Senior Real Estate Manager

Swindon, South West England, United Kingdom UK Research and Innovation Job Description

Natural Environment Research Council
Salary: £46,743 per annum
Band: UKRI E
NERC Transformation: Senior Real Estate Manager
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

Background:

UK Research and Innovation is an entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintain is world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at wwww.ukri.org.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the largest funder of environmental science in the UK. We invest £300 million each year in research, training and innovation through UK universities and research centres. Our scientists study and monitor the whole planet from pole to pole, from deep Earth and oceans to upper atmosphere and space. Through collaboration with scientific partners, business and policy-makers, our science supports sustainable economic growth and improves public wellbeing. Our Headquarters in Swindon provides the corporate policy, planning and administrative focus for NERC.

The NERC UK property portfolio consists of 91 buildings over 15 sites including research centres, field sites and storage facilities. There are complex real estate arrangements across the portfolio managed by a small specialist property team. This team is cross cutting team also providing property support for yhe Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The BBSRC estate comprises several major, strategically supported research campuses and institutes across the UK. There has been notable growth in real estate related work across this portfolio, which is forecast to grow further over the current spending review e.g. due to implementation of the NERC Estates Strategy.

To deliver the NERC UK Estates Strategy, a new c.£200m, 4-year programme has been agreed to deliver a fit purpose estate which enables globally leading science to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth. It will deliver a mix of capital investments and longer business case planning activity. Effective real estate management and expert advice will be central to this programme.

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

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

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

Desirable

• An understanding of UKRI and its property portfolio. (I)
• Experience of preparing government data returns. (S)
• Real estate surveying experience. (S&I)
• Experience of managing digital database systems. (S&I)
• Line management experience. (S&I)
• Experience of using AutoCAD in the workplace for si