Job Title: Senior Estates Strategy Manager
Pay Rate: up to £38.97 per hour PAYE
Location: London
Start Date: Feb 2026
Contract Length: 12 months
About the role
As Senior Estates Strategy Manager, you will co‑lead the development and implementation of UCL's long‑term estates strategy-ensuring our estate evolves to meet future academic, research and student needs.
You'll champion a strategic, holistic and customer‑focused approach to space, collaborating across faculties, professional services and Estates teams to ensure the effective allocation, utilisation and transformation of space across the university.
This is a high-impact role, influencing major decisions, shaping strategic investment, and helping deliver a resilient, sustainable and inspiring estate for our 47,000 students and 13,000 staff.
Key responsibilities
In this role, you will:
Strategic estates planning
- Co‑lead the development and implementation of the UCL Estates Vision and associated strategies.
- Develop short, medium and long‑term consolidation and space optimisation plans at portfolio and building level.
- Lead research, innovation and feasibility work relating to space, utilisation and new ways of working.
Space strategy & data leadership
- Create and implement space norms, metrics and policies to drive effective space management.
- Collate, analyse and present complex space and utilisation data to inform strategic decisions.
- Advise faculties and academic departments on improving space efficiency and experience.
Stakeholder engagement & business case development
- Engage extensively with academic leaders, Estates teams and students to understand needs and shape solutions.
- Develop strategic and outline business cases and guide these through internal governance.
- Manage and lead space‑related forums across schools and faculties.
Project and programme support
- Shape the early stages of projects (typically up to RIBA Stage 1), ensuring clarity and alignment with strategy.
- Work closely with PMO, Property & Asset Management, Workplace, Space Data, and project delivery teams to ensure smooth transitions from feasibility through to implementation.
- Contribute to post‑project reviews and continuous improvement.
About you
You will bring the professional expertise and strategic capability to influence senior leaders, drive complex change, and deliver high-quality Estates strategy work in a large, multifaceted organisation.
Essential skills and experience
- Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Strong analytical ability, including interpreting and presenting complex data.
- A collaborative approach, with experience working with diverse stakeholders at all levels.
- Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and delivering high‑quality customer service.
- Ability to evaluate information quickly, identify key issues and make sound recommendations.
- Experience following through on commitments and making informed, sometimes difficult decisions.
Desirable
- Degree‑level education and/or a relevant professional qualification.
- Experience in space strategy, space management, complex project management, or property strategy.
- Budget management, business planning or business administration experience.
- Knowledge of procurement, contract management or supply chain management.
- Experience with change management and developing systems or processes.
Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.
