Interim Estate Manager
Location: East London
Contract: Interim (6 months, with potential extension)
Day Rate: £550 per day (Inside IR35)
Working Pattern: 2 days on site per week
We are supporting an East London local authority seeking an experienced Interim Estate Manager to oversee the day‑to‑day operational management of their non‑housing property portfolio. This is a key leadership role ensuring effective estate management, income protection, and risk mitigation across a varied commercial and operational asset base. You will lead two Estates Surveyors and take responsibility for all routine and reactive property management activity.
About the Interim Estate Manager role:
Lead day‑to‑day operations of the Council’s non‑housing property estate, ensuring assets are managed efficiently, compliantly and in accordance with corporate policies.
Provide direct line management to two Estates Surveyors, including workload planning, performance management, professional oversight and quality assurance.
Manage all landlord and tenant activity including rent reviews, lease renewals, re‑gears, terminations, licences, assignments and enforcement action where required.
Commission and oversee external professional advisors (agents, valuers, solicitors), ensuring high‑quality advice, cost control and timely delivery.
Act as the primary operational point of contact for tenants, internal departments and external stakeholders on estate management matters.
Prioritise multiple competing workstreams, responding promptly to urgent or high‑risk property issues.
Identify, manage and escalate operational risks relating to financial, legal and reputational exposure.
Support income protection and timely financial performance through proactive lease management and dispute resolution.
Provide operational support and deputise for senior property leadership when required.
Oversee temporary, agency or project‑based resources as necessary.
Ensure full compliance with health and safety legislation, data protection, equality obligations and mandatory corporate training.
Demonstrate and promote the organisation’s core values of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.Your experience as an Interim Estate Manager:
Strong background in estate management or asset management, ideally within a local authority or large public‑sector organisation.
Excellent understanding of landlord and tenant law, commercial lease events, rent reviews and risk management.
Experience supervising or leading Surveyors or property professionals in an operational role.
Proven ability to manage external advisors and ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective service delivery.
Strong stakeholder engagement skills, comfortable working with tenants, internal teams and senior leadership.
Skilled in managing competing priorities, reacting quickly to operational challenges and driving solutions.
Confident working within a compliance‑driven, regulated environment with strong organisational governance.
Politically aware, collaborative and able to operate effectively in a complex public‑sector setting.If this Interim Estate Manager role sounds like a good fit for you, please send your CV to Sarah – (url removed).
(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation, so please get in touch if you know someone suitable.)
Our clients are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be supported throughout the application and interview process