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University College Cork (UCC) is an internationally renowned university where excellence in teaching and research is aligned with an inclusive and respectful environment, where all staff and students can flourish and thrive.
Founded in 1845, UCC is a comprehensive research-intensive institution comprising four academic Colleges, delivering a rich tradition of collaborative teaching, research and scholarship that has true global impact.
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UCC’s Office of Buildings & Estates is responsible for the planning, management, stewardship, commercial optimisation and physical development of a diverse university estate comprising approximately 290,000m² of buildings, 80 hectares of grounds and property, and more than 140 buildings across over 20 locations. The estate includes a distinctive mix of heritage and modern assets and a geographically distributed presence extending from the main campus and city-centre locations to Curraheen, Ringaskiddy, Lough Hyne, West Cork and the University’s Dublin property, together with subsidiaries and other campus-related property interests.
The function supports a broad portfolio of services including campus masterplanning, capital development, property and portfolio management, engineering and maintenance, utilities and energy management, space and room-booking interfaces, campus operations, heritage and landscape management, biodiversity, conservation, commuter planning, flood risk management and distributed site facilities support.
The portfolio also has an important commercial dimension. In addition to stewardship of the core academic estate and campus services, the postholder will support the effective management and optimisation of the commercial value of the University’s property, subsidiaries and related campus assets and services. This includes providing strategic oversight of commercial property interests, enabling appropriate revenue generating activity such as leasing, licenses, external room bookings, events, sponsorship and other ancillary opportunities, and ensuring that commercial decisions are aligned with the University’s mission, governance framework, financial sustainability and long-term Capital Plan.
The Director of Estates & Commercial Services is a pivotal strategic leadership role for the University. The postholder will report to the President or nominee and will be a member of the University Leadership Team. They will lead the planning, stewardship, development and commercial leadership of the University’s estate and campus services so that the physical environment, infrastructure, property interests and campus operations enable the delivery of UCC’s academic mission, research ambition, student experience, financial sustainability and long-term strategic development.
It combines strategic estate planning and campus masterplanning; capital development and delivery of the University Capital Plan; property management and commercial optimisation of the estate, including subsidiaries and campus-related property interests; engineering, maintenance and utilities; space planning and utilisation; campus operations and service experience; sustainability and decarbonisation delivery in partnership with the relevant University functions; resilience and compliance; and the development of more data-enabled and intelligent campus management.
In addition, the postholder will be expected to bring strong commercial, financial and strategic acumen, ensuring that estate investment, operational expenditure, revenue opportunities and commercial activity are developed and managed in a coherent way that supports institutional priorities, public accountability and value for money.
UCC as a progressive organisation will continue to change and evolve its structures and reporting lines to deliver on the University’s strategy and future business needs. The postholder is expected to proactively engage with the University’s programme of change as it evolves.
At UCC our mission is to meet the challenges of our time, together. When you work at University College Cork, you are joining a group of diverse thinkers and innovators committed to a sustainable future for our University, our society and our world. We rely on the collective power of our people working to create and innovate towards a common purpose.
As a leading research university our ambition is to cultivate a distinctive research reputation in signature areas of excellence. As a community of learning, our connected curriculum underpins a relevant, dynamic and inclusive learning experience for our students.
As the world’s first Green Flag university, we are proud of our leadership in sustainability and we continue to radically reform our practices and use of space and technology to meet our ambitious sustainability and climate action goals.
We are committed to providing a diverse, inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone’s contribution is valued and everyone has the potential to shape change and make a difference. We value the unique background, experience, and contribution that each staff member brings to our community and are looking for people who will make a difference. If you believe in our vision and mission and would like to belong to community of people who are working together to make an impact, we would love to hear from you.
When you become a member of UCC’s community you will be eligible for a wide range of staff benefits and rewards including the following:
The University will be supported in this appointment process by the executive search firm Perrett Laver and enquiries can be made directly to Chris McCann. Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae detailing academic and professional qualifications and experience. CVs should be accompanied by a covering letter describing briefly how candidates meet the criteria outlined in the job description, why the appointment is of interest and what they believe they can bring to the role.
Completed applications should be uploaded HERE quoting reference 8500.
The closing date for applications will be 12pm GMT, Tuesday 28th July 2026.
Additional information regarding the Terms of the post can be found HERE.
Ireland’s second city, proudly referred to by Corkonians as ‘the Real Capital’ is a forwardthinking, fast-growing and friendly city and an important business and cultural hub, making it a great place to live and work.
Home to 225,000 people, Cork is a cosmopolitan city set against a backdrop of stunning coastline, countryside and picturesque coastal towns. It is easy to get around and 60% of people in Cork get to work in 30 minutes or less.
Located at the second largest natural harbour in the world Cork is the heartland of Ireland’s energy, food, pharmaceutical and ICT industries. Seven out of ten of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and Ireland’s top four food companies are located in the province. UCC graduates make a critical contribution to the local talent pipeline that is at the heart of innovation and competitiveness for the region. Cork is the fastest growing city in the country and has been ranked as one of Europe’s top 25 cities of the future.
Michelle is a Managing Partner.
Michelle works in Perrett Laver’s Dublin office. She is a Partner, former Head of the Project Management team and has worked across a number of Perrett Laver’s global Offices including London, Chicago and Hong Kong. She works with organisations across our Global Higher Education, Sport, Social Impact and Health sectors.
