Commissioning Manager - Operational Real Estate

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA

Salary: £63,027 - £69,342 per annum (pro rata for part-time), pay award pending

Working Hours:37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 31st August 2026

Interview Date(s): 11th September 2026

Are you an experienced estates professional ready to shape the future of a significant public-sector property portfolio?

Can you lead complex estate strategies, drive improvement and build strong partnerships that deliver real value for communities?

As Commissioning Manager - Operational Real Estate, you will play a key leadership role in the strategic management of Leicestershire County Council’s operational land and property portfolio, valued at approximately £521m. Working within Strategic Property Services, you will lead the delivery of estates management across a significant and varied portfolio, ensuring our assets are managed proactively, professionally and in line with the Council’s priorities, Corporate Asset Management Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy.

A central part of the role will be embedding a Corporate Landlord approach that improves efficiency, reduces costs and ensures our assets are aligned to current and future service needs. This will include overseeing valuations, landlord and tenant matters, compliance, performance management and the development of estate strategies and plans on behalf of client departments.

You will translate strategic property requirements into deliverable outcomes, supporting business cases, commissioning property-related projects and ensuring approved schemes are delivered through to completion. You will need to balance best value, statutory requirements, capital and revenue availability, and relevant local government property legislation.

You will also lead and manage the Strategic Estates function, including Business Partners, Valuers and Project Managers, ensuring resources, budgets, risks and performance are managed effectively. You will use high-quality property data, asset management systems and performance information to support evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement and regular reporting to corporate boards, clients and external bodies.

This is a highly collaborative role, working closely with colleagues, elected members, senior managers, partners, consultants, contractors, legal professionals, external organisations and local stakeholders. You will provide strategic advice and guidance, represent the Council at meetings and promote best practice in the management of the Council’s operational estate.

You will, on occasion, be required to work outside normal working hours. You will also need to travel across the county, therefore a full driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle is required.

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:

• A Member or Fellow of the RICS, together with either a relevant degree and extensive experience of managing estates management and valuation at a senior level in a complex environment; or extensive experience of leading and delivering estate management of a varied portfolio, compliance, valuations, rating, dilapidations, financial management, record keeping, planning, strategy formulation, construction and building.
• Experience of having successfully developed and implemented capital and revenue programmes and budgets.
• Experience of cultivating and leading the development of best practice and pursuing continuous improvement.
• Experience of developing and working in successful partnerships with external parties.
• Experience of using data and asset management systems to support high performance and evidence-based decision making.
• Good working knowledge of the Procurement Act and its application to real estate.
• A high level of specialist knowledge of operational real estate management, including landlord and tenant law, national and local planning legislation and policies, and an understanding of the public sector environment, local government priorities and the strategic drivers for transformation and change.

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