Summary

Looking for a part-time senior estates role with real impact? Join Wonderseekers as our Head of Estates (Fixed-Term Parental Leave Cover) and help keep our unique science engagement charity safe, compliant and operating smoothly during an exciting period of capital investment.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll oversee estates compliance, manage contractors and budgets, line manage our Estates and Technical Manager, and provide leadership across several key projects, including a major solar installation, borehole development and land management programme. Working across multiple sites, you'll play a vital role in ensuring our buildings, grounds and infrastructure continue to support more than 170,000 annual visitors and the communities we serve.

We're looking for someone with recent estates or facilities management experience, strong knowledge of health and safety and statutory compliance, and experience overseeing contractors and construction projects. In return, you'll enjoy a flexible part-time opportunity, the chance to contribute to a meaningful charitable mission, and the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the future sustainability of our estate.

Please contact us if you’d like to arrange an informal chat or have any questions about the role before applying by emailing hr@wonderseekers.charity – we’d love to hear from you!

Job Details

Working Hours: 3-4 days per week (22.5 to 30 hours) to be discussed at interview.
Work Pattern: Hours will usually be worked during office hours from Monday to Friday. Actual days can be discussed at interview. Some early mornings and evenings will be required, along with occasional weekend and bank holiday work to support specific operational needs.
Location: Working between multiple sites – Winchester Science Centre, The Point (Eastleigh) and Science Projects (Steventon, Basingstoke). Some home working possible, up to 1 day a week from home however this will need to remain flexible to ensure adequate cover on-site.
Salary: £38,000-£39,000 per annum (pro rata for part-time hours)
Contract: Fixed-Term Contract for a period of approximately 5 months to cover a period of staff absence during parental leave from Mid-December 2026 to May 2027.
Line Manager: Chief Finance and Risk Officer
Reports: Estates and Technical Manager
Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (full time, pro-rata for part-time hours). Option to buy/sell some leave and gain additional days for continuous service after four years.
Closing Date: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a suitable candidate has been appointed, so early applications are encouraged.

About our Charity

Wonderseekers (the Charity behind Winchester Science Centre) strives to engage all children with science so they can live happier, healthier and more sustainable lives and contribute to improving life on Earth. The Charity runs Winchester Science Centre - a vibrant, hands-on experience for young children. Promising an exciting day out for families, with curriculum-linked trips for schools and an evening events programme, the Science Centre welcomes over 170,000 visitors every year. The Charity also delivers a free and impactful community programme for our priority audiences who may not have the opportunity to come to the Science Centre reaching over 10,000 people every year. Through our magnificent planetarium and live science experiences, as well as our out in communities work, science is brought to life in imaginative, fun and accessible ways that means everyone is included.

The Role

This fixed-term role provides cover during a period of parental leave. The responsibilities have therefore been streamlined from those of the substantive Head of Estates role, with a focus on keeping the estate safe, compliant and running smoothly, while ensuring several capital projects continue to progress through key stages.

Key Responsibilities

  • Maintain statutory and regulatory compliance across the estate, including health and safety, fire safety, water hygiene and environmental obligations, so the building stays safe for staff and visitors.
  • Line manage the Estates and Technical Manager, supporting day-to-day delivery of maintenance, planned works and reactive issues.
  • Review and maintain the charity’s risk assessments so they stay current, suitable and sufficient, and make sure contractor RAMS are checked and approved before any works begin.
  • Oversee contractors and service providers so that work is delivered safely, to agreed standards and with minimal disruption to visitor operations.
  • Monitor the Estates budget and approve spend within delegated authority, escalating anything beyond that.
  • Provide regular updates to senior management on compliance, risks, project progress and budget.
  • Keep clear records of decisions, approvals and contractor correspondence.
  • Prepare a written handover at the end of the cover period covering project status, open risks and upcoming actions.
  • General operations administration and other duties as required
  • Provide oversight and support for ongoing estates projects which includes solar, borehole and land management, ensuring progress is maintained and key milestones are achieved. Key project responsibilities are:

Solar

  • Act as the organisation’s client-side lead and main point of contact for the contract administrator and design & build contractor during design development for the solar project and through the planning decision (expected around mid-February).
  • Attend progress meetings and give timely client decisions and information so the programme isn’t held up. Review the CA’s reports and escalate risks, cost changes or delays to senior management.
  • Once permission is granted, support the move into installation, working with the contract administrator and contractor on pre-start arrangements. These include:
    • roof access and working at height
    • site set-up and logistics
    • segregation from public areas and visitor operations.
  • Make sure the organisation meets its client duties under CDM 2015 for the works.
  • Coordinate with the contract administrator to collect evidence for grant funding milestones, so funder reporting and payments stay on track.
  • Approve payments and variations certified by the CA, within delegated authority.

Borehole

  • Review the hydrogeological report with the consultant and agree next steps with senior management.
  • Run the tender process for a drilling contractor:
    • prepare the scope
    • issue the tender and evaluate returns
    • recommend an appointment and contract award in line with the charity’s procurement procedures.
  • If works start during the cover period, manage access, programme and H&S coordination.

Land Management

  • Act as the main point of contact for the ecology partners carrying out land management works.
  • Ensure access arrangements, risk assessments and method statements, permits and site H&S controls are in place before work starts.
  • Coordinate timing to avoid clashes with the solar works, any borehole activity and visitor operations.

Person Specification 

Essential

  • Recent experience in estates or facilities management.
  • Working knowledge of health and safety, fire safety, and water hygiene compliance.
  • Willingness to undergo a Basic DBS check.
  • Strong communication and report-writing skills.
  • Experience acting as a client or client representative on construction projects.
  • Experience managing contractors.
  • Experience leading and managing tender processes.
  • Experience line managing staff.

Desirable

  • IOSH or NEBOSH qualification.
  • Experience delivering grant-funded capital projects.
  • Experience of renewable energy or groundwater projects.
  • Experience working in a public-facing environment or visitor attraction.

A quick heads-up about the interview process 
For this role we will most likely run a two stage process including an informal teams chat followed by an in-person interview. We’ll send you the questions in advance so you can come in feeling confident and fully prepared.  

Ready to apply? Here's how!

When you're ready, head over to our recruitment portal and click here to apply.

Through our recruitment portal you’ll be asked to share your contact details and answer a few short questions, this is your chance to shine, so keep your answers concise but impactful. Once that’s done, simply upload your cover letter and CV. Easy!

Got questions? Want to chat before applying? Need information in a different format or would like to apply in an alternative way? No problem! Drop us a line at hr@wonderseekers.charity or by calling our People and Culture team on 01962 863791 / 07483 371391 and we’ll be happy to arrange an informal conversation. We’re always happy to answer any queries and give you an insight in to what it’s like working for our Charity.

No recruitment agencies, thank you.