Head of Estates

Head of Estates

Matlock/Hybrid

Permanent

Full time 37.5 hours per week

Office / home based / hybrid

£62,000 per annum + £5,400 per annum car allowance (applies to all, including those under the age of 21)

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join our Estates team within the Property and Compliance directorate as Head of Estates.

YHA is seeking a commercially astute Head of Estates to lead the strategic management and transformation of its national property portfolio. Reporting to the Director of Property & Compliance, this is a senior role with significant accountability for commercial decision‑making, focused on strengthening financial resilience while supporting YHA’s long‑term charitable mission.

You will lead the delivery of a complex estates transformation programme, including the active disposal of freehold assets and the restructuring or exit of leasehold interests. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, you will progress multiple transactions at pace, balancing value maximisation with speed and certainty of delivery. The role requires a confident deal‑maker with strong market insight, sound commercial judgement and the ability to influence at Executive and Board level in a fast‑moving, change‑driven environment.

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive staff benefits that support your well‑being and career growth:

• 10 nights free hostel stays per year for you and up to 3 friends or family
• Access to YHA’s staff discount and cash back portal
• Free YHA Membership each year
• Access to support via our Employee Assistance Program

There are many more benefits to working for YHA so please visit our YHA Jobs website for more information.

Working with the Estates Team you will be:

• Providing strategic leadership and transformation – by leading the delivery and ongoing review of YHA’s Estates and Asset Strategy, taking ownership of estate‑related elements of the Transformation Plan, executing disposal transactions and coordinating partnership opportunities for suitable properties
• Asset management and transactions – Responsible for valuation, acquisition and disposal of property assets, identifying opportunities for value extraction, proactively managing leasehold liabilities and procuring and managing specialist advice
• Negotiation and commercial delivery – Handle property negotiations including acquisitions, disposals, lease renewals, rent reviews, dilapidations, business rates, licences and management agreements etc. and resolving disputes with third parties where required
• Governance risk and legal compliance – Maintain an accurate database of YHA’s property interests, advising senior colleagues on property, legal and planning matters and managing delegated revenue and capital budgets ensuring value for money for YHA
• Leadership and collaboration – Acting as a professional advocate for YHA, building credibility and influence with external stakeholders, leading the Estates team, providing clear direction and prioritisation whilst working closely with colleagues across other departments to ensure estate decisions support operational delivery and organisational objectives

To work as part of the Estates Team we are looking for candidates with the following qualities:

• Full RICS membership (or equivalent senior qualification in a property or legal discipline)
• A decisive, results‑focused, self‑motivated, resilient professional able to balance short term pressures against long‑term strategy
• Strong working knowledge of estate and asset management including demonstrable experience of delivering asset strategies in complex organisations
• Proven transactional experience including acquisition and disposal of operational property assets and negotiation of complex leasehold arrangements
• Ability to progress multiple transactions at pace
• Confident communicator able to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders and external counterparts
• Proven experience of delivering results whilst working autonomously with minimal supervision
• Experience of managing specialist teams through periods of change
• Strong project…