Head of Property Strategy - AR

Slough Borough Council
Job Description
Job Description Reference: RH&E 1-1 Date: July 2023
Post Pay Level: SML 12 DBS requirement:
Job Title: Head of Property Strategy
Responsible to: Director of Property & Estates
Responsible for: Property Strategy
As the council's Head of Property Strategy and a member of the Director of Property & Estates Management Team, this post is directly responsible for:

Number of reports:
Direct reports: 4
Indirect reports: 0
Total Managed: 4

Location
Though flexible working is supported, the post holder must be able and willing to be in Slough Borough Council offices or other office sites 5 days a week if required.

Main purpose of Job:
The Head of Property Strategy at Slough Borough Council is a key leadership role reporting to the Director of Property & Estates. The position is responsible for developing and monitoring the delivery of property strategies that maximise benefits from the portfolio and associated property services. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in the long-term vision and direction of the council's property portfolio, ensuring it aligns with organisational objectives and sustainability goals.

The role also has oversight and manages the Corporate Health and Safety function that covers the creation and implementation of all health and safety policies and procedures across the council.
General Accountabilities:
• Strategy Delivery
Deliver the council's public service reform agenda and ensure delivery of its priorities and value to residents. Translate the strategy into a functional plan, delivering the future of the service which enables the council to meet its future challenges.
• Corporate leadership
As a senior manager working as part of a wider management team across the council, work together take collective responsibility and drive forward a range of cross-council initiatives which are required to ensure changes are embedded in a sustainable way throughout the organisation. Provide corporate management that encourages our staff to recognise their contribution to the strategic objectives the council has set.
• Service leadership and management
Lead the integrated delivery, improvement, management and performance of the service, commissioning and directing activity within the council and externally as required, and ensuring overall objectives are translated into effective plans and that the service is efficient and locally responsive. Provide inspirational and professional management to staff, strengthening skills and competence and fostering a strong culture of standards, performance and accountability.
• Resources / Financial management
Ensure tight budgetary control and prioritise use of resources and assets to support the delivery of the council's corporate vision and help ensure that the council receives value for money from its expenditure. Drive and/or support the development of outcome-based commissioning models to better ensure strong price competition and transfer of risks through contracts with third parties. Champion and drive the development of commercial opportunities where appropriate.
• Partners and stakeholders
Actively engage, communicate and influence within the council, across partners and with the wider local and central government community, including NHS, to champion the council's approach to unified public services. Foster the bringing together of local services and decisions across agencies to reduce demand and help communities more independently support themselves.
• Business change
Lead, develop, implement and review change management programmes to deliver continual improvement. Assist the Director in developing a single council-wide corporate culture to engender a strong and shared approach to delivering services and provide better support for staff to deliver savings.
• Compliance
Ensure that all activities within the service comply with the council's Constitution, Standing Orders, financial regulations, health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within the service to manage performance and risk.
• Equality and diversity
Uphold and promote the aims of the council's equality and diversity policies to ensure non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work, and that diversity is embedded in everything, from workforce planning and policy development to service delivery.

Specific Responsibilities:
1. To lead an effective Property Strategy Service, taking accountabilities for all aspects of planning, finance, performance, people, change and risk management within the service. In doing this, the postholder will ensure delivery of the highest quality service that can be provided to customers with the resources available.
2. To lead the implementation and management of a Corporate Landlord Model, maximising the value and effective use of the council's corporate property estate across the borough to ensure value for money, compliance and support council recovery and improvement.
3. Collaborate with relevant departments to ensure the integration of technology and infrastructure required to support the delivery of effective monitoring and management of corporate responsibilities as a landlord and property owner.
4. Responsible for the forecasting and management of estates related expenditure, rental/service charge income collection, actively seeking ways to drive service improvements.
5. Collaborate with relevant departments to ensure the integration of technology and infrastructure required to support the delivery of effective monitoring and management of corporate responsibilities as a landlord and property owner.
6. Establishing a quality assurance and auditing capability to ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities and building safety requirements are mitigated.
7. Lead the development of robust business cases for projects related to the council's Property & Estates portfolio to improve current service standards and drive innovation to achieve maximum value for money and income generation. The post holder will collaborate with finance and senior management to secure funding and resources for property-related initiatives and conduct financial analysis and feasibility studies to support investment decisions and funding applications.
8. Lead corporate health and safety strategies, including schools' compliance audits, developing and delivering training and investigating incidents. Oversee the implementation of robust Corporate health and safety policies, procedures and practices across the council.
9. To take decisions of meaningful impact, including financial delegation of up to £50k. Such decisions will be informed by collaboration and engagement with other colleagues and made within the boundaries council's Constitution and financial framework, but the postholder is ultimately accountable for making such decisions.
10. To undertake any other duties commensurate with level of responsibility of the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A relevant bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a related field (e.g., estates, property management, land economics or a related discipline) or equivalent experience.
• Professional qualification and full membership of relevant body (e.g., RICS etc).
• Evidence of continuous professional development which reflects commitment to effective management in a large organisation.

Experience

• Experience in property strategy development, preferably in a public sector or large organisational setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant sectors, including local government operations and estates management.
• Strong experience of managing statutory responsibilities in a Property & Estates function, monitoring and discharging such responsibilities.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully driving service improvements, operational efficiencies, and cost savings in a complex organisational environment.
• Demonstrated track record of leading a customer-focused, high- performance culture, including workforce planning, objective setting, performance management, motivating and inspiring a diverse group of staff with different backgrounds and career goals.
• Experience in identifying and pursuing income generation opportunities, with a focus on diversifying revenue streams.
• Experience of setting service standards that will enhance the reputation of the Council and empowers others to deliver.
• Experience of operating within a Corporate Landlord Model
• Experience of delivering significant asset disposal programmes
• Experience of working in a political environment such as local or central government.
• Can demonstrate political acumen and aptitude to adapt to a political environment.

Skills and abilities

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex data and trends into actionable strategies.
• Business planning, able to develop clear business and operational plans for the delivery of a high-quality internal support services to customers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex technical concepts into simple, clear insight and advice for a diverse range of audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively, working across departmental and organisational boundaries to develop shared solutions to deliver wider borough goals. . click apply for full job details