At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead estate management and implement strategies for historic properties across the UK.
- Company: Historic England, dedicated to preserving and promoting England's historic environment.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, generous holiday, wellness programmes, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with diverse opportunities and a commitment to employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on England's heritage while enjoying a flexible work-life balance.
- Qualifications: Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) with experience in property negotiations and relationship management.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid · United Kingdom (multiple locations) Newcastle · York · Manchester · Birmingham · Swindon · Bristol · Portsmouth · Cambridge
Team: Corporate Services - Facilities Management
Seniority: Senior
Closing: 11:59pm, 18th Aug 2026 BST
Perks and benefits:
- Work from home option
- Wellness programs
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional parental leave
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Paid emergency leave
- Sabbatical Opportunities
- Mentoring/coaching
- Payroll giving
- Salary sacrifice
- Team social events
- Team lunches
- Extracurricular clubs
- Cycle to work scheme
Job Description Summary:
We are the public body that looks after England’s historic environment. We champion historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them.
Historic England has a fantastic opportunity for a Chartered Surveyor to join us as our Head of Estates. This is a full time, permanent position. The location of this role is National where we offer hybrid working, you will be based in one of our following offices and from home - Newcastle, York, Manchester, Birmingham, Swindon, Bristol, Portsmouth (Fort Cumberland) and Cambridge. This role will involve frequent travel to all office locations as required.
We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive defined benefit pension scheme to which we make 28.97% employer contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.
What you will be doing:
As Head of Estates, you will provide senior professional estate management expertise across our diverse portfolio of freehold and leasehold properties. You will play a pivotal role in implementing the organisation’s Estates Strategy through property decisions that optimise resources, support the delivery of our Net Zero ambitions and deliver great workplaces. You will provide clear, commercially sound and technical advice.
Who we are looking for:
- Qualification - MRICS
- Breadth of experience - Property lease and rent negotiations, business rates, legalities
- Line Management
- Example of successful negotiations
- Budgets and financial reporting
- Approach to Landlord/tenant liaison
- Relationship management
Please note your application will be scored and assessed against the above criteria.
We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having won the Gold Award from MIND for workplace wellbeing in seven consecutive years, we also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can.
We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working and different working locations, including hybrid working. Please visit our jobs pages or contact us to find out more.
Why work for Historic England:
We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are underrepresented within Historic England at this level.
Historic England wants all of our candidates to shine in the recruitment process. Please tell us what we can do to make sure you can show us your very best self. You can contact us by email at recruitmentTeam@Historicengland.org.uk if you have any recruitment queries.
At Historic England we use a hiring system called Applied. Applied is a behavioural science-backed recruitment platform that reduces bias, improves quality of hire and increases diversity. We do not use CV application for the majority of our hiring processes. You will answer a selection of questions that allow our hiring teams to test your skills and suitability for the role.
At Historic England, we value the expertise and individuality each candidate brings and want to hear about this in your own words. If you require the use of AI tools or other resources to support your application, we ask that all information is factually accurate, original, and reflects your own experience. To best represent yourself, we encourage you to write in your own words and use AI-generated content only as inspiration—not as direct input.
Provisional interview dates: Week commencing Monday 27th August 2026 - virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Head of Estates employer: Be Applied Ltd
Be Applied Ltd is an exceptional employer that values strategic leadership and collaboration, offering a hybrid working environment that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, the company fosters a culture of innovation and teamwork, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to meaningful projects in the space sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Estates
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like Be Applied Ltd.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like Be Applied Ltd? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit Be Applied Ltd's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Estates
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Head of Estates role at Be Applied Ltd, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Be Applied Ltd
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where Be Applied Ltd operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to Be Applied Ltd. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at Be Applied Ltd.
