Head of Commercial Property

Job Title: Head of Commercial Property

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

• Develop and implement the long-term strategic vision for the Commercial Property function, aligning it with the overall department goals and the Council's wider strategic objectives.
• Act as the primary point of expert advice on landlord and tenant and property management matters, providing strategic guidance to senior officers and Lead Members to influence decision-making on the management of the portfolios.
• Manage the in-depth analysis and monitoring of the commercial portfolio's performance against industry benchmarks, leveraging data analytics to identify high-potential opportunities for the Council to inform strategic decisions and optimise portfolio performance.
• Oversee the effective day-to-day management and continuous review of the commercial property portfolio to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Develop and implement strategies to reduce costs, maximise income and optimise property use in accordance with the Council's policies, Asset Strategy and Social Investment Strategy.
• Oversee and manage all property transactions, negotiations and financial management for the Council's commercial portfolio, ensuring they adhere to all relevant legislation and regulations and are in alignment with the Council's objectives.
• Oversee the management of accurate property information databases for reporting on performance, including tenancy information and financial analysis, to provide valuable insights for decision-making.
• Ensure value for money and high performance of the Commercial Portfolio through effective asset utilisation and robust performance reporting, leading to increased financial return.
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategic and operational improvements to the Commercial Portfolio to maximise rental income, enhance portfolio performance, and ensure efficient asset utilisation through rent reviews, lease renewals, licence renewals and all landlord and tenant transactions.
• Oversee and actively manage allocated budgets with adherence to probity principles to ensure financial sustainability and minimise risk, working with the Finance Business Partner to resolve discrepancies, maintaining financial accuracy and transparency.
• Ensure the effective management of financial resources allocated to the commercial property portfolio, maximising returns while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Oversee the landlord and tenant services, including rent review, lease renewals as well as the provision of new lettings for the Operational Portfolio as well as the VCS (communities) portfolio.
• Oversee the property advice to the operational property team as well as other Council services in relation to the Operational Portfolio as well as the VCS (communities) portfolio.
• Provide strong leadership and direction to the Commercial Property team, ensuring direct reports have clear performance objectives linked to the overall Commercial Portfolio performance objectives, fostering a culture of high performance, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and developing Service Level Agreements where required to leverage external expertise for successful service delivery.
• Effectively represent the Council's interests at external and internal working groups and meetings, advocating for the commercial property function and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Act as Expert Witness on behalf of the Council on property-related arbitration cases, protecting the Council's interests and demonstrating property expertise.
• Act as strategic advisor for the Pension Fund Portfolio, supervising, reviewing, and challenging recommendations for acquisitions and disposals, authorising consultants and contractors to facilitate the process.
• Oversee the production of Delegated Authority Decision, Key Decision and Leadership Team Reports, and presentations for senior management and elected officials, effectively communicating complex property information to secure approvals and advance strategic initiatives.
• Anticipate the future portfolio needs, proactively identifying opportunities and mitigating potential risks by staying abreast of the property market and industry changes.
• Lead the development and implementation of leasing strategies and policies, and the implementation of asset management strategies, to optimise portfolio utilisation, generate revenue, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commercial Property team.
• Respond to enquiries from Members and the public in a timely manner, providing clear and accurate information and enhancing public trust.

Qualifications
Essential:

A Member or Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) qualification (Commercial Property Practice or equivalent).

Skills; Experience and Attitude
Essential:

Significant experience in senior leadership roles within Commercial Property Practice or Real Estate Management, with an ability to advise senior colleagues and provide strategic recommendations.
Significant experience in commercial property practice and asset management and ability to ensure Value for Money and that the organisation will maximise the use of its Investment Assets
Extensive knowledge of Landlord & Tenant legislation and property valuation
Extensive experience in commercial property management including s18 valuations for negotiating schedules of dilapidation, adhering to RICS Valuations Standards or equivalent.
Demonstrable experience in dealing with external consultants and working within a multidisciplinary project team
A demonstrable understanding of local government practices and procedures, particularly around procurement and financial regulations, and an understanding of local government law
Awareness of the main legal employment requirements relating to health and safety and awareness of the Equalities agenda Diversity and Inclusion rules
Demonstrable knowledge of best practice Investment/Commercial Property Management and up-to-date knowledge of the property market

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.