Business Property Director

Business Property Director 

Grade 16 £51,466 to £55,221 - Relocation package available

FURTHER INFORMATION

Continue the success story! A rare opportunity to join Business Durham and play a key role in the development of business sites and services across the county is available.

We are looking for a transformative leader with strong business skills and experience in managing business property and capital projects within an economic development environment.

WHY BUSINESS DURHAM?

Business Durham is the business support service for Durham County Council, helping to deliver more and better jobs and a strong competitive economy.

It is a knowledgeable and trusted guide, which connects businesses with the right funding, advice, and networks they need to grow and thrive.

Business Durham works closely with partners to encourage an enterprise culture, helping entrepreneurs to turn bright ideas into successful reality and students to develop enterprise skills to become our future business leaders.

The organisation manages a portfolio of business property including commercial office space, modern laboratories and industrial property units, and excels in finding the right space for businesses to grow.

Business Durham attracts capital and inward investment to the county and develops an innovative economy that enables companies to grow and flourish.

Business Durham builds long-term relationships to foster sustainable growth in businesses, raising economic aspirations and making Durham a place where business is done.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

You will lead the effective performance of the portfolio of business sites and premises managed by Business Durham, including NETPark, the County’s science park, in order to maximise income and occupancy and support business growth. Recent experience of capital development will be essential as a key priority for the role will be leading our major NETPark Phase 3 capital development.

Your knowledge of the business landscape and property market will enable you to lead the identification of opportunities to acquire or develop additional business space to support business and economic growth in the County.

Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills will be brought to the fore in leading a team of experienced property management professionals, liaising with private sector developers and business tenants, and supporting the management of the Business Durham service.

An ability to identify problems and implement solutions will be crucial when monitoring and appraising business space provision and performance in terms of value for money, business development, job creation and economic impact.

WHAT WILL YOU NEED?

You will need to be educated to degree level or equivalent with post-qualification experience and continuing professional development. You will also need:

• Significant recent experience of managing business property services within an economic development environment

• Significant recent experience in developing capital proposals and implementation/project management of capital projects to provide new business sites and premises.

• Knowledge of issues and requirements relating to the letting of property, the provision of services to tenants, and the management and maintenance of business sites and premises

• Very good interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively

• The ability to establish excellent stakeholder relationships

• Ability to recognise key issues, identify problems, and find and implement solutions

Take a look at the person specification for the full criteria.

BENEFITS AND REWARDS

We want to be sure that every member of staff feels valued and rewarded for their individual contribution and believe we’ve got everything you’d expect from a large organisation, we offer;

• Competitive salaries, with opportunity for incremental annual increases until you reach the top of your pay scale.

• Various flexible working options including a hybrid approach.

• Current holiday entitlement of 26 days per year, rising to 31 days after five years continuous local government service. Entitlement will increase by one day from April 2023.

• Attractive pension scheme.

• Salary sacrifice schemes (including car and cycle) and access to employee discounts on goods, services, and travel.

• Wellbeing support.

• Access to ongoing training and development.

Benefits and rewards are subject to individual terms and conditions.

If you would like to know more about our rewards and benefits package, please follow the link: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits 

IS THIS ROLE FOR YOU?

We encourage you to contact Brian Gallagher for an informal discussion about the role.  Brian can be contacted by telephone 07716 098175 or by email Brian.Gallagher@penna.com 

Please use the ‘Person Specification’ to develop your supporting statement to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise the value of difference, having a diverse talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and can provide support throughout the recruitment process, for more information please refer to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Guide.

Closing Date: Sunday 9th April 2023

Interviews: from w/c 24th April 2023