Commercial Portfolio Manager; Rural Estate

Overview

As our Commercial Portfolio Manager (Rural Portfolio), you will manage some of Dorset Council's most unique and community‑embedded rural assets – from agricultural land and smallholdings to rural business tenancies, workshops, depots and community buildings. Your work directly supports the council's commitment to keeping farms in farming, creating opportunities for new entrants, and ensuring rural assets remain productive, sustainable and resilient for the long term.

• Strong, proactive management of the rural commercial portfolio, ensuring leases, compliance requirements and landlord obligations are professionally managed.
• Provide high‑quality estate management advice, including rent reviews, valuations, lease negotiations, landlord consents, repairs, dilapidations and operational transactions.
• Robust management of outsourced rural managing agents, ensuring contract performance, compliance and value for money.
• Operational and financial oversight, including budgeting, forecasting, income management and KPI reporting to support the Farms Estate Strategy and wider council priorities.
• Play a key role in delivering Dorset's new vision for its rural estate, supporting agriculture, strengthening communities and ensuring the countryside continues to thrive.

• Strong estate management experience, ideally with exposure to rural, agricultural or countryside assets.
• Commercially minded, personable and confident in managing providers.
• Excellent landlord-tenant relationship skills.
• Ability to manage complex rural cases and work at pace.
• Skilled at negotiation, problem solving and delivering a high‑quality customer experience.
• Comfortable managing budgets and performance in a multi‑asset rural environment.
• Professional membership (MRICS) is desirable but not essential.

• Generous relocation package up to £8,000 (HMRC‑eligible elements free of tax).
• Initial advance of up to £2,500 payable when you start.
• Help towards fees associated with buying/selling (up to £6,500).
• Option to receive help towards rent or mortgage in the first two years.
• Part of Dorset Council's key skills recruitment and retention scheme – one‑off payment of £1,500 to £2,000, pro rata for part‑time hours.
• Access to a range of benefits and support, training and development opportunities.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible – if you need reasonable adjustments, let us know on your application.

This role is UK‑based and a Right to Work check is required.