Head of Commercial Property Development

Heathrow Airport; Hounslow; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent international airport in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head of Commercial Property Development. This impactful role includes shaping the commercial property strategy and overseeing the delivery of large-scale projects. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in commercial property development, strong financial acumen, and the ability to manage complex stakeholders. The position offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and the chance to work in a dynamic and engaging environment.

Benefits

Performance-based annual bonuses

Generous annual leave

Market-leading pensions

Private health insurance

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in commercial property development.
• Strong knowledge of UK planning processes and property law.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale infrastructure developments.
• Experience managing significant budgets.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead property development strategy for maximizing revenue.
• Oversee delivery of large-scale commercial property projects.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for project execution.
• Manage complex funding governance for projects.

Skills

Commercial property development experience

Knowledge of UK planning processes

Financial acumen

Negotiation skills

Leadership abilities

Project management skills

Job description

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Job Description

The Head of Commercial Property Development is responsible for shaping, leading, and delivering the airport's commercial property strategy across airside and landside environments. This senior role drives the development and optimisation of the airport estate—maximising long-term commercial returns, supporting aviation growth, and ensuring all developments align with regulatory, operational, and sustainability requirements. This role is pivotal in supporting Heathrow being an Airport Fit For The Future.

The position oversees a portfolio covering logistics, cargo, industrial property, office space and wider non-aeronautical commercial development. The role requires close collaboration and complex stakeholder management with planning, operations, finance, and external partners to deliver high-quality, commercially sound developments within a live, safety-critical environment.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Member of the Property Leadership Team with direct line management responsibility for a growing team of development and property specialists.
• Develop and implement the airport's commercial property strategy to grow non-aeronautical revenue and support wider business goals through development of new and renewed assets.

Property Development & Project Delivery

• Create a sustainable pipeline of development opportunities utilising the airports vast estate and asset base.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of large scale commercial property projects including but not limited to concept design, planning, financial modelling, procurement, construction, and handover.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Build business cases and financial models for commercial property investments, ensuring strong ROI and alignment with commercial strategy.
• Oversee the capital governance and regulatory requirements to unlock funding, and oversee lease structuring, negotiations, and asset optimisation to maximise revenue across the property portfolio.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary property development team that is primed to respond to increased commercial development opportunities that arise from Heathrow's Long Term Growth Strategies (Expansion).
• Work collaboratively with operations, engineering, security, planning, legal, and finance teams to ensure effective and timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in commercial property development, ideally in complex or regulated environments (airport, rail, logistics, mixed-use, or large infrastructure estates).
• Strong knowledge of UK planning processes, property law, and commercial leasing structures.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale commercial or infrastructure developments in dense urban environments.
• Financial and commercial acumen, with experience building business cases and managing hundred million-pound budgets.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage senior stakeholders.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and contract management skills.
• Experience delivering projects within operational, safety-critical environments.

About Us

There's something so special about working at the world's most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.

Every day, you'll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we're working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there's no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we'll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we'll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you'll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working Location

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You'll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow's Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger - not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.

About the Team

Heathrow is a city within a city. And there's no place like it when it comes to the scale of our ambitions. You'll be part of a Customer team that drives our profitability across everything from retail, property and airport transport, through to passenger services, forecasting and contracts with airlines. Customer insight is at the heart of what we do, supported by a strong commercial strategy. We have a pioneering agenda for digital, e-commerce and innovation, as we look to transform the way our passengers spend at our airport.

We believe the best way to drive growth across our iconic airport is by improving the services offered within it. So although we know generating income is critical to driving our business forward, we're also passionate about delivering the best possible passenger experience. You'll help us to get the balance right - not least so we can continue investing in an airport that leads the world.