Estates Director in Oxford

What if you could step away from the day to day operational and shape the future of a major estate? This one gives you the space to do it. At Radley College, you will step into a role that recognises and respects the historic significance of the estate, while playing a key part in preserving its character and guiding its thoughtful development for future generations.

Working closely with the Bursar and alongside the Operations Director, you will take ownership of the strategic direction of the College’s extensive estate, set within 800 acres, with clear opportunities for further growth. You’ll be identifying how land, buildings and wider property interests can best support the school’s long-term ambitions. There is clear scope for development, and you will play a central role in shaping how those opportunities are realised.

Opportunities to take strategic control of an estate of this scale and complexity are rare, and rarer still in an environment where you can genuinely shape what it becomes. You will bring a commercial perspective to estate strategy, working within the context and priorities of a school environment, to unlock value from existing assets, repurpose and let buildings where suitable, and identify realistic and sustainable opportunities for income generation that support the College’s core mission.

Alongside this, you will oversee key aspects of estate management including tenant relationships, land use, compliance and risk, ensuring everything supports a clear and cohesive strategy. This is not focused on quick wins, but about taking a longer-term view, spotting opportunities, navigating constraints, and positioning the estate to deliver lasting value.

A well‑established Operations function is already in place. Your role is to look ahead, shape direction, and influence at a senior level, drawing on both in‑house expertise and external advisers where needed.

Radley College is one of the UK’s leading independent schools for boys, set within an exceptional estate just outside Oxford. The College combines a strong sense of tradition and community with a forward‑thinking approach to its environment. The estate plays a central role in school life, supporting a full boarding community and a broad academic and co‑curricular offering. The staff at Radley are the backbone of its success, maintaining an environment that supports both pupils and the wider community. This role will build on that foundation, ensuring the estate continues to evolve in line with the College’s future direction.

This is a role for someone who wants more than oversight. It is for someone who wants to build, shape and leave a lasting legacy. You will likely come from a commercial estates or property background, with experience across complex portfolios, ideally including land, rural or mixed use assets. You will be comfortable identifying opportunity, managing risk, and working with a wide range of stakeholders. This is not a typical corporate environment. It requires judgement, credibility, and the ability to operate effectively within a relationship‑led, values‑driven setting.

What’s in it for you:

• Radley offers a 10% employer pension contribution, with the benefit of salary sacrifice.
• 33 days holiday (rising to 38).
• Free lunch while on duty.
• Free on‑site parking.
• Reduced membership of the Sports Centre and Golf Club.
• Excellent transport links, including a rail station in the nearby village.
• Flexible working approach, recognising the need to balance strategic oversight with time on site.
• Generous sick pay and death in service benefit.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
• A genuinely supportive, collegiate working environment.