Bradford Estates is a progressive, well-capitalised landed estates business with a 12,000- acre landholding between Telford and Wolverhampton. The business has a forward-looking vision for commercial success, environmental sustainability, and community benefit across farming, forestry, leisure, rural, residential, commercial and industrial property, and development.
The Role
A new position has arisen for a commercially astute Estates Manager to join the in-house team to manage, enhance, and optimise the rural portfolio which comprises 5,500 acres of diverse tenanted agricultural land on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border, and 1,350 acres of woodland. The tenanted holdings include 3 FBTs and 13 AHAs across fruit, dairy, livestock, and arable sectors, alongside two liveries, three fishing pools, mobile mast sites, and equine grazing agreements. Forestry is managed by Bronwin & Abbey in close liaison with the Estates Manager.
Key responsibilities include:
- Implementing rural portfolio objectives ensuring they align with wider organisational goals.
- Assess and deliver the most efficient future uses for the in-hand tenanted estate.
- To lead the planning and budgeting for the forestry operations and manage delivery with Bronwin & Abbey.
- Dealing with title registrations, boundary disputes, mapping and access matters.
- Building strong relationships with tenants, consultants, contractors and local stakeholders including utility providers.
- Identifying new income opportunities from the rural portfolio.
- Undertaking valuations for internal and insurance purposes.
- Ensuring compliance with legislation and health & safety standards.
- Managing budgets and cash flow and financial reporting.
- Data management.
- Management of third-party rights across the land holding (to include wayleaves, easements and mineral).
- Supporting community engagement and attending local parish council meetings.
The Person
The ideal candidate will be commercially minded with a strong understanding of land-based businesses and a track record of driving strategic, sustainable results. Applicants will be MRICS qualified and may come from backgrounds such as land management, renewables, infrastructure or development, able to demonstrate the following attributes:
- Proven negotiation and tenancy management abilities.
- Excellent financial literacy, business planning and business analysis skills.
- Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
- High technological competence, including mapping, financial and property management software.
- Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Resilience, decisiveness, and adaptability in a high-performance culture.
For a copy of the job description and to arrange a confidential conversation please contact Helen Astill on 07721 437 085/helen@astrecsolutions.com.
