Head of Estates

Head of Estates

Department: Estates

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Battersea, London

Description

Berkeley Group builds homes and neighbourhoods across London, Birmingham and the South of England. We revive underused land, creating welcoming, sustainable and nature-rich places where communities thrive and where people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy a great quality of life.
We specialise in long-term brownfield regeneration, focusing on challenging and complex sites that are beyond the scope of conventional homebuilders. We are highly collaborative, working with councils and communities to create a shared vision and to unlock a mix of social, environmental, economic and commercial value that benefits all our stakeholders.
Our passion for quality and design underpins everything we do. All Berkeley homes are created with care, expertise and relentless attention to detail.
This role is a 6 month fixed term contract

What you'll be doing Risk & Compliance

• Ensure statutory compliance and risk mitigation across historic, live, and future developments
• Oversee health and safety audits, statutory inspections, and compliance with the Building Safety Act (including Safety Cases & RES)
• Manage public liability claims and insurance arrangements, including rebuild valuations, broker liaison, claims monitoring, and statutory inspections
• Collect and review RAMS for high-risk works from managing agents; conduct six-monthly or annual inspections of RSL blocks

Strategic Planning & Policy

• Effective management of a team of Estate Managers
• Proactively plan for upcoming projects, including early tendering of Managing Agents and application of lessons learned
• Review and update Estate Management policies and procedures to drive continuous improvement
• Establish structured timelines for tendering, handovers, performance reviews, maintenance works, and audits

Operational Oversight of Managing Agents

• Manage block handovers, including review of leases and appointment of leisure and energy billing partners
• Approve service charge estimates and year-end accounts, ensuring timely billing and reporting to leaseholders
• Oversee significant maintenance and major works, ensuring operational effectiveness and compliance to Division and Group directives
• Respond promptly to leaseholder escalations, ensuring effective resolution and close-out

Managing Agent Performance

• Monitor performance through operational and financial reporting, arrears management, site inspections, and quarterly reviews
• Ensure implementation of community engagement initiatives and preparation for annual performance audits, including resolution of major non-conformances
• Supervise statutory inspection requirements and maintain site presentation standards

Stakeholder & Team Management

• Mentor and manage the Estate Management team of four to deliver responsibilities effectively
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Land and Planning, Build, third-party landlords and RMC/RAs)
• Attend cross-functional meetings (Sales, Build, Estate Management, Customer Service, Housing Associations) to ensure alignment Reporting & Other Duties Produce accurate weekly reports for internal stakeholders, including the Director of Estates
• Undertaking additional responsibilities as directed by the Board of Directors

What you'll bring

• Proven track record in senior leadership roles within leasehold property management, such as Senior Property Manager or Head of Department
• Professional accreditation (MIRPM) preferred, supported by a relevant undergraduate or postgraduate qualification Comprehensive knowledge of landlord and tenant legislation, the Health & Safety at Work Act, the Building Safety Act, and employment law
• Strong expertise in the RICS Code of Practice and wider industry standards and guidelines
• Prior experience working with, or within, Berkeley Group developments considered advantageous
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across multiple business functions and stakeholder groups.

Why join us?

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service to 33 days.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including Private Medical Insurance.
• Lifestyle benefits including access to an online discount platform.
• Berkeley Foundation volunteer day.
• Private pension plan.
• Group life assurance.

The standard default full-time working hours in the office are 8am-5pm with core working hours 9am-4pm.

Internal applicants: If you're an internal applicant, please ensure you've informed your line manager of your intention to apply for this position.