Job Description
Rural Estate Manager
To lead the Rural Estate Management team of 4 professional surveyors and a Farms Officer, managing the Council’s 14,000 ha rural estate, delivering a high quality, value for money service in line with best practice, statutory obligations, professional standards, and organisational objectives.
The rural estate has a book value of £245m an annual revenue of over £6m, substantial capital receipts and almost 167 tenants running thriving rural businesses.
As well as financial returns the estate plays an important part in the Council’s climate change strategy and the role contributes through managing the environment for biodiversity, landscape, and leisure.
Location: Cambridgeshire
Job Type: Temporary
Duration of booking: Expected to last 9 months with possible extension
Proposed start date: ASAP
Pay Rates: Up to £420per day Umbrella or £360 per day PAYE inclusive of holiday pay
Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Sector: Healthcare
Main accountabilities
* To lead the rural team who provide day to day operational management of the Council’s rural estate, involving landlord and tenant work, property maintenance, a capital building programme, environmental management, renewable energy, and climate change.
* To lead the rural team in providing high quality professional advice and reports to internal partners, senior management, Council Members, auditors, and the public as required on rural asset management matters and represent the Council at a national and local level.
* To lead the strategic development of Council’s Rural Estate, preparing the Council’s Rural Asset Management Strategy and Farm Management Plans and their implementation and ongoing review.
* To lead the delivery of revenue and capital budgets on target, maximising rent collected and maximising debt recovery and the collection of service charges and achieving savings and efficiencies targets.
* To provide direct line management to the Rural Estate Management team, with technical and pastoral advice and guidance, and where appropriate, seconded or matrix managed employees within customers’ organisations.
* Working with the Strategic Asset Manager, identify and implement planning and development opportunities which will provide better buildings and generate financial returns for the Council, and which together will improve services for the public.
* Oversee the team who together act as an intelligent client-side advisor, procuring and overseeing specialist asset management advisors to ensure that the Council receives the best property advice and ensure the best service delivery for the public.
* To lead complex negotiations with public and private sector organisations to deliver property acquisitions, disposals, and other contracts within appropriate timescales and in line with best consideration requirements, contributing to the delivery of annual capital receipts, revenue, and climate change targets.
* To ensure that the Council’s rural estate GIS maps, plans and property databases and records are up to date and accurate.
Person Specification
Qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience
* Qualification in Rural Land Management or similar
* Leading edge knowledge of Rural Estate Management practice, including the application of current law and practice, planning policy, Local Development Frameworks status, property valuation, development appraisals and the property market across the region
* Current and emerging practice in the strategic management of substantial agricultural landed estates in the public, investment, and private sectors
* Up to date market knowledge of trends and activity in the rural land market nationally
* Property Management techniques and methods
* Management techniques and methods
* Significant post-qualification professional experience in Rural Estate Management, including property management, valuations (including Fixed Asset Valuations for Accounting purposes) and transactions
* Direct and significant experience of dealing with complex and high-profile cases, and managing a significant caseload in a commercial environment
* Significant experience of undertaking Strategic Reviews of Rural Estates, including a high level of knowledge of current market trends and best practice, and of formulating Strategy and Policy advice for major landowners
* Successful track record of business development in commercial and private sector markets, including high level client interaction, with experience of working with the private sector and driving commercial opportunities from property assets
* Significant experience of managing public sector agricultural assets, including the delivery of operational Rural property management, valuations, and transactions, to represent the Council within internal and external environments in respect of operational property matters, and to represent the interests of key Shareholders and customers at all levels, including direct engagement with Executive Directors and Members
* Experience of leading and managing teams of professional staff in ‘business as usual’ and through transformational change, and delivering planned Business outcomes