Senior Real Estate Manager

NERC: Natural Environment Research Council; Swindon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

Natural Environment Research Council seeks a Senior Real Estate Manager in Swindon with hybrid working options. You will oversee the property portfolio, renewals, and reporting, while collaborating with UKRI and central government.

The role requires five years in property real estate and a professional qualification, with duties spanning risk management, data handling, and stakeholder liaison. You will lead on procurement and provide senior-level briefing material, deputising for the Head of

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in property real estate management.
• Professionally recognised real estate qualification related to role.
• Experience of working on real estate projects.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead task management for the property portfolio, deadlines and resourcing.
• Identify and escalate risks and opportunities in property functions.
• Develop cross-government processes for commercial real estate and document approvals.
• Lead on data and information management for real estate and reporting to UKRI/SOFTE.
• Maintain relationships with providers and colleagues across NERC and delivery partners.
• Coordinate with programme leads to ensure alignment and efficiency.
• Act as subject matter expert for property real estate and ensure legal/contractual compliance.
• Lead on procurement of professional services and manage budgets.
• Assist senior colleagues with briefing documents for committees and queries.
• Deputise for Head of Real Estate as required at meetings.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Project coordination

Risk management

Data management

Budget management

Education

Real estate qualification

Job description

Contract Type: Open Ended

Hours: Full-time

Location: Swindon - Hybrid working available

Closing Date: Monday 7th September 2026

Interview Date: Proposed dates - 16th, 22nd and 23rd September

About the role

The Senior Real Estate Manager provides high level organisation and coordination of complex real estate matters. They act as a subject matter expert for real estate and commercial property law and ensure NERC / BBSRC real estate liabilities are managed well in line with published best practice.

Reporting to the NERC Head of Real Estate, this role will suit an experienced surveyor, legal or property professional with an interest in enabling globally leading research.

You will work within a well-regarded team and input into several high-profile projects under across NERC and BBSRC. There are also opportunities to collaborate /work on projects across the wider UKRI portfolio.

You will oversee the NERC property portfolio including managing lease and licence renewals, business rate payments and licence to alter processes.

You will lead for property data collection, curation, verification and reporting including to UKRI and central government via the State of the Estate (SOFTE) return.

You will work closely with the NERC Head of Real Estate to build and maintain strong Centre & contractor relationships and to ensure executive level reporting.

You will work closely with other estates and sustainability professionals within the team and may line manage some staff members in future.

Your responsibilities

• Leading task management for the property portfolio, defining deadlines and resourcing activities and managing stakeholder requirements & expectations.
• Identifying, managing and escalating risks and opportunities arising from the property function. Taking a solutions approach to risk management.
• Developing and managing cut crossing processes and policies for commercial property real estate that translate government and UKRI requirements into NERC activities, including for document retention and document approvals.
• Leading on data and information management for real estate. Working with the Senior Estate Information Manager & Real Estate Manager to ensure database systems are effective and efficient.
• Leading on real estate annual data reporting to UKRI including data collection, curation and verification.
• Maintaining strong proactive working relationships with professional service providers and colleagues across NERC and its operational delivery partners, proactively managing communications and project updates.
• Working closely with other key programme leads, e.g. FDRI & AIMP, to identify areas of crossover, ensuring alignment and efficiency across programmes.
• Acting as a subject matter expert for property real estate including for assurance and project development processes. Ensuring NERC works within legal and contractual property requirements.
• Leading on procurement of legal and real professional services.
• Managing local project budgets including ensuring effective cost controls for professional services, financial assurance and reporting.
• Assisting senior colleagues with the preparation of briefing documents and other materials for committees & responses to external and internal queries, ensuring accurate reporting on work progress, risks and dependencies.
• Deputising for the Head of Real Estate as required at internal and external meetings.

Personal Specification

• Relevant experience in property real estate management (minimum 5 years).
• Professionally real estate recognised qualification (s) relevant for the role e.g. commercial property management, valuation, surveyor, legal qualifications.
• Experience of working on real estate projects.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to independently plan, prioritise and progress multiple workstreams.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage a varied and changing workload.
• Sound understanding of UK government property standards and UK legal property frameworks.
• Understands the importance of managing and mitigating risks and issues and escalating where required.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills. Ability to effectively negotiate with and influence partners at all levels.
• Excellent numeracy skills, with experience of managing large datasets.
• Effective collaborator and team member
• A desire to progress professionally in a property-based project and programme management role.
• A willingness to travel for work – to attend project meetings at sites.

A list of benefits below:

• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.