Commercial Property Lead

Royal-Borough-of-Kensington-and-Chelsea; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is seeking a Commercial Property Lead to shape the strategic direction of a diverse estate portfolio spanning retail to office space. The role focuses on improving income, reducing vacancies, and ensuring the estate supports council services and community investment.

You’ll oversee landlord/tenant transactions, lead on investment and asset management, and manage a team.

Qualifications

• Member or Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• Strong knowledge of landlord and tenant law and lease negotiations.
• Experience leading teams and managing budgets in the public sector.

Responsibilities

• Oversee management and evolution of the commercial property portfolio.
• Lead landlord/tenant transactions, rent reviews and renewals.
• Advise on investment and asset management strategies and supervise lettings.
• Influence senior stakeholders and provide performance analysis to identify risks.

Skills

RICS member/fellow

Lease negotiations

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector experience

Job description

As Commercial Property Lead, you’ll shape the strategic direction of a diverse portfolio that spans everything from retail to office space. Your leadership will help drive commercial performance, reduce vacancies, and ensure this vital estate continues to support council services and community investment.

Working Style:

You’ll be based in the Borough for a minimum of 3 days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you’re working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents’ lives.

What you’ll be doing:

In this high-profile role, you’ll oversee the management and evolution of our commercial property portfolio, worth around £19 million annually. Your work will focus on improving income, reducing debt and vacancies, and ensuring the estate meets both financial goals and community needs.

You’ll be responsible for all landlord and tenant transactions, including rent reviews and lease renewals, and provide strategic property advice to colleagues across the Council. You’ll lead on investment and asset management strategies, managing all lettings, including those for our Operational and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) portfolios.

A key part of your role will be influencing senior stakeholders, supporting decision-making, and providing performance analysis to identify risks and opportunities. You’ll guide your team through lease restructuring, dispute resolution, and negotiations, while keeping a clear focus on value for money and effective use of space. In some cases, this may involve acting as an expert witness in court proceedings.

You’ll manage team performance and build strong working relationships both internally and externally, from businesses and occupiers to surveyors and consultants. With a broad remit and varied estate, this is a rare chance to shape one of London’s most distinctive property portfolios.

What you’ll bring:

You’ll be a Member or Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), with substantial experience in commercial property or real estate management. You’ll understand landlord and tenant law inside out and be confident negotiating complex leases and transactions.

Your communication and influencing skills will be exceptional, able to present business cases, guide senior leadership, and foster trusted partnerships. You’ll also bring experience of leading teams, driving improvements, and managing budgets in line with public sector standards.

We’re looking for someone commercially minded, strategic in outlook, and hands-on when needed. You’ll take ownership, adapt to challenges, and use data to guide decisions. Experience in or alongside local government is welcome, but not essential.

Why join us:

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.

You’ll be part of a high-performing, forward-thinking team with the autonomy to shape the future of a unique and valuable estate. You’ll find a collaborative culture, supportive senior leadership, and plenty of opportunities for training and career progression.

This is a newly created role, giving you the opportunity to put your stamp on a high-value portfolio, one that plays a direct role in funding essential local services and improving the lives of residents.

About us:

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all

In this role, you’ll be instrumental in strengthening the financial foundation that supports those goals – using your expertise to get stuck into complex challenges, enhance performance, and make sure every space in our commercial estate works harder for our community.

Interview Details:

Interviews will be held week commencing 30th November 2026.

Interviews will be held in person.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range.

Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.