Please note, this vacancy is open to current University of Glasgow employees only 

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We are currently looking to appoint a Senior Commercial Property Manager to lead the strategic, efficient, and effective management of the University's estate, land, and assets.

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In this post, you will play a key role in representing the University’s interests in future joint ventures, particularly in relation to development, operational cost oversight, and income generation. You will also play a vital part in managing and optimising space usage, standardising tenancy agreements, and ensuring accurate data capture for the University’s growing spin-out portfolio—always prioritising best practice, health and safety, and insurance compliance.

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In addition, you will contribute to the transactional activities required to support the delivery of the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) vision. The Senior Commercial Property Manager will be pivotal in safeguarding and representing the University’s interests, ensuring it navigates the commercial property landscape effectively whilst also maximising commercial income generation.

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Job Purpose

To lead the effective and efficient management of the University estate, land and assets. The role will ensure all property and portfolio management is delivered in alignment with best practice, that all commercial opportunities are maximised, and University space is managed and utilised as a strategic asset that furthers the University’s strategic ambitions.

The role contributes to the University's objective of pro-active estate management and value creation and requires the individual to be the ‘go to’ contact point for Commercial estate matters across the portfolio. It requires exceptional attention to detail and collaborative stakeholder management and engagement.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide a proactive and professional property management service across the Estate, taking responsibility for the operational management of the portfolio in both tenant and landlord capacities.

2. Provide strategic property advice and review, prepare and manage (through to completion) all strategically important property searches, licences, title disputes and queries, acquisitions, disposals and lease transactions, including rent reviews, lease renewals, re-gears, assignations and terminations.

3. Significant input into numerous multimillion, multi-year budgets with regards JV activity and Estate and Property Management.

4. Engage proactively with clients, landlords, and tenants to address inquiries and ensure compliance with all contractual obligations. This includes conducting regular inspections and implementing robust property maintenance and management strategies

5. Oversee all commercial property matters in the development and delivery of the Joint Venture Strategy, including support on all transactional work with regards the delivery of a full suite of Joint Venture contracts and ensure adherence to said contracts in future years.

6. Build, manage and maintain relationships with all key stakeholders, including colleagues, landlords, managing agents, tenants, legal advisors, Glasgow City Council, the local community and consultants.

7. Provide advice and support to aid the implementation of the University’s Innovation Strategy to encourage the development of start-up, incubator and spin-off space for the University, delivering appropriate policy and protocol documents to ensure effective management of assets, data capture and rent recovery.

8. Support the University Commercial Directorate as new strategy develop with regards retail and residential property transaction outputs.

9. Prepare business cases for property opportunities and issues, ensuring that all property transactions are undertaken in accordance with the University’s governance processes.

10. Ensure the asset and property database is maintained with accurate and comprehensive data. Proactively identify opportunities to improve data and information management systems, processes, policy and procedures.

11. Ensure the proactive financial management of the leased estate, including identifying opportunities to recover costs from tenants via service charge or direct charge, and mitigate risks associated with rent arrears and other financial issues, including quarterly review meetings to ensure that data held by the Finance team is accurate and reflects current lease obligations, supporting the budget process with regards the commercial property portfolio.

12. Implement best practice and appointment/management of external consultants and advisors, as required to lead statutory valuations, ensure compliance with legislations and maximise revenue generation and minimise financial exposure e.g. telecoms, business rates, service charge etc.

13. Represent the University effectively on all relevant internal and external groups, e.g. SAUDE forums and committees and deputise for the Director of Property Joint Ventures as appropriate.

14. Engage in continuous professional development activities as appropriate and necessary for professional status/charter, and support others in the team to enhance skills, capacity and capability in commercial property management.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1  Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles.

A2  Degree qualification with a relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in a relevant discipline, e.g. Chartered Surveyor (MRICS).

A3  Highly developed knowledge of property management, estate management and relevant law.

A4  Highly developed knowledge of statutory requirements relating to the occupation and use of non-residential property.

A5  Detailed knowledge of the current statutory frameworks, legislation and codes of practice affecting the application of good property management.

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge of University Policy and Procedures.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Skilled in delivering service excellence with  an ability to relate to property occupants and managers as clients/customers.

C2 Highly credible with a strong ability to influence, communicate effectively and persuade diverse audiences and stakeholder groups.

C3 Strong financial acumen with an entrepreneurial outlook.

C4 Highly numerate and analytical with the ability to interpret, present and write complex property and estate management reports capable of being understood by a wide range of people in a clear and comprehensible manner.

C5 Highly developed presentational skills with an ability to prepare and undertake formal presentations on complex estate management matters to non-experts in a clear and comprehensible manner.

C6 Ability to develop innovative solutions to resolve complex specific property management issues.

C7 Ability to adopt an ordered, systematic and thorough approach to work tasks, record keeping and database management.

C8 Highly organised with excellent project planning skills.

C9 Self-sufficient in the use of IT software, such as Microsoft Office products

Experience

Essential:

E1 Proven track record in delivering successful outcomes in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

E2 Demonstrable experience of working in and forging partnerships with internal and external bodies preferably including public, private and voluntary sectors.

E3 Experience and demonstrable competence in property management, including lease management and transactional experience, and experience of negotiation/regear new and existing leases.

E4 A demonstrable track record showing the ability to lead, motivate, enthuse, inform, and develop people in line with a team’s objectives.

E5 Experience of successfully developing property management strategy and achieving key objectives in support of strategy in a results-orientated environment.

E6 Experience of delivering solutions and of having established a performance focused, problem-solving culture and team ethos.   E7 Experience of managing asset databases.

Desirable:

F1 Proven management experience in a student educational environment.   F2 Full Current Driving License.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 9, £59,139 - £66,537 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended.

As part of Team UofG, you will be a member of a world-changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff,  pension, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community  here.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

Closing date: 23:45 on Monday 17th March 2025