Assistant Director Head of Property and Development

Ref Number B28-00111 Professional Expertise Estates, Facilities, Accommodation and Safety Department Finance, Commercial and Estates (B28) Location London Working Pattern Full time Salary £77,000+ Contract Type Permanent Working Type Hybrid Available for Secondment No Closing Date 12-Sept-2025

About us

This is an internal recruitment advert, available to eligible UCL workers only

Shape the Future of London’s Global University

UCL’s estate is one of the most distinctive and ambitious in the higher education sector, encompassing over 240 buildings, 6.5 million sq. ft. of academic accommodation, and 4,500 student bedrooms across our Bloomsbury and UCL East campuses. This scale, variety and complexity presents a unique opportunity for an experienced property leader to make a transformative impact at a world-leading university.

We are seeking an exceptional individual to join us as Assistant Director – Head of Property and Development within our Property, Space & Strategy team.

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Property, Space & Strategy, you will:

Lead UCL’s property team, overseeing asset management, lease transactions, and development management across our diverse portfolio.

Develop and implement estate and accommodation strategies, ensuring alignment with UCL’s long-term vision.

Strategically manage a property budget of c. £40m per annum, driving efficiencies and optimising value.

Provide leadership on key development opportunities, from early conceptualisation through to delivery.

Represent UCL in high-profile property dealings with stakeholders including local authorities, the University of London, and other major landowners.

This is a highly visible role where you will act as Deputy to the Director of Property, Space & Strategy and as a key member of the Estates Management Team.

About you

You will bring:

Professional property qualifications (MRICS preferred) and significant experience in asset and property management.

A strong track record in estate strategy, development consultancy/management, acquisitions, disposals, and contract negotiations across large, complex portfolios.

Proven ability to lead and inspire professional teams while navigating complex stakeholder environments.

Commercial acumen and financial management expertise to deliver value for UCL.

A collaborative and strategic mindset, with excellent communication and influencing skills.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

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