Head of Estates & Fabric

Canterbury Cathedral remains one of the most visited places in the country with over 1 million visitors each year to this World Heritage site. It is first and foremost a working, living church and community offering a warm welcome to all visitors, groups and individuals from all over the world, delivering its mission to show people Jesus.

Conservation work on the Cathedral is never ending, with the majority of work carried out by our own highly skilled crafts and trades teams and apprentices. The people who work to conserve the Cathedral's fabric are highly skilled artists and craftspeople. Their work requires sensitivity to the spirit of the building. The aim is to slow down the process of decay, and to replace only those parts that have lost the battle for survival.

The Head of Estates and Fabric will have overall responsibility for the fabric, conservation, maintenance and safety of Canterbury Cathedral, Precincts and Estate and lead on the delivery of projects supporting the Cathedrals Environmental Sustainability Agenda.

They will lead and be responsible for delivery of a Fabric and Estates Strategy that ensures the Cathedral, Precinct and Estate is well maintained, conserved and able to support the delivery of our strategic priorities. The role will also lead the Estates and Fabric Department (Constables, Gardeners, Estates, Maintenance, Health and Safety, Stained Glass, Stone Masons) to deliver the Cathedrals priorities within budgetary constraints complying with best practice, Cathedral systems, regulations, legislation and guidance.

We are seeking candidates that, amongst many other skills, has a passion for historic buildings and experience of heritage sites and conservation, has experience of working in large complex organisations, has a thorough understanding of building legislation and who is an effective leader of a diverse team.

To view the application pack and to apply, visit: www.canterbury-cathedral.org/get-involved/work-with-us

As applications are received, interviews may take place prior to the advertised closing date.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Canterbury Cathedral is committed, within our Cathedral community to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable people. This encompasses those who live, work, worship and visit here.

As part of our commitment to both child and adult protection, we carefully select and train paid and voluntary staff who might come into contact with these groups, using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if appropriate amongst other tools, to check their suitability.