Senior Portfolio Surveyor – English Heritage

You’ll manage a Portfolio of the properties of English Heritage (acquisitions, disposals, licences & leases, wayleaves, rates), deliver rental income and propose optimum commercial use of the assets in our care. You will also lead the development of our Commercial Tenants at Wrest Park who account for a significant proportion of our annual rental income.

Roles

1. Provide inspirational leadership, setting the tone and direction for your team, develop talent, support training needs and inspire a culture of continuous improvement.
2. Lead on the management and development of our tenants at Wrest Park and deal with any enquiries regarding tenancies.
3. Support the Portfolio Surveyor Team and the Wrest Park Receptionist Team with their day to day responsibilities as the subject matter expert.
4. Provide advice to internal colleagues on all relevant property matters including landlord and tenant responsibilities, improvements, security of tenure, liability for dilapidations, rates etc.
5. Oversee management agreements, grazing agreements, easements, wayleaves and letting licences, access licences, licence for works, leases including where appropriate investment and development appraisals. Assist with production and completion of Local Management Agreements (LMA) and Maintained Property Agreements (MPA) as requested by the Volunteer and Community Engagement Managers.
6. Identify opportunities for income maximisation – provide financial appraisal and valuation, including planning position, on issues of redevelopment potential, change of use, etc. and appraise any practical and legal challenges with the support of the internal legal team or external specialist party as appropriate.
7. Negotiate and document rent reviews, lease and licence renewals for all commercial property within the estate.
8. Maintain Estate Records and ensure property records and terrier files are up to date; including digital data records and GIS boundary files.
9. Respond to any external consultation English Heritage receives as ‘owner’; liaise with other landowners regarding boundary queries, necessary tree works and Scheduled Monument Consent/planning applications.
10. Oversee budgetary management: income (rents receivable) and expenditure. Provide input to annual audit and asset confirmation exercise.
11. Identify opportunities for disposal and acquisition; seek appropriate internal and external approvals; negotiate terms, including instructions to agents if appropriate; instruct and liaise with a solicitor as appropriate to completion. Senior Portfolio Surveyor Job Description – April 2025
12. Advise on the extent of land and rights to be acquired in order to satisfy operational requirements, i.e., land, access and easement requirements in order to facilitate maintenance and presentation of the monument.
13. Contribute to the development of the property business plans for the Territory as required, nurturing positive relations with stakeholders, to help influence the continual development of the estate.
14. Lead or support specific projects as required by the National Hires & Rentals Lead.

Essential experience

• Leading a team.
• Managing a range of estates surveying issues including at least one of the following specialist areas: landlord and tenant management or planning and development management.
• Commercial awareness and budget management skills.
• Experience of casework, writing briefs, preparing reports, using information from a variety of sources.
• Knowledge of rural, urban and residential estate management.
• Experience of GIS and use of estate management databases.

Essential skills / Knowledge / Qualifications

• Chartered RICS qualified Property Surveyor (MRICS) with post qualification experience.
• Numerate with strong analytical skills.
• Microsoft Office skills (word, excel, PowerPoint)
• Able to manage a diverse workload to tight deadlines.
• Report writing and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and high levels of accuracy.
• Knowledge of historic buildings, historic environment; its protection and legislation.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety and willing to undertake relevant training.
• Knowledge of upcoming legislation (MEES; sustainability).

Essential behaviours

• English Heritage core behaviours, which are: Collaboration Innovation Empowerment
• Able to work collaboratively as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Excellent communication skills, able to talk to people at all levels.
• A practical problem solver with a logical mind, with the ability to prioritise, and manage many different projects at the same time.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrates behaviours of innovation, empowerment and adaptability