Head of Estates

HR Wallingford owns and operates Howbery Park business park (www.howberypark.com), a  70 acre site, set in mature, landscaped grounds near to the river Thames. The Park is located between Oxford and Reading and has excellent links to the M4, M40 and London.

The business park has c. 300,000 square feet of space (including HR Wallingford’s own-use offices and facilities). There are approximately 60 tenants and the buildings include a listed manor house & stables plus conference/meeting facilities. The Park has developed on a sustainability theme for many years including drawing energy from an on-site solar array.

We are keen to position the Park to attract world-leading facilities and new investments, further developing a principal centre in water-related science, engineering and technology. 

HR Wallingford's international business trades through overseas companies and offices in Australia (Perth), the USA (Houston), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), and India (Mumbai). HR Wallingford Ltd also operates a branch office with technical and sales staff based in Italy.

About the Role

We are seeking a forward thinking and commercially minded Head of Estates to lead the strategic and operational management of our wholly owned business park, Howbery Park, and oversee estates activity across our global footprint.

This is a new & pivotal leadership role, responsible for delivering our long-term estates strategy, driving development opportunities, and ensuring operational excellence across facilities, compliance, and sustainability. You will work closely with senior leaders, external partners, and suppliers to realise the full commercial and community potential of the estate.

Based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, you will lead an in-house team and collaborate across departments to deliver high-quality services and future-focused estate development.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing the long-term estates strategy in alignment with business goals.
• Leading master planning and feasibility studies for future developments.
• Managing strategic partnerships with developers, local authorities, and commercial stakeholders.
• Overseeing supplier selection, contract negotiation, and performance management.
• Giving direction to compliance with health & safety, environmental, and statutory regulations.
• Advancing sustainability initiatives across the estate portfolio.
• Overseeing budgets, capital expenditure, and service charge recovery.
• Delivering high-quality Park services and amenities, including the HR Wallingford-run café.
• Providing policy and guidance to international sites.

About You

We value diverse perspectives and welcome candidates who bring curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to continuous learning.

You will be an experienced estates professional who bring strategic vision, operational rigour, and a passion for sustainable development.

You will demonstrate:

• Senior-level experience in estates or property management, ideally within commercial or mixed-use environments.
• Strong knowledge of UK planning regulations, development processes, and facilities operations.
• Proven ability to build and manage strategic partnerships and supplier relationships.
• Financial acumen, with experience managing large budgets and capital projects.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desirable attributes include:

• Professional qualifications (e.g. MRICS, BIFM, CIBSE).
• Experience in ESG and sustainability-led estates initiatives.
• Familiarity with smart building technologies and digital estate management tools.

Further information

This role needs to be within a good commutable distance to our offices in Wallingford, Oxfordshire as it requires regular presence at the Park. We support flexible working arrangements to help you balance professional and personal commitments. Applicants seeking part-time working will be considered.

Download a full job description and person specification.

Further information, and details of our exceptional benefits, can be found on our website: www.hrwallingford.com/careers

Deadline for applications is 5th January 2026.