Head of Estates

The Company:

Our client is an award winning and leading casual dining restaurant operator in its field with ambitious plans to expand the estate both in the UK and internationally.

A Head of Estates is now being sought.

The Position:

Reporting to the newly appointed Group Property Director, the Head of Estates will primarily be responsible for managing our client’s rapidly growing estate to world-class expectations, ensuring consistent standards as our client embarks on a vital phase of new openings and maximise the potential of their physical brand, manage agents, consultants and solicitors, exploring rent-saving initiatives and achieving best outcomes on leases, licenses, service charges and other agreements. He/She will take ownership of due diligence, disposals and dilapidations, minimising disruptions, driving down costs and removing any obstacles to business.

Other key duties and responsibilities will include:-

• Drive a commercial and first class property management service to the growing estate.
• Strategically manage landlord, agent and developer relationships and maximise the position of our client within the market.
• Drive negotiations of re-gears, rent review and lease renewal processes.
• Evaluate and challenge service charge and rates charges and implement an aggressive strategy to reduce these costs.
• Mmanage our client’s lease structure and landlord relationships in accordance with the business day to day operational requirements.
• Manage the relationship between the legal advisors on lease renewals through conveyancing and litigation processes and stay abreast of changes in legislation.
• Take the lead in dealing with site closures, ensuring our client’s exposure to dilapidation costs are minimised.
• Timely and accurate preparation of required papers/presentations materials to the board.
• Manage internal and external reporting processes as required including integrity of database management, debt reporting, monthly kpi reporting and other additional management reports.
• Effectively manage landlord relationships, negotiating consents and approvals for restaurant re-fits and inserts.
• Build strong relationships with the wider property department to enhance the overall department effectiveness and performance.
• Managing external agents and consultants, solicitors etc.
• Rent saving initiatives.
• Negotiation of leases, licenses, service charges and other agreements across for the whole UK, including central kitchen and head office.
• Dealing with any landlord and tenant issues.
• Managing any disposals/dilapidations.
• Managing all due diligence.

An Estates Manager will report to the Head of Estates.

The Candidate Profile:

The new Head of Estates is likely to be a Graduate Chartered Surveyor with at least 5+ years post qualification relevant experience in a similar role within the hospitality, leisure or retail sector.

He/She should:-

• Be a confident commercial negotiator with the ability to handle higher volumes of work as the estate expands.
• Have excellent experience of professional rent reviews, negotiations and the ability to build and maintain brilliant working relationships with external agents and the wider property marketplace.
• Proactive, able to take ownership and be customer (operations) service oriented.
• Have an eye for detail, be able to work at pace and under pressure.
• Be able to help protect and grow their brand as “beautiful restaurants are a crucial part of their brand identity.”
• Have well developed communication and presentation skills.
• Be commercially astute and technically competent.
• Be comfortable working and operating in a robust environment with a challenging collaborative culture.
• Be results driven.
• Should be inclusive, open to change and have a sense of humour.

The Location:

London with occasional time spent away from the office.

The Salary & Supporting Benefits:

Attractive base salary, bonus, car allowance of £6,125, family private health, pension scheme, income protection cover, 25 days holiday etc.

The above are principal elements in an attractive and comprehensive Remuneration Package reflecting our client’s determination to appoint a first class candidate.

It is our policy to practice equal opportunities in recruitment and selection for all candidates. We have a responsibility to avoid unlawful discrimination.