Head of Property

ROLE PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to lead and support the Retail & Property Director to

provide a comprehensive property service for the Oak Furnitureland Group Limited,

comprising retail showrooms, and non-retail facilities across the UK, developing the

estate with new showrooms, building strong relationships with landlords, delivering

best terms through proactive management of lease events and assisting with the

development of the property strategy as required to meet the business needs.

The role will be based full-time from our Swindon Head Office. There may be the opportunity to work remotely as agreed with the line manager.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reporting directly to the Retail and Property Director, with line management

responsibility for the Estates administrator, F&M manager and working alongside other

roles.

• Overall management of the current property portfolio including 70 showrooms and 14

non-retail properties, including the Head Office with a rent roll of approx. £17.5m per

annum and rates, service charge and insurance of approx. £10.3m per annum.

• Showroom opening programme of circa 3-5 per annum, including potential

management of relocations and old property closures.

• Managing and protecting the business through proactive key lease event management,

including rent reviews, lease renewals and break clauses in a flexible short leasehold

estate.

• Managing and evolving the business property policies ensuring they are fit for purpose

from a regulatory, effectiveness and efficiency perspective.

• Building sustainable relationships with landlords, managing agents and external

advisers, plus the management of a network of external professional advisors including

surveyors and solicitors.

• Engaging with senior stakeholders across the business to understand evolving

requirements from the service.

• UK nationwide network including Northern Ireland, the role requires ability to build

knowledge, awareness and relationships at local levels and travel across the UK to secure

the needs of the business.

• Development and management of a clear property strategy, aligned to the needs of the

business, and with well-articulated plans for delivery.

• Effectively manage the current property portfolio, managing key lease events to time,

budget and commercial outcomes, ensuring relationships with landlords and their

managing agents is well managed, and using external networks to further the needs of

the business from a property perspective.

• Effectively maintain the Estates Plan, ensuring it accurately reflects the occupational

terms of the business, and manage the approach and outcome to key lease events well

ahead of time and efficiently to budget to meet the needs of the business.

• Identify and appraise potential sites as locations for new showroom openings in close

co-operation with key business stakeholders and external network planning partners.

• Assess new potential sites with commercial regard for property outgoings, statutory

planning, condition, configuration, delivery vehicle accessibility, proximity to nearby

showrooms and other local operational requirements.

• Strong and effective communication on all property matters across stakeholders, peers,

colleagues and suppliers.

• Foster solid working relationships with a wide range of internal and external

stakeholders to develop and instigate property projects, including negotiating

effectively with landlords, external consultants and suppliers and influencing internal

operational colleagues and other relevant senior managers.

• Monitor, review and analyse all aspects of completed projects to implement

improvements in future projects as applicable in terms of programme time, budget and

operational requirements.

• Maintaining a commercial, economic and flexible environment for the existing property

portfolio against rising costs and an improving landlord’s market.

• Maintaining a commercially viable property acquisition programme in accordance with

the company's strategic requirements against an environment of reduced property

availability and hostile competing interests.

• Developing strong external relationships with the landlords, managing agents and

property advisers, and building strong internal stakeholder relationships.

• Management of internal and external resources to successfully accommodate

fluctuating project workload requirements on a national basis.

• Daily liaison with the Retail & Property Director, Estates Administrator, Facilities &

Maintenance Manager, Finance Colleagues, and Retail Operations for support,

guidance, operational and property matters.

• Ad hoc liaison with Senior Directors for strategic direction, support, presentations, and

meetings.

Key Performance Indicators

• Accurate estates plan with good communication of key events to all key stakeholders

(internal and external).

• Successful management of the existing portfolio demonstrating best practise and cost

efficiency leading to increased profitability.

• New showroom opening programme completed in accordance with company strategic

requirements, to time and budget.

• Added value to the existing property team through strong relationships with the

external property market and external parties.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Real Estate management degree or similar property related discipline.
• Self-starting bringing existing solid property market relationships and experience for

the benefit of the business.

• Detailed knowledge of Landlord and Tenant law, Town and Country Planning law and

all other relevant property-related legislation.

• Good experience of acquisitions and estate management and influential stakeholder

management in a fast-moving retail, or similar commercial environment.

• Forward thinking, good communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Organised with the ability to lead a small effective property team.
• Focused on achieving results through the combined efforts of the wider business team.
• Strong commercial acumen; proactive, driven and committed to delivering projects

within agreed timescales.

• Ability to actively manage and prioritise multiple ongoing projects, provide innovative

solutions and respond to changing priorities.

• Lead by example, take responsibility and ownership.
• Professional property accreditation such as MRICS or equivalent.

BENEFITS

Employee discount: amazing discounts available on all Oak Furnitureland products after successful completion of probation

Life assurance: free cover of a minimum of two times your annual salary up to the age of 65

25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays

Birthday: an additional day off for you to celebrate your birthday

Hybrid working

Pension: 5% basic salary employer contribution with 4% employee contribution

Employee Assistance Programme: gives all employees access to both telephone and face-to-face counselling services

My Rewards Programme: offers discounts on everything from restaurants and supermarkets, to entertainment and holidays

Free on-site parking