Director of Property TLNT1_NI in Belfast

The Property Director will be responsible for leading and transforming the entirety of the Praxis property function, shifting the department from a reactive service to a strategic, proactive asset management engine. This is a pivotal transformational role, responsible for leading the function through a major change management period to support the organisations mission, vision and goals. With the objective of creating standardised processes which will enable the organisation to scale its property portfolio, the role holder will be responsible for championing and embedding a culture of excellence. The Property Director will work in partnership with the Senior Leadership Team to implement the systems, policies, and structures aligned to the organisations long-term strategy. The successful candidate will oversee the full-portfolio maintenance and capital investment, ensuring that all properties are managed in a safe, compliant, and efficient manner always putting the people Praxis Care supports at the heart of every decision.

Key Accountabilities:

• Strategy: Lead the strategic direction of the property function in line with organisational goals, creating and rolling out standardised policies, processes, controls, and documentation across all four jurisdictions ensuring that property strategy and delivery supports high-quality, safe, and person-centred care environments. Define and deliver the full-portfolio planning strategy, leading the transition from a reactive maintenance model to a planned programme with a portfolio-wide schedule. Oversee the strategic management of housing partners, maintaining Service Level Agreements and Joint Management Agreements to ensure all roles, responsibilities, and documentation are current and enforced. Develop the property pipeline to support organisational growth plans. Provide strategic oversight for all legal and commercial matters, including lease management, conveyancing, acquisitions, disposal and liaison with solicitors. Advise senior leadership in significant property investments and risks.
• Leadership: Lead change management across the property function, ensuring successful adoption of new systems, processes, and ways of working. Manage and mentor the Assistant Director and wider team, ensuring staff are working effectively and executing the strategic vision defined by the Property Director. Champion and embed a culture of high performance and ownership, ensuring the property team is proactive and provides reliable support to operational colleagues. Establish formal contracts for surveyors, architects, builders and other contractors, managing these high-level relationships to ensure high-quality service delivery. Develop and implement a performance framework for the property function, including KPIs relating to compliance, maintenance, cost control, and asset performance. Ensure the property function interface with across the organisation in particular with Finance, Operations and Governance is robust, particularly regarding legal, regulatory, Health & Safety and Fire Safety requirements.
• Finance & Procurement: Accountable for planning and delivery of capital upgrades and major project management, ensuring strict time and budget assurance. Oversee all financial aspects of the property portfolio, including the management of funds and the alignment of property spend with the organisations long-term strategic plan. Implement a formal procurement strategy to onboard maintenance contractors across all localities on reactive frameworks, ensuring value for money and consistent service quality and robust project and contract management. Collaborate with the Finance function to ensure rigorous adherence to procurement policies, including quotes, tenders, authorisation, and value for money.
• Digital: Lead the selection and implementation of a property management system which will fit for purpose for now and for the future and will support the organisation on achieving its overall corporate objectives. Drive the modernisation and digitalisation of the property function, ensuring the system enables robust data capture, accurate risk identification, and proactive maintenance response capabilities. Leverage the new system to enable portfolio-wide visibility and reporting, providing assurance to the Executive Team and Board that all properties are compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements, with clear visibility of risk and mitigation.

Requirements of the role:

• You will be required to be involved in the company performance management process.
• To adhere to, and model the company values, behaviours and competencies at all times.
• To carry out all duties of the post in accordance with Praxis rules, regulations and policies.
• To carry out additional duties of the role and all other required duties as and when necessary.
• The above mentioned duties are not exhaustive and the post holder will be required to carry out other duties as and when necessary.
• It should be noted that stated duties or location associated with the post may change to meet the future needs of the organisation.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Essential: 5 years experience in a senior property management and leadership role with responsibility for leading large-scale, multi-jurisdictional portfolios and managing change management programmes. Successful track record in planning, executing, and improving work processes, shifting maintenance models from reactive to planned/proactive methodologies. Proven track record of creating and embedding team KPIs, clearly communicating expectations, and tracking performance against agreed metrics. Strong project management experience with a proven track record of successfully planning and monitoring capital development schemes, gaining buy-in from multiple stakeholders. Significant experience in procurement and contractor management, including establishing frameworks and managing external service partners. Educated to a degree level (holds a qualification classified at Level 6 or higher). Full driving license and access to a vehicle.
• Desirable: Background within the charity, housing, or social care sectors. Engineering or RICS-accredited professional membership/qualification. Experience of managing property functions across multiple jurisdictions. Experience and/or knowledge of ESG/sustainability.

Skills & Competencies:

• Technical/Functional Excellence: Excellent planning and organisational skills, using all tools necessary to ensure the smooth running of a large, complex property portfolio. Possesses the ability to utilise improvement methodologies to refine operational processes, standardise documentation, and achieve property excellence.
• Problem Solving: Capability to accurately assess complex and strategic situations, whilst promoting cooperation and collaboration with internal operational stakeholders and external housing partners. Utilises exemplary critical thinking to tackle issues regarding building integrity, compliance, and risk, ensuring appropriate protocols are in place to address variances.
• Leadership: Exemplary leadership, negotiation and influencing skills, demonstrated by sustained impacts within an organisation and the ability to inspire enthusiasm at all levels. Capable of communicating the organisations vision to employees and external parties, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned with the strategic direction.
• Project Management: Demonstrates strong knowledge of project management processes, tools, and techniques, coupled with the ability to adapt these to the organisations growth targets. Makes the best use of team strengths to effectively utilise resources, ensuring that the Assistant Director and wider property team complement and support each other.

About The Company:

Praxis Care provides a wide variety of services to vulnerable adults and children, supporting individuals with mental ill health, learning disabilities, autism and dementia. Our staff teams are essential to ensuring the provision of these services. As a new member to the team, you can expect to be trained and supported in a structured fashion to achieve the high standards expected by the people we support and mandated by our regulators.

Company Culture:

Our core values include compassion, integrity, teamwork, innovation and resilience. We also ensure that kindness and respect is integral to every role within Praxis Care and these values are fundamental to the provision of care we deliver to the people we support. If you are interested in a role that is rewarding, varied and positively impacts the lives of those we support, then we want to hear from you.

Company Benefits:

• Great Work Environment: Compassionate, supportive, and inclusive team culture.
• CARE for Your Physical & Mental Health: Access to occupational sick pay, a confidential counselling service, and employer-funded healthcare schemes.
• Financial Benefits: Competitive salary, pension plan, and refer-a-friend bonuses.
• Career Development: Continuous professional development with opportunities to gain recognized qualifications, such as QCF3/5, and clear career progression pathways.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid annual leave which increases with length of service, and flexibility in working hours.
• Other Perks: PPE provided, long service awards, savings via the Cycle to Work scheme, and coming soon, early access to earned wages through salary advance software.