An outstanding opportunity to head up the Duchy of Lancaster’s rural investment team managing a rich portfolio of agricultural, commercial, and residential property, forestry, minerals and foreshore assets across England and Wales, with a strong focus on environmental, community and heritage objectives.
The Duchy of Lancaster is a private estate owned by Her Majesty The Queen as Duke of Lancaster. The rural estate consists of approximately 45,700 acres of land in England and Wales which is divided into five ‘Rural Surveys’ (Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Southern) as well as a significant commercial portfolio known as the ‘Urban Survey’ and separate minerals and foreshore portfolios.
The Position
Reporting to and working in partnership with the Chief Executive, the successful candidate will be charismatic, and driven, with an aptitude for business, and key responsibilities will include:
- Setting and delivering a focussed strategy to ensure that rural assets achieve optimal performance and sustainable growth across the rural portfolio.
- Responsibility for the leadership of the rural surveyors in London and Lancaster.
- Delivery of sustainability targets.
- Financial assessment and valuation of business opportunities and investments.
- Being an ambassador for the business, managing a diverse range of relationships to enhance the Duchy’s reputation as the business partner and landlord of choice.
The Candidate
- A qualified MRICS Chartered Surveyor, with significant post qualification experience of rural asset management (including good agricultural knowledge) for a substantial private estate or property portfolio.
- Commercially and financially astute but motivated by the environmental and social impact of the role.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and powers of persuasion and negotiation which will be essential in building trust with farm tenants.
- An engaging and friendly character, approachable and supportive, with strong leadership qualities and people management skills to foster a spirit of teamwork.
- Organised, methodical, literate with good attention to detail.
- The stature, authority, and self-confidence to establish personal credibility with the Chairman, members of Council and rural committee as well as appointees connected with the activities of the Duchy.
This position offers an exciting opportunity for an applicant with ambition to become one of the most respected managers of a let landed estate in the country, held in trust for the Sovereign.
For a copy of the job description and to discuss confidentially please contact Helen Astill on 07721 437 085 or send a CV to helen@astrecsolutions.com.
