Head of Estates

Great Western Railway (GWR); Swindon; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free rail travel for you and family

Discounted rail travel with TOCs

Railway Pension Scheme

Company healthcare plan

Discounted shopping

Gym membership

Employee Assistance Programme

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Great Western Railway is seeking a Head of Estates in Swindon to lead the day-to-day management of our operational and commercial property portfolio. The role drives value through our asset management framework and ensures premises are fit for purpose and compliant.

Reporting to the Property Asset Management leadership, you will coordinate with stakeholders, manage leases, ensure maintenance standards, and support strategic planning across key locations including stations, depots, HQ and control

Qualifications

• Qualification in Estates Management, Built Environment or equivalent.
• MRICS certification required.
• Membership of a relevant professional body expected.
• Extensive Estates Management experience across multiple contract types.
• Experience in Property/Asset Management and cross-disciplinary coordination.
• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams on various projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day estates management of operational and commercial premises.
• Manage landlord/tenant relationships and property leases.
• Ensure property compliance, fire safety, security and statutory maintenance.
• Oversee dilapidations and property transactions & disposals.
• Support strategic Property, Infrastructure and Estates planning.
• Act as SME supporting other functions with asset knowledge.

Skills

Organisational skills

Stakeholder communication

Decision making

Education

MRICS

Estates Management qualification

Professional membership

Job description

Salary: Depending on skills and experience

Location: Swindon. The role also requires operating and managing over a large geographical area of the GWR operational network.

Contract: Permanent - Full Time

As one of the largest train companies in Britain, more than 100 million customers a year join us on board. When the Great Western Railway was built, it opened the West and Wales to trade and tourism. And now, along with our partners at Network Rail, we're proud to have the chance to look after your railway.

As well as electrifying our main routes, and upgrading key stations, we have carried out the biggest upgrade of trains in the country. The Procurement team have an essential role to play in the success of GWR through our strategic sourcing and our approach to supplier management.

About the job:

Join our team on our asset management journey, maximising the effectiveness and efficiencies of our property portfolio, delivering value and outcomes through our asset management framework. Leading on the day-to-day estates management of our operational and commercial property premises, ensuring GWR fulfil their contract obligations.

Ensuring our operational and commercial property premises remain fit for purpose and readily available by providing a quality service that optimises the asset life-cycle delivery through excellence in asset management safely, efficiently and sustainably.

Working in collaboration with our internal and external stakeholders, managing their expectations and needs. Supporting GWR's integrated management systems and our ISO55001 asset management system requirements.

Your main responsibilities will include:

As Head of Estates, reporting into GWRs Business Assurance & Property Director, you will be responsible for the day-to-day estates management of GWRs occupied operational and commercial premises, supporting the functionality and business critical requirements across key strategic locations including, Stations, Depots, HQ, Occupational Health, Learning & Development, Infrastructure Control and Security Operations Centre(s)

• Commercial property leases and agreements
• Landlord and tenant relationships and obligations, working directly with landlords or managing agents
• Property compliance, including fire safety, security and statutory maintenance
• Dilapidations
• Work closely with the Head of Property Asset Management and Head of Infrastructure Strategy to support joint Property, Infrastructure and Estates strategy and planning initiatives.
• Lead GWR’s operational and commercial property acquisitions and disposals, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders and project teams.
• Manage lease renewals, rent reviews, surrenders and other property transactions, while identifying opportunities to create value through the restructuring of GWR’s operational and commercial property interests.
• Act as the Business Owner for GWR’s Station Commercial Retail Estates Management contract, driving value and income, maximising operational profitability and supporting the long‑term growth of our commercial property portfolio.
• Provide technical and professional expertise as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), supporting other business functions and disciplines that work with GWR’s operational and commercial property assets.

You'll need to be:

• Organised with the ability to prioritise workload
• Able to establish relationships and communicate effective with colleagues and stakeholders
• Able to challenge and make informed decisions

As a minimum you'll need to have:

• Qualification in a disciplined field – Estates Management, Built Environment
• Certification - MRICS
• Professional Membership of an external accreditation professional body appropriate for role
• Extensive experience in Estates Management including working with various contract types
• Awareness or Experience in Property Management and/or Asset Management
• Experience of coordinating and working with multidisciplinary teams on a variety of issues or projects

Additional Information:

The candidate must be willing to travel across our network to familiarise themselves with our property asset portfolio and develop relationships with our internal and external stakeholders, including undertaking planned Safety Tours

Alongside your salary, you'll receive a fantastic benefits package, including:

• Free rail travel across the GWR network for you and your family
• Discounted travel with other Train Operating Companies
• Defined benefit pension through the Railways Pension Scheme
• Company-sponsored healthcare plan
• Discounted shopping and gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Structured career development and progression opportunities

We all belong at GWR.

This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/