This is a fascinating role for a dynamic commercial property professional with an appreciation of the property needs and experience of the voluntary sector. We are looking for a surveyor with a proven track record in revenue generation and new business development who can work with a small team of dedicated professionals.
ABOUT THE ETHICAL PROPERTY FOUNDATION
The Ethical Property Foundation (“EPF”) is unique: the UK’s only dedicated property advice charity for the voluntary sector. (Registered Charity number 1101812 in England & Wales) Incorporated in 2003, we have supported thousands of voluntary organisations to manage their premises successfully whether rented or owned. Since 2015, we have been the lead referral partner to the Charity Commission for land & property advice and preferred supplier to the Lloyds Bank Foundation.
Our mission is to equip voluntary organisations with the knowledge and confidence to make the most of the property they occupy and manage, for the benefit of their services and beneficiaries, without crises or compliance failures.
We are a small, dynamic, and enterprising not-for-profit. Our services comprise free, independent property guidance and support; affordable consultancy; plus online property education. Our combined expertise and unique perspective mean we are much in demand from policymakers, and sector thought leaders. Funding comes from philanthropic donations, grants, corporate partnerships and earned income from affordable consultancy. In 2023, we launched the voluntary sector’s first interactive online Weston Property Manual for which we were finalists in two major voluntary sector awards. In 2024 we celebrated the 21st Anniversary of our incorporation.
We employ four part-time employees: the CEO, Head of Property Services, Operations Manager, and Administrator - 2.45FTE, supported by a further nine self-employed Associates and Volunteers of whom eight are chartered surveyors. In addition, we run an expert Register of fifteen property professionals, primarily commercial property solicitors, who provide advice on a pro-bono and discounted fee basis.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Head of Property Advisory is the lead member of the Property Advice Team comprising Associate Property Advisors. The team is supported by The Foundation’s Register of Property Professionals. The Property Advice Team provides advice, consultancy and educational services. This service is delivered by providing on-line information, free helpdesk guidance, training events and consultancy projects to assist organisations in making informed property decisions. The Head of Property Services will have the following key areas of activity and responsibility:
1. Developing the Affordable Consultancy
The Head of Property Services leads on all aspects of building our affordable consultancy and delivers sales income in line with agreed targets. This will include:
· Identifying potential clients and proactively seeking opportunities to bid for work.
· Responding to enquiries from potential clients, conducting initial meetings to ascertain support required and putting together carefully priced proposals tailored to client needs.
· Developing and maintaining relationships with key partners, including Lloyds Bank Foundation.
· Tracking of enquiries and work in progress with support from the Operations Manager; ensuring accurate records are maintained and providing information and reports to the CEO and Trustees for invoicing and fundraising purposes.
· Developing new products for the charity sector, making the EPF relevant and providing new and growing income streams.
· Ensuring EPF communication channels appropriately promote our services.
2. Management of Property Advice Team
The Head of Property Services directly line-manages the Associates in delivery of the Affordable Consultancy:
· Developing and maintaining appropriate processes and templates for development and delivery of work. Disseminating as necessary and ensuring processes followed by team members.
· Oversight of all support, advice and training provided by the team to ensure consistent high levels of content quality and customer care are maintained.
· Oversight of the free Property Advice Service, co-ordinating with the Property Advisors running the service and responding to enquires who may require affordable consultancy services.
· Ensuring consultancy projects are allocated to team members with appropriate knowledge, experiences and availability.
· Developing excellent working relationships with members of our Register of Property Professionals to introduce charities for effective support.
· Delivering excellent customer care by coordinating the Foundation’s support to charities until their project is resolved.
· Supporting the team to ensure property materials for training and online guidance are accurate and appropriate.
3. Additional duties may include:
· Representing the Foundation and presenting at external events.
· Working proactively to ensure that the Property Advice Team remains up to date with property and charity sector knowledge.
· Develop a broad knowledge of complementary organisations and services that can provide support to enquirers to the Property Advice Service, or opportunities for partnership working or collaboration with the Foundation.
· The Foundation requires all employees to work with due regard for the Foundation’s ethos and policies including health and safety, equality and the environment. All our team must have DBS clearance.