Head of Property

Head of Property - London

We are delighted to be partnering with the Royal British Legion (RBL) to recruit their new Head of Property.

The role

With responsibility for managing a team of five Regional Property Managers, the role will have a base in London but with a national travel requirement which includes regular team meet-ups in the Midlands.

We are specifically looking for applications from RICS Members, and ideally Chartered Members, with a good breadth of experience leading Estates/Property departments in similar sized, and similarly complex organisations.

This is a varied role managing RBL's Clubs, Branch buildings and other assets (a total of 450 buildings) including providing a corporate service for operational buildings such as offices, production facilities and warehouses. You will have responsibility for managing and securing the RBL rental income, and have oversight of all other property transactions, including disposals, acquisitions and lease renewals and rent reviews across the operational, branch and investment portfolios. You will also deliver wider corporate efficiency projects, including undertaking research, solutioning, producing written papers and presenting to Executive and Trustee Boards to seek approval.

RBL is modernising to become a more inclusive, flexible, customer-focused, data-driven, and collaborative organisation. In your role as the Head of Property you will be tasked with developing and delivering the 5-year RBL Property Strategy to complement the charity's modernisation, ensuring that its property activity complies with the Charities Act 2011 and that RBL's properties are fully aligned with and supportive of the Legion's strategic objectives. You will also work with the Head of Facilities Management and the Operations Directorate to deliver a funded planned maintenance programme for the operational portfolio to protect service delivery and safeguard financial value.

About you

Experience of managing a remote, geographically dispersed team
Knowledge and experience of putting Best Practice Property Management principles into practice
Strong Budget Management experience
Detailed knowledge of Property and Trust law
Contract Management experience relating to outsourced functions, such as treasury, vacant property security, estates valuation, property consultancy and legal services
Effective and persuasive written and verbal communicator
Experience writing and preparing Board level papers and papers for various property related committees

Whilst not an essential requirement, applicants would benefit from an understanding of Charity Law and how it impacts property, and of Trusts and the workings of the Charity Commission

Employee Benefits

28 day's paid holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing to 29 days after 2 years and 30 days after 5 years, and with the ability to buy up to 1 working week of additional leave
Private Healthcare
Contributory pension scheme - min 2% employee contribution which receives a 6% employer contribution, up to max of 10% employer contribution matched with 5% employee contribution (until 5 years' service reached, when 14% employer contribution is achievable)
Death-in-service Life Assurance, with a benefit of 3x annual salary
Employee Assistance Programme
Season Ticket and Rental Deposit Loan Schemes / Cycle to Work Scheme
Reward Hub online benefits platform with extensive offers and discounts

Additional information

RBL employs c 2,000 people across the country campaigning on behalf of the Armed Forces community, delivering support services to them, leading Remembrance on behalf of the nation, raising funds to support our work and developing and running the organisation and our network of membership branches.

RBL is committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know and we will work with you to support you throughout the process