Built Asset Manager - Forestry England
£48,765 – £51,000
Forest of Dean (3 days in office Hybrid Working)*Extremely generous holiday and pension contributions *
Overview
Forestry England manages some of the nation’s most diverse and valuable built and natural environments. Within the West District, this includes everything from visitor centres and operational forestry buildings to listed heritage assets and scheduled monuments.
We are seeking a Built Asset Manager to lead the built estate team in West Forest District to ensure the effective management and development of the diverse built property portfolio, ensuring it is safe, legallypliant and supporting Forestry England’s drive towards sustainable business practices and Net Zero.
The estate covers Shropshire, Wiltshire and Cornwall; however, the role operates on a hybrid basis (3 days in the Coleford office) with only occasional travel required.In addition to flexible working, you will benefit from days annual leave (increasing annually) and a employer pension contribution, making this one of the strongest benefits packages in the market.
Your new role
You will lead the built estate team's objectives in the proactive management, maintenance and development of the district buildings portfolio to meet the needs of the visitor services, tenants, stakeholders and employees across the West District.
This is not a technical surveying role. Instead, you will provide leadership, coordination and assurance, working closely with a district-wide team including Building Surveyors, Business Support Officers, Admin Officer and a Project Manager for funded capital projects such as the Haldon Forest Park Redevelopment Project.This role entails working with colleagues to enhance the use of properties in a way that builds effective relationships with our tenants to deliver objectives. To maintain positive working relationships across the team, occasional travel to the Exeter office will be required with travel supported via pool car access.Key responsibilities include:
1. Lead and develop the Built Estate team to deliver a high-quality, responsive service, setting objectives, monitoring performance, and driving continuous improvement.
2. Develop and manage the Built Asset Programme, ensuring it reflects asset condition, maintenance and life cycle needs, while meeting current and future operational requirements.
3. Maintain accurate asset data to support effective planning and decision-making.
4. Ensure all propertiesply with statutory and regulatory requirements, including health & safety, fire, asbestos, legionella, gas, electrical and environmental standards, with robust monitoring and reporting in place.
5. Plan and manage the annual asset programme and budgets, ensuring cost control, accurate forecasting and value for money, aligned with a five-year financial model.
6. Support capital investment planning through analysis of asset condition and risk, working closely with finance and project teams.
7. Lead sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impact and support carbon reduction targets, embedding sustainable practices across estate management.
8. Develop and maintain property policies and processes in line with legislation and organisational objectives, contributing toernance and risk management.
9. Work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders, providing professional advice and reporting to senior decision-makers.
Estate & Portfolio
10. Approx. 260 built assets across the West District
11. Visitor centres, cafés and public-facing facilities
12. Operational forestry sites and offices
13. Listed buildings and historic structures and ‘mothballed’ assets
14. A small residential portfolio (approx. 6 properties)
About you
We are looking for a credible and structured leader who can take ownership of the built estate department and bring clarity, control and structure to the team. You will be personable and enjoy leading teams to meet objectives.
You will bring:
15. Experience leading teams within multi-site estates, property, or project environments
16. Strong knowledge of buildingpliance and safety requirements
17. Budget management and programme oversight experience
18. Ability to work across departments and influence non-specialist stakeholders
Essential:
19. MRICS / AssocRICS / BIFM (IWFM)
20. Built environment or surveying background
What this means for you
This is a role where you can take real ownership of a critical function within a nationally significant organisation, with the opportunity to shape oues and drive meaningful change.
You will be trusted to lead across aplex estate, working with a high degree of autonomy while being supported by an experienced and collaborative team. The role offers exposure to a diverse portfolio, allowing you to develop both strategic oversight and practical impact across buildingpliance, safety and asset management.
There is clear opportunity to strengthen processes, improveernance, and influence long-term asset management strategy, giving you a visible and valued role within the organisation.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
21. Stabilise and improve a critical function
22. Introduce stronger processes and accountability
23. Influence long-term asset management strategy
24. Contribute to the stewardship of nationally important environments
25. Work flexibly through a hybrid model (3 days in office)
26. Benefit from a £48,000–£50,000 salary, days annual leave, and a Civil Service pension
27. Build a clear pathway for your own long-term career development