Office of the Director

Mark leads a team of professionals involved in the management of the University’s estate.  The overall estate comprises of 266,000 m² of space, 80 hectares of grounds and property and approximately 130 individual buildings sited at over 20 locations.

The mission of the Buildings and Estates Office is "to provide an integrated and efficient range of facilities services which enhance the estate and support the University’s objectives".  The Office provides a diverse range of facilities management services including estates master planning, capital development, property portfolio management, buildings maintenance, grounds and landscape management, utilities and energy management, minor works projects, security services, event support, postal services, cleaning, room bookings, heritage services etc. He has overseen the significant expansion of the University estate over the last 25 years as part of an ambitious development programme grounded in the University Masterplan. The University is currently going through a further ambitious €300m. capital development programme with a wide range of exciting academic and support facilities.  UCC was the first University in the world to be awarded the Green Flag by FEE and the first University to achieve ISO 50,000 accreditation.  He is co-chair of  UCC’s Green Forum with the University consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable campuses. He is a Chartered Civil Environmental Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland.  He is a UCC graduate and prior to joining UCC gained significant experience in Ireland and the United Kingdom as a Consulting Engineer and Project Manager on commercial and industrial projects. He holds a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.  

The management of the Buildings and Estates Office is the responsibility of the Director of Buildings and Estates. Each unit within the Office has its management structure as follows: 

Mark Poland (Director of Buildings and Estates)

Niamh McGettrick (Head of Estates Business Support)

Tim Cronin (Capital Projects Officer)

Tony Carey (Buildings Officer) 

Pat Cotter (General Services Officer)

Eamonn Connaughton (Facilities Manager Western Campus)

The Management Team coordinates the operational delivery of services across each functional area of the Estate, ensuring activities are aligned and effectively managed

These functions are supported by an integrated business support structure coordinated by the Head of Estates Business Support, Niamh McGettrick.

The Head of Estates Business Support is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Directorate, including financial and resource coordination, governance and committee support, reporting, and compliance processes.

Working alongside the Capital Projects Officer, the Director retains responsibility for the University’s overall strategic physical development. This is guided by the Physical Development Plan approved by the Buildings Committee and Governing Body in June 2004. The Plan is supported by strategic frameworks for the conservation of the University’s physical and natural assets (Conservation Plan) and the promotion of sustainable commuting (Commuter Plan).

Space allocation and estate data coordination falls under the remit of the Director and the Head of Estates Business Support, ensuring the effective planning and utilisation of the University’s accommodation portfolio.  The University’s estate comprises approximately 266,100m² of building space across 130 individual properties.