Head of Commercial Property

Your new company

The Social Investment and Property (SIP) department at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was established as part of the Housing and Social Investment Directorate in Housing in 2020. As SIP, we are passionate about making a difference in local government property projects and handling. This is how our five main functions currently do it:

• Social Investment - We are dedicated to maximising the social value of our property and transactions. By collaborating with various teams across the Council, including Communities, Procurement, and Housing Management, we ensure that our efforts produce meaningful outcomes for our residents.
• Operational Property - We manage the Council’s impressive property estate, valued at around £540 million. With over 175 assets under our care, we are committed to maintaining and optimising these properties to generate significant capital receipts, income, and revenue savings. We are continuously focusing on making sure all of our properties are health and safety compliant as well as cost-effective for the Council.
• Strategic Property - Our team is responsible for managing the Council’s diverse £235 million commercial property portfolio, which includes nearly 300 properties across a range of sectors, such as retail, office spaces, community centres and educational buildings. In addition to overseeing the properties, we also manage the leasing of the operational portfolio, as well as properties used by the voluntary and community sector. Through our activities, including lettings, rent reviews, and lease renewals, we generate a significant and vital revenue stream for the Council. Our work plays a crucial role in supporting the financial sustainability of the Council and enhancing its ability to serve the community. We ensure that projects within the Capital Programme are delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
• Capital Delivery - We are on a mission to address the critical shortage of affordable housing by building 600 new homes. Our ambitious Capital Programme, valued at £285 million, includes this residential new build initiative. Our award-winning portfolio of new home builds so far has been created by experts in property and the team works with a range of stakeholders internally and externally to create affordable and reliable housing for our residents.
• Asset Strategy - The Asset Strategy team plays a crucial role in ensuring that the Council's property portfolio supports the ambitions of the Council Plan. The team is focusing on setting out the future direction of the use of Council land and property, including acquisitions and disposals. They prioritise areas for investment, such as temporary accommodation, adult care, care leavers, and office accommodation. The team also develops high-level plans for delivering the strategy through various projects and a five-year maintenance programme whilst making sure Council-owned properties are safe, accessible, and efficient to meet the needs of the communities and staff.

Your new role

To manage the day-to-day operations and ongoing assessment of the commercial property portfolio, identifying opportunities and crafting strategies to reduce costs, maximise returns, boost revenue, and optimise usage, all in line with the Council’s policies, asset strategy, Council Plan, and social investment strategy. To serve as the expert advisor on commercial property matters, formulating and executing a long-term strategic vision for the commercial property function that aligns with the Council’s broader goals, ensuring the portfolio remains competitive and profitable. To lead the development and implementation of innovative commercial property strategies that support the Council’s strategic objectives, utilising data analytics and market intelligence to guide strategic decisions and enhance portfolio performance. To provide landlord and tenant services and other property management advice related to both the Operational Portfolio and the VCS (communities) portfolio.

What you’ll need to succeed

• A Member or Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• Experience in senior leadership or leadership roles within a commercial property practice, ideally local authority or public sector/client side.
• Ability to ensure Value for Money and that the organisation is maximising the use of its Investment Assets.
• Extensive experience in Landlord and Tenant, Property Valuation, Commercial Property Management.

What you’ll get in return

• Pay - very competitive pay rates often with an annual pay rise within a range.
• Pension - The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a secure, flexible and tax-efficient way of making sure you have a decent pension to look forward to in retirement.
• Progression - excellent learning and development opportunities along with performance management and career progression support.
• Holidays - generous annual leave entitlement up to 30 days each year plus 8 public holidays.
• Flexible working - as circumstances suit, these include working from home, flexi time, job sharing, compressed hours and term-time working.
• Staff discounts - excellent staff discounts in many local shops, restaurants, and sports facilities.
• Health and wellbeing - a dedicated occupational health service that can give you a health check, help with workplace adjustments and also a free, confidential counselling service available 24/7 to assist with any personal or work-related issues.

What you need to do now

If you’re interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn’t quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career. This role closes on the 21st of April, and the consultant managing this role is Molly Spencer.