At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead estate management and implement strategies for historic properties across England.
- Company: Historic England, dedicated to preserving and promoting the nation's historic environment.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, competitive pension, corporate discounts, and free entry to heritage sites.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a strong focus on wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on England's historic places while enjoying flexible working options.
- Qualifications: MRICS or equivalent, with experience in property negotiations and relationship management.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
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 you 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 the 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 or equivalent qualification
- 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
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.
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.
Provisional interview dates: Week commencing Monday 15th June 2026 – virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Head of Estates in Manchester employer: HISTORIC ENGLAND
Historic England is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional development. With a competitive benefits package, including a generous pension scheme and flexible working options, employees can enjoy a healthy work-life balance while contributing to the preservation of England's historic environment. The opportunity for meaningful engagement in diverse projects across various locations makes this role particularly rewarding for those passionate about heritage and sustainability.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Estates in Manchester
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
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✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Estates in Manchester
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 HISTORIC ENGLAND, 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 HISTORIC ENGLAND
✨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 HISTORIC ENGLAND 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 HISTORIC ENGLAND. 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 HISTORIC ENGLAND.
