Who are we?

The British Embassy in Belgrade is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking to recruit an Estates Manager.

Main purpose of job:

The Estates Manager leads the Estates team and is responsible for the effective delivery, oversight and continuous improvement of estates services across the British Embassy Belgrade’s office and residential estate.

The role provides day to day leadership and management of estates team, ensuring that maintenance, accommodation, procurement activity and health & safety arrangements are planned, prioritised and delivered through the team and external contractors, in line with FCDO policies, delegated authority and local legal requirements. The role acts as the Post Health & Safety (H&S) Coordinator, and has a significant procurement and project management role, including initiating Tenders with the Procurement Hub and managing estates projects and works from specification through to completion.

The post holder ensures work is appropriately allocated, monitored and quality assured through the estates team and suppliers, and consults with the Regional Technical Lead (RTL) and FCDO Estates Directorate on technical and professional matters as required. The role operates within established policy and governance frameworks, with strategic ownership and final accountability retained by the Corporate Services Manager (CSM) and Deputy Head of Mission (DHM).

If you’re an experienced people leader who enjoys guiding teams, solving practical problems and improving how places work, this role offers a chance to make a visible impact across the Embassy!

What This Role Delivers:

Estates Management, Procurement & Team Leadership (40%)

• Lead the Estates team and ensure high‑quality services across office and residential properties.
• Manage and support the team (Accommodation Officer, Maintenance Assistants, Cleaners), setting priorities and monitoring performance.
• Oversee day‑to‑day repairs and planned maintenance, including supervising contractors.
• Keep the maintenance schedule up to date and ensure planned work is completed on time.
• Carry out regular property inspections and make sure any issues or risks are dealt with promptly.
• Act as the main contact for all estates and accommodation matters, raising issues through management when needed.

Procurement & Project Management (25%)

• Lead purchasing and contract activity for estates services, working with the Procurement Hub to ensure compliance.
• Run tender processes, including preparing requirements and supporting evaluations.
• Manage maintenance, refurbishment and small projects from planning to completion, ensuring quality, value for money and timely delivery.
• Monitor contractor performance and address any issues.
• Consult with regional technical experts when specialist advice is needed.

Health & Safety – Post Coordinator (20%)

• Serve as the Health & Safety Coordinator for the Embassy.
• Ensure the Estates team follows FCDO and local health and safety requirements.
• Maintain health and safety records, risk assessments and inspection logs.
• Lead regular safety inspections and ensure follow‑up actions are completed.
• Support incident reporting, investigations and emergency planning.
• Act as Secretary to the Health & Safety Committee, ensuring actions and risks are tracked.

Governance, Finance & Compliance (15%)

• Monitor estates‑related spending and support effective budget management.
• Prepare documents and evidence for audits, inspections and compliance checks.

Our Ideal Candidate shows:

• Fluent in English and Serbian written and spoken minimum level C1 level for CEFR* framework.
• Professional experience overseeing property, maintenance, or facilities operations.
• Solid experience line managing, supervising and developing staff potential.
• Experience acting as a project manager for works, maintenance or facilities projects.
• Experience managing procurement processes or working with a central procurement hub.
• Experience managing budgets and using corporate finance/procurement systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programmes.