Estates Quality Assurance Manager

About The Role

Job Purpose

The Estates Quality Assurance Manager provides independent, objective assurance that all estates-related activities are compliant, safe, effective, and aligned with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.

Operating independently from Facilities Management and project delivery teams, the role is responsible for establishing and delivering a robust estates assurance framework, leading independent audits, reviewing governance, monitoring health & safety and statutory compliance, and ensuring ongoing regulatory readiness. The role plays a critical part in improving audit outcomes, strengthening regulatory confidence, and providing clear assurance to Executive leadership and governance forums.

Key Responsibilities

Quality, Assurance & Compliance
• Provide independent assurance over estates activities, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and internal standards.
• Act as the second line of defence for estates compliance, maintaining objectivity and independence from operational delivery.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Estates Quality Assurance Framework.

Compliance Auditing
• Plan and deliver independent estates compliance audits, including statutory compliance, safety systems, contractor management, and governance controls.
• Conduct risk-based audits across the estate, identifying non-conformances, systemic weaknesses, and areas of best practice.
• Track audit actions to completion and verify effectiveness of corrective actions.

Statutory Assurance
• Provide assurance that statutory inspections, testing, and maintenance obligations are fully met and appropriately evidenced.
• Review statutory compliance documentation, certifications, and records to ensure accuracy, completeness, and audit readiness.
• Escalate material risks or non-compliance to Executive and Governance Groups with clear recommendations.

Document Review
• Undertake independent document quality reviews for estates activities and contractor works.
• Assess documentation for suitability, proportionality, risk control effectiveness, and alignment with legislation and best practice.
• Identify trends, gaps, and recurring risks to inform improvement plans and contractor performance discussions.

Audit & Regulatory Support
• Lead preparation for internal, external, and regulatory audits related to estates and facilities compliance.
• Support regulatory inspections by providing assurance evidence, audit outputs, and compliance dashboards.
• Act as a key estate's assurance contact for regulators, auditors, and internal governance bodies.

Performance Assurance & Reporting
• Develop and maintain compliance assurance reports for Executive and Board-level audiences.
• Provide clear, concise insight into compliance status, emerging risks, and assurance outcomes.
• Use data and trends to drive continuous improvement and risk mitigation.

Regulatory Readiness
• Conduct regulatory readiness assessments to test organisational preparedness for inspection or audit.
• Identify gaps against regulatory expectations and support the development of targeted improvement plans.
• Promote a culture of proactive compliance and assurance across estates functions.

Key Outcomes & Measures of Success
• Improved internal and external audit outcomes
• Increased confidence from regulators, auditors, and governance bodies
• Clear, reliable estates compliance dashboards and assurance reporting
• Reduction in repeat audit findings and high-risk non-compliances
• Demonstrable independence and objectivity in assurance activity

Key Relationships
• Executive Team and Governance Groups
• Estates, Facilities Management, and Capital Projects teams (independent oversight)
• Health & Safety, Risk, and Compliance functions
• External auditors, regulators, and assurance partners
• Contractors and suppliers (assurance and audit interface only)

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential
• Proven experience in estates developments, facilities, or property compliance and assurance
• Strong knowledge of statutory compliance within built environments
• Experience delivering independent audits and assurance activities
• Ability to interpret legislation, standards, and regulatory frameworks
• Excellent analytical, reporting, and stakeholder-management skills
• Confidence presenting assurance findings at Executive or Board level

Desirable
• Professional qualification in estates, facilities, health & safety, or auditing
• Experience working within regulated environments
• Knowledge of assurance frameworks and risk-based auditing

Personal Attributes
• Independent, objective, and principled
• Detail-focused with strong risk awareness
• Confident challenger with a collaborative approach
• Credible and authoritative with senior stakeholders
• Committed to continuous improvement and regulatory excellence

About Us

Transforming lives through Integrity, Courage and Care

Compass Community exists to create a future of strength and opportunity for every child. Across fostering, residential care and education, we use a therapeutic, innovative approach that puts children first. Our mission is to be the UK's #1 children's services provider - reaching more children, being the best place to work in children's services, and helping to transform the sector for good.

Our values, Integrity, Courage and Care guide how people work here. We listen properly, challenge each other well, and get on with fixing what needs to be fixed, together. When something goes wrong, we deal with it. When something goes well, we celebrate it. That's the work of Life Changers, and we look forwards to welcoming you to the team.