Land and Property Area Manager

Land and Property Area Manager

Final date to receive applications: 11 January 2026

Department: Strategy & Sponsorship

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Milton Keynes

Reporting To: Head of Land & Property

A little bit about us:

East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, which blend beautiful landscapes and a rich cultural heritage with globally renowned centres of education, business, technology and an increasingly dynamic business scene. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.

However, the lack of good East-West transport connections makes it harder for residents to make the most of everything the region has to offer. From faster commutes to days out with friends and family, EWR will make it easier to reach the things that matter most, bringing a range of benefits to communities between Oxford and Cambridge, and across the UK more broadly.

EWR is also one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.

Role

Summary:

This is a key role working within the client-side Land & Property Team at EWR Co. reporting to the Head of Land and Property to ensure the successful delivery of the DCO and to secure all the land required for the EWR project.

This role will be responsible for leading and managing the acquisition, transfer, management and disposal of land and property to support delivery of the East West Rail Project. It requires management of our land and property suppliers and close liaison with other teams such as Design, Construction, Railway Operations, Consents, Environment and Stakeholder. It requires oversight of external relations with landowners, their representatives and statutory bodies.

It involves strategic oversight, coordination, and integration assurance to achieve project milestones and objectives.

Function:

The Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs function is accountable for defining what EWR Co. is, and the impact it will deliver - setting scope and requirements. It is accountable for securing the required approvals to deliver the scheme, being the custodian of the Development Consent Order submission, including statutory consultation, and building a compelling business case. It will hold design and delivery to account to create an asset which will realises the economic benefits.

Within this function, the Land and Property team will act as an intelligent and informed integrated team, that uses a network of third-party strategic suppliers to leverage the capabilities required to deliver the land to construct and operate the project.

• Develop and deliver effective land and property strategies and plans, and to support a successful Development Consent Order (DCO) application and delivery of the project.
• Develop and deliver an engagement and consultation plan to identify those with an interest in land and property, and to facilitate effective communication with landowners and their representatives to secure…