Estate Business Partner

Estate Business Partner (Operational Delivery & Alignment)

Location: Cambridge (Hybrid / Regional)

Remuneration: 62,728 - 66,537 + Premier Pension & Outstanding Benefits

The Opportunity: Driving Operational Alignment Across a World-Class Portfolio

In a complex matrix environment encompassing both cutting-edge research laboratories and historic assets, the success of an estate relies entirely on seamless operational alignment. This role offers a significant opportunity to take functional ownership of the strategic liaison between academic operations and estate service delivery for a landmark Cambridge portfolio. Working closely with senior professional service leads and administrative heads (School Secretaries), you will be the driving force behind the local implementation of new Estate initiatives, utilising occupancy data and service insights to ensure the physical portfolio directly enables world-changing research and education.

The Ideal Profile

This role is designed for a consultative property or asset management professional who combines technical estate literacy with exceptional relationship-building capability. You are comfortable navigating consensus-driven environments where success is achieved through influence rather than direct decree.

Whether you are an experienced Senior FM, Property Manager, or Estates Programme Lead from a public sector, corporate real estate, or consultancy background, you will bring:

• A strong professional background in a technically focused discipline such as Facilities Management, Surveying, Engineering, or Capital Programme Delivery.
• Proven success in a high-level client-facing or advisory role, with a natural ability to manage diverse and demanding stakeholder expectations.
• Practical experience in change management or the delivery of technical services across a varied, multi-site property portfolio.
• The analytical capability to interpret occupancy data and translate it into practical, long-term estate solutions.

The Role: Strategic Liaison & Framework Delivery

Operating as a critical Estates partner, you will bridge the gap between high-level estate policy and localised departmental operations. You will be a leader in;

• Strategic Stakeholder Partnership: Forging collaborative, high-trust relationships with School Secretaries and academic leaders to align long-term departmental needs with broader institutional estate objectives.
• Programme Implementation & Change: Acting as the primary operational ambassador for complex change initiatives, including space optimisation, sustainability targets, and occupancy efficiency frameworks.
• Service Performance Oversight: Monitoring the quality and efficiency of technical estate services across your designated portfolio, using occupant feedback to drive continuous improvement in building performance and supplier delivery.
• Data-Led Space Assurance: Interpreting space management and occupancy monitoring data to advise senior stakeholders on capacity planning, helping departments make informed, analytical decisions about resource allocation.

Why Apply Through Me?

This appointment is being managed by a specialist with 25 years of experience in senior real estate and estates governance roles within the Cambridge market. I provide a discreet, highly consultative service, giving you deep-dive context on the departmental dynamics and the operational lifecycle of the estate that is not available in the public domain.