Rural Estates Manager

Rural Estate Manager - Strategic Leadership Role in Public Sector Land Management
Location: Cambridgeshire (Hybrid working available)
Type: Temporary - 6 - 12 months
Salary: Competitive rate
An exceptional opportunity has arisen with one of our valued public sector clients for an experienced and forward-thinking Rural Estate Manager to lead the operational and strategic management of a significant rural estate spanning over 14,000 hectares.
This senior role offers the chance to shape and deliver the long-term vision of a high-value rural asset portfolio (valued at 245 million), which generates over 6 million in annual revenue and supports nearly 170 tenant-run rural enterprises. The estate also plays a crucial role in environmental stewardship, climate change mitigation, and enhancing biodiversity and public access.

As Rural Estate Manager, you will lead a dedicated team of chartered surveyors and a Farms Officer, overseeing a complex portfolio of agricultural, environmental, and renewable energy interests. You will be responsible for:

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  Driving the estate's strategic development and delivering a refreshed Rural Asset Management Strategy.
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  Leading operational estate functions including landlord and tenant relations, maintenance, capital projects, and sustainability initiatives.
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  Providing expert advice to internal stakeholders, council members, auditors, and national bodies.
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  Overseeing financial performance, including revenue generation, budget management, and capital receipts.
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  Identifying and enabling development opportunities that enhance estate value and align with climate goals.
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  Managing external consultants and professional advisors to ensure best-in-class asset advice and service delivery.

We're looking for a Surveyor with strong experience in rural estate management, ideally within a public or mixed-portfolio setting. You will bring:

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  Degree-level education in Rural Land Management or a related field.
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  Extensive experience in strategic estate planning, property transactions, valuations, and landlord-tenant matters.
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  Strong commercial acumen and the ability to influence senior stakeholders and policy.
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  Proven leadership capabilities, with experience managing multi-disciplinary teams through change and delivery.
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  A deep understanding of rural property markets, sustainability, and planning policy.

Additional qualifications in project or people management, and RICS Registered Valuer status, are advantageous but not essential.

This is a unique leadership opportunity to influence how land is managed in one of the most dynamic rural regions in the UK. The role offers a rare mix of commercial, environmental, and public service impact-with the support of an experienced team and forward-thinking leadership. For more information, or to be considered please call (phone number removed).