Portfolio Asset Manager (Operational)

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is recruiting an accomplished property professional to shape the strategic direction of the Council’s operational estate at the highest level. As Portfolio Asset Manager (Operational), you will join the Asset Management leadership team, driving transformation across a diverse property portfolio and align asset strategy with Council objectives.

The salary is £72,200 per annum, with potential review in July 2026.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of professional teams in asset management.
• Qualified chartered surveyor with broad knowledge of property portfolios.
• Ability to shape strategy and provide senior-level advisory support.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the strategic direction of the operational property portfolio.
• Lead and develop a team of Asset Managers.
• Oversee asset management to maximise value for the Council.
• Advise senior officers and Members on asset management matters.
• Identify cost savings, revenue opportunities and capital investments within the portfolio.

Skills

Leadership

Asset management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Chartered surveyor

Job description

We’re recruiting an accomplished property professional to shape the strategic direction of Buckinghamshire’s operational estate at the highest level.

As Portfolio Asset Manager (Operational), you will join the Asset Management leadership team, driving transformation and innovation across a diverse property portfolio. You will play a pivotal role in aligning asset strategy with Council objectives, influencing senior stakeholders, and delivering long-term value and operational excellence. This role offers the scope to lead change, champion best practice, and ensure our estate is fit for the future.

The salary will be £72,200 per annum (subject to review in July 2026)

About us

Buckinghamshire Council combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

Sitting within the Communities Directorate, our Corporate Property & Assets fosters a culture of pride, ambition, collaboration, and trustworthiness in the management of property and construction activity. Our Asset Management Team partners across Council functions to forecast property needs, secure rationalisation opportunities, and deliver value-adding initiatives. We are committed to delivering best value from our property portfolio, in support of Council objectives.

About the role

Reporting to the Head of Asset Management, you will be part of the leadership team responsible for the active asset management of the Council’s operational property portfolio. You’ll provide strategic advice, lead a team of Asset Managers, and ensure our estate supports service delivery and future growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Shape and deliver the strategic direction of the Council’s operational property portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and best practice.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of Asset Managers, fostering a high-performing and collaborative environment.
• Oversee the management and optimisation of operational assets, ensuring value for money.
• Act as the principal advisor to senior officers and Council Members on asset management matters, providing professional, strategic guidance.
• Drive the identification and delivery of cost‑saving measures, revenue generation, and capital investment opportunities within the portfolio.
• Manage lease events, landlord and tenant matters, and relationships with external providers to achieve best value for the Council.
• Champion the provision of accurate portfolio data, leading validation exercises and supporting informed decision-making.
• Support the preparation and monitoring of budgets, and act as client lead for property projects and corporate initiatives.

About you

If you are a strategic leader with experience of operational property portfolio planning who is looking for a new challenge where your skills and expertise can flourish, this could be the role for you.

The position would suit an individual with a strong track record of providing effective leadership and management of a team responsible for the strategic direction of a property portfolio. You will enjoy a rewarding and challenging environment leading Asset Managers across the Council’s substantial and diverse range of property holdings spanning across operational buildings, parks, community assets and schools.

The Council is looking for applicants who possess all the technical abilities required of a professionally qualified chartered surveyor and are also sufficiently experienced with the ability to problem solve for themselves whilst building a high performing team. You will have a strong interest in property within a community, and feel rewarded for working with a purpose.

You will be comfortable working under your own initiative, with great communication skills. You will be considered a subject matter expert for stakeholders, and be very aware of the impact of decisions being made, while anticipating property needs, challenges and solutions. Familiarity with a Corporate Landlord model would be helpful.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office at least two days a week, as least one of which will be at The Gateway where the majority of the team is based. You will also be expected to visit site, and meet local stakeholders, so access to a car is needed.

Interview date: TBC

Interview-type: In person at The Gateway, Aylesbury

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Dominic Daymond, Head of Asset Management ([e-mail])

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer‑facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day.

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement – whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work‑life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.