Full-Time | Initial 6-Month Contract | Hybrid with On-Site Requirement (up to 5 days/week)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Property Strategy to join a Local Authority in Berkshire on an interim basis. This is a critical leadership role, shaping and driving the strategic asset management approach across a complex and diverse property portfolio.
The successful candidate will bring a blend of strong strategic vision, service transformation experience, and technical expertise to lead a small team in redefining how the Council manages its land and property assets to unlock social, operational, and financial value.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of a Strategic Asset Management Plan, securing Cabinet-level approvals.
- Drive the implementation of a Corporate Landlord Model and lead on Community Asset Transfer initiatives.
- Identify and deliver transformation opportunities within the operational portfolio, working across frontline services (e.g., ASC, Children’s Services, HRA surplus land).
- Lead resident consultations and stakeholder engagement on regeneration and asset optimisation proposals.
- Oversee and modernise the Corporate Health & Safety function, ensuring compliance across all council sites including schools.
- Deliver asset-based service reform and embed strategic thinking in property-led decision-making across the authority.
- Provide visible, effective leadership to a mixed team of permanent and interim staff, and shape a future-fit permanent staffing structure.
- Constructively challenge governance dysfunction, influencing senior stakeholders and service leads to deliver unified public service outcomes.
- Manage revenue budgets of £2.5m and deliver against financial targets, including income generation and cost recovery from underperforming assets.
- Extensive experience in public sector asset management or estate transformation at a strategic level.
- Proven track record of delivering corporate asset strategies, service-led asset reviews, and complex disposals with political and community sensitivity.
- Demonstrable success in implementing Corporate Landlord models, community transfer programmes, and developing cross-cutting property strategies.
- A leader who can inspire and challenge constructively, with tenacity to persist through organisational resistance.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and business case development skills.
- Professional qualifications in property/estates (e.g., RICS) and evidence of CPD in estates strategy or public service transformation.
- Experience working in a politically complex local authority setting.
- Track record of leading transformation within governance-challenged organisations.
