Assistant Director of Property Services

Are you an experienced senior property professional with a strong commercial background and a track record of leading complex estates, asset management and property programmes?

We are looking for an Assistant Director of Property Services to provide strategic leadership across a diverse and high-profile property portfolio. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for shaping and delivering the Council’s approach to estates management, strategic property projects and valuations, ensuring our assets are managed effectively, commercially and in support of wider Council priorities.

You will play a key role in developing and implementing the Council’s asset management strategy, maximising the use and value of housing and corporate assets and identifying opportunities for repurposing, redevelopment, acquisition or disposal. You will also lead major strategic initiatives including housing acquisitions, the repurposing of surplus Civic Centre space, solar energy projects and wider opportunities across the Council’s property portfolio.

As Assistant Director of Property Services, you will provide clear strategic direction and leadership across a broad portfolio of services, including:

• Estates management, including leases, garages, community assets, landlord compliance, farms and business rates.
• Compulsory Purchase Orders and leasehold enfranchisement.
• Strategic property projects and disposals.
• Housing acquisitions.
• Repurposing and development of surplus corporate space.
• Solar and other property-related initiatives.
• Property and asset valuations.

You will act as a senior technical and strategic adviser to the Council, ensuring property decisions are commercially sound, legally compliant and aligned with long-term corporate objectives.

You will also oversee the Council’s leased property portfolio, ensuring effective lease management, compliance, renewals and negotiations, while identifying opportunities to consolidate assets, reduce the Council’s carbon footprint and support wider sustainability ambitions.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will:

• Lead and develop the Council’s asset management strategy to maximise the use, performance and value of housing and corporate assets.
• Provide strategic leadership across estates management, valuations and major property programmes.
• Lead complex property acquisitions, disposals, redevelopment and repurposing initiatives.
• Oversee commercial and community assets, including lease renewals, rent reviews and wider estate management activity.
• Lead significant programmes of asset disposal and acquisition in support of strategic and financial objectives.
• Provide expert oversight of residential and commercial valuations, including Right to Buy, HRA buybacks, insurance valuations and leasehold enfranchisement.
• Lead strategic projects including housing acquisitions, surplus asset development and renewable energy opportunities.
• Oversee business rates reviews and appeals across corporate properties.
• Manage complex negotiations relating to land, leases, acquisitions and major infrastructure matters.
• Provide senior professional advice on property matters across the Council.
• Lead, manage and develop high-performing teams, creating clear accountability and a strong performance culture.
• Manage complex budgets and ensure services deliver value for money and agreed financial targets.
• Work closely with elected Members, senior officers, residents, public and private sector partners and other key stakeholders.
• Horizon scan for legislative changes, emerging trends, innovative practices and new commercial opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement, transformation and innovation across the services within your portfolio.

About You

We are looking for an accomplished senior leader with substantial experience in commercial property, estates management and strategic asset management.

You will:

• Have a degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience.
• Hold a management and leadership qualification.
• Demonstrate ongoing continuing professional development.
• Have comprehensive knowledge of the legal, statutory and regulatory requirements relating to land disposals and acquisitions, development schemes, building programmes and lease management.
• Have a strong understanding of the strategic challenges affecting capital programmes, estates management and regeneration or redevelopment.
• Have a successful track record of developing or delivering major property, estates or capital programme strategies.
• Have significant experience leading and managing services at a senior level within a large and complex organisation.
• Have experience leading major organisational change and transformation.
• Be experienced in managing complex budgets across diverse services.
• Have strong expertise in commercial and residential valuation, estate management and complex negotiations.
• Be able to identify innovative commercial and strategic opportunities.
• Have the credibility and communication skills to influence senior stakeholders, elected Members, partners and external organisations.
• Be confident leading diverse services through periods of significant change.

Why Join Us?

This is a significant leadership opportunity to influence the future of the Council’s property portfolio and play a central role in how our assets support residents, services and long-term strategic priorities.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Shape and deliver the Council’s strategic approach to property and asset management.
• Lead a diverse and high-value portfolio of services and assets.
• Influence major investment, acquisition, disposal and redevelopment decisions.
• Deliver complex and high-profile strategic property projects.
• Work directly with senior leaders, elected Members and key external partners.
• Identify new commercial opportunities and innovative approaches to asset use.
• Support the Council’s financial, housing, regeneration and sustainability ambitions.

Why Hillingdon?

At Hillingdon, we’re proud of our commitment to Putting Our Residents First, ensuring residents remain at the heart of everything we do.

As London’s second largest borough, we are ambitious about improving outcomes for our communities and making the best possible use of our assets and resources. Our property portfolio plays a critical role in supporting frontline services, delivering housing priorities, generating value and enabling long-term investment across the borough.

If you are a commercially minded and strategically focused property leader with the expertise, credibility and ambition to lead complex services and major programmes, we would love to hear from you.