Candidate Information Pack Estates Director
Contents
Introduction About us The Portfolio The Estate Director Role Role Responsibilities How to Apply
Dear Applicant, Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the appointment of Estates Director with John Whitgift Foundation. The John Whitgift Foundation looks to support people of all ages and backgrounds and bring them together to inspire a sense of community in all that they do. Based in Croydon, The Foundation provides education and care services to the local community, through its three schools and care provision. As a significant land and property in the Borough, The Foundation also plays a key part of the regeneration of its local area. The Foundation is now seeking an established and strategic property expert to oversee a full review of its estate portfolio. Key responsibilities include potential disposal, asset management and development of existing assets; configuration of the in-house estates team; review of the third party asset management provision; implementation of new property management software and the capital project business case process to include school masterplan projects. The appointed will be responsible for developing and writing the Estates Strategy in line with the wider aims of the organisation over the course of a 6-month period. The Strategy will ensure that the portfolio is operating at its most efficient whilst creating maximum return to the Foundation. It is expected the initial phase of this work will last six months. We hope that the following information provides greater detail regarding the Estates Director appointment and look forward to receiving your application.
In 1596 the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Whitgift, laid the first two foundation stones of the Hospital of The Holy Trinity. In the same year, just yards down the road, he opened a school.
Facts and Figures • £5.7m awarded in burseries this year alone
• £50.9m awarded in burseries in the past 10 years • 48% of students supported at our foundation schools • We employ over 1000 staff across our services • We educate over 3000 students in our three schools • £1m funding allocated to support care services • We care for 100 elderly residents in our care homes
About Us
Together, these two buildings would help him realise his founding vision to educate and care for the people of Croydon. This was his legacy. Today, more than 425 years on, he’d take great pride in the charitable work the John Whitgift Foundation carries out in his name. As one of the largest bursary providers in the country, we grant thousands of young people access to an outstanding education at our foundation schools – Old Palace, Trinity, and Whitgift – that many could not otherwise afford. Through our care homes and services, we give older people a true sense of community, comfort, and joy in later life. And through our Carer Support Centre, we offer Croydon’s carers a valuable support network – providing advice, information, and a welcome break from the isolation and exhaustion they can endure as they care for others in our community. Our charity supports people of all ages and backgrounds. And more importantly, it brings them all together for the benefit of all – inspiring a sense of community in all that we do. Because while much has changed since 1596, the values John Whitgift stood for then are as relevant today as they ever were; perhaps even more so.
The Portfolio
For 425 years, we’ve used land and assets set aside by our Founder to generate income which we put back into our community. This ensures a lasting legacy for the people our charity supports and helps to build a brighter future for our community as a whole. From historic sites like the Grade I listed Almshouses to more modern commercial buildings, our property portfolio has grown substantially over the years. Today, we continue to play a key role in the development and regeneration of our town. Indeed, our charitable mission relies upon it. If it weren’t for the rental income we receive as freehold owners of the Whitgift Centre, we would be largely unable to subsidise the care services we offer or help the thousands of young people we support through an outstanding education. Our portfolio is diverse and includes a range of asset types including occupied education, residential, care and operational properties, in addition to let retail, office and residential. Our operational properties are vital to the delivery of our Care, Education and Foundation support services. Our investment portfolio has historically driven income to return to the
organisation, in addition to providing opportunity for future development.
Our operational estate (care and education assets) hold a combined value of £150m. The investment property portfolio is valued at £54m.
The Estate Director Role
The Foundation has different property/estates elements to manage in its portfolio including the ownership and letting of a number of commercial properties in Croydon, the ownership and management of residential properties (both for staff and third parties) and the delivery of an estates service to Care and Foundation office premises. The Foundation’s schools have their own estates teams that deal with all premises related matters on school sites. To date the Foundation has a Foundation Surveyor to provide advice on many of these matters. We now require an explicit estates strategy, a review of the management of this portfolio including the configuration of the in-house estates team, and the capital project business case process to include school masterplan projects. We are seeking an external recommendation on the best way to deal with these matters particularly as the Foundation’s Surveyor is retiring and a review of the best way to provide this service is timely.
It is expected the initial phase of this work will last six months.
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Required Experience
Demonstrable experience of reviewing and creating outline estate strategy across an aligned commercial and or residential portfolio.
Experience of optimising operations and adding value in a client organisation setting.
Experience of reviewing a third party provision and identifying opportunity for change. Ability to prepare and present business cases at Board level, understand the challenges of limited funding and project choices. Able to engage with various stakeholders within a client organisation and understand the ambitions of each service line and how it engages with property
How to Apply
John Whitgift Foundation is being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG).
To arrange a confidential briefing conversation please contact our advisor Stephanie Howe (stephanie.howe@mrgpeople.co.uk) MRG on 0203 962 9900.
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than 4 pages) and a covering letter (of not more than 2 pages).
Closing date for applications is Sunday 18th April 2021.
First stage interviews with MRG to take place w/c 19th April 2021.
First stage interviews with John Whitgift Foundation to follow.
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