by demonstrating excellent staff management skills and effective communication skills.
• Experience of working strategically with Project Management and Development best practices.
• Knowledge/ Background/ Certification of Health and Safety and risk management practices in the workplace.
• Strong experience in budget ownership (accurate forecasting, timely payments, and embedding excellent value for money in all activities).
• Strong analysis, organisational, and time management skills.
• Flexible, decisive, and resilient under pressure, with a proven track record of delivering results regularly within tight deadlines.
• Excellent customer care skills and the ability to respond to a range of customer needs.
• Excellent interpersonal and active listening skills, with the ability to cultivate and maintain a range of contacts at all levels.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• IT literate and well versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications, particularly MS Excel.