Real Estate Operations Manager
North West England | Full-time | Permanent
Salary: Competitive base salary + significant performance incentives (full package discussed at interview)
Company: Cardinal & Co Limited
About the Role
We're an ambitious, expanding real estate agency operating across North West England, covering residential sales, residential lettings, commercial, and property management. As part of our growth strategy, we're transitioning to—and scaling—a commission-led agency model built to reward high performance, attract top talent, and accelerate regional growth.
We're looking for an experienced Real Estate Operations Manager with a proven track record of independently developing and growing an estate agency. You'll take full ownership of day-to-day branch operations, driving performance across all departments while we focus on strategic expansion.
If you've ever wanted to be involved in building an agency you can have ownership in—with the stability of a consistent wage and the support of experienced leadership to help you scale—this role is for you.
This is a senior leadership hire with genuine long-term potential. Following a successful probationary period, there is a clear pathway to equity participation and a director-level position. The role will become active following market testing and completion of a key acquisition.
Key Responsibilities
* Take full ownership of day-to-day branch operations across sales, lettings, commercial, and property management, ensuring consistent delivery and high standards.
* Independently develop and grow the agency's presence, revenue, and reputation within the local market and wider region.
* Develop, implement, and continually refine our commission-based model, including incentive and reward structures, tiered splits, thresholds, and performance frameworks.
* Manage all operational workflows within Alto, ensuring data integrity, accurate reporting, and efficient use of the platform across all departments.
* Recruit, onboard, train, and develop high-performing teams—building a motivated, results-driven culture aligned with commission-led rewards.
* Improve ways of working, marketing support, and service delivery to drive growth, conversion, and customer experience.
* Oversee compliance, ensuring adherence to all relevant legislation including the Estate Agents Act, Tenant Fees Act, AML regulations, and client money protection requirements.
* Partner with senior leadership on strategic priorities including acquisitions, expansion planning, budgeting, and risk management.
* Drive operational excellence to help position the business as a leading agency brand in North West England.
Requirements
Essential:
* Proven track record of independently developing and growing an estate agency or branch—not just managing an existing operation, but actively building one.
* Strong working knowledge and hands-on experience with Alto estate agency software across sales, lettings, and property management modules.
* Significant UK property operations experience across lettings and sales, with a solid understanding of the full property lifecycle.
* Demonstrable expertise—or a strong, proven interest—in commission-led / hybrid commission models, including tiered commissions, OTE frameworks, and performance incentives.
* Confident people leadership experience, with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams from the ground up.
* Strong operational capability: systems integration, process improvement, and scalable workflow design.
* Commercial, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to turn growth plans into measurable results.
* Excellent communication, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
* Thorough knowledge of UK property compliance—Estate Agents Act, Tenant Fees Act, AML, CMP, deposit protection, and TPO/PRS requirements.
* Flexibility to travel across North West England.
Desirable:
* Experience across residential sales, lettings, commercial, and property management (not just one discipline).
* Propertymark (ARLA/NAEA) or equivalent professional qualifications.
* Experience integrating with property portals (Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket) and managing multi-channel marketing.
What We Offer
* Competitive base salary plus substantial performance-linked incentives tied to growth and impact.
* Equity opportunity and a clear pathway to directorship post-probation.
* A senior role with real autonomy and influence during a major expansion phase.
* Full benefits package, including pension, and ongoing professional development.
* A fast-paced, collaborative culture focused on innovation, accountability, and shared success.
How to Apply
This is a discreet recruitment process to assess strong candidates ahead of finalising our next growth stage. Please apply with your CV and a cover letter outlining:
* Your experience independently developing and growing an estate agency or branch.
* Your hands-on experience with Alto and how you've used it to drive operational efficiency.
* Your exposure to commission-based or performance incentive structures.
* How you would take ownership of branch operations and scale a modern agency model.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£37,500.00 per year
Benefits:
* Employee stock ownership plan
* Work from home
Experience:
* Real Estate: 5 years (required)
Work Location: In person