We're have a brand-new opportunity here at Pavers to join our Property Department in the role of Estates Manager. This is a full-time permanent role, based at our Head Office, Northminster Business Park, York.
About the role
As our Estates Manager, you’ll play a key role in managing Pavers’ property portfolio, progressing lease and property matters and ensuring key deadlines are met. You’ll work closely with solicitors, landlords, agents and internal teams, maintaining accurate records, supporting lease negotiations and coordinating approvals.
This is a varied, mainly office-based role offering great exposure to commercial property, with occasional store and property visits. It would suit an organised, commercially minded individual looking to develop their career in estate management.
Want to see an overview of your duties:
Lease & Estate Management
-
Assist with the day-to-day management of the property portfolio and take ownership of progressing lease events, including renewals, regears, rent reviews, extensions and breaks.
-
Monitor key lease dates and ensure actions are progressed within the required timescales.
-
Assist with and, where appropriate, negotiate lease renewals and other lease events with landlords and property agents.
-
Complete site surveys as required in support of lease negotiations, acquisitions, disposals and general estate management (Pool car or mileage allowance will be provided).
-
Ensure completed matters are accurately documented and recorded.
Legal & Solicitor Management
-
Key point of contact with external solicitors on property matters, monitoring progress from instruction through to completion.
-
Proactively manage and chase solicitors to ensure agreed completion dates are met and all required documentation and information is obtained.
-
Escalate delays or issues that may affect completion timescales.
-
Communicate legal completions to relevant internal stakeholders and update the legal data room with completed documentation.
Business Rates
-
Assist with the administration and management of business rates across the portfolio.
-
Maintain and update the business rates schedule, including Rateable Values, liabilities and reliefs.
-
Assist with business rates queries, appeals and correspondence with local authorities and rating agents, highlighting any issues for review.
Rent & Property Financial Data
-
Maintain and update the company's rent schedule, including changes arising from new leases, renewals, reviews, regears and concessions.
-
Ensure rent, service charge and other relevant property costs are accurately recorded.
-
Work with Finance to maintain accurate property financial information and assist with reporting, budgets and forecasts.
Board Process & Approvals
-
Coordinate the property board approval process, including preparing and maintaining information required for board submissions.
-
Assist with the preparation of board packs, ensuring information is accurate and up to date.
-
Track matters through the approval process and ensure required approvals are obtained.
-
Attend property board meetings, record decisions and ensure agreed actions are progressed.
Acquisitions & New Store Openings
-
Assist with the progression of new store acquisitions from initial approval through to legal completion.
-
Coordinate with solicitors, landlords, agents and internal stakeholders to ensure agreed timescales are met.
-
Following approval and legal instruction, monitor acquisitions through to completion and communicate key completion and opening dates internally.
-
Ensure Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT or LBTT) are processed correctly within the relevant timescales.
-
Liaise with HR, Facilities, Retail and other relevant departments to ensure teams are prepared for new store openings, including recruitment, fit-out, stock and operational requirements.
-
Ensure completed acquisitions are fully documented, and relevant information is filed and available for future reference.
Estate Records, Invoices & Reporting
-
Maintain accurate and up-to-date estate records, including rent and business rates schedules, legal data room and property databases.
-
Ensure lease events, acquisitions and other property transactions are accurately recorded with a clear audit trail.
-
Review and monitor solicitor & agent fees plus management of payment process.
-
Produce regular property reports and updates for the property department and senior management.
What we’re looking for:
-
Previous experience in commercial property, estate management, retail property or a similar environment. (Desirable)
-
Ideally, you will have commercial lease and property solicitor experience, with an understanding of renewals/rent reviews/regears and other lease events. (Desirable)
-
Strong communication skills and confidence dealing with solicitors, landlords, property agents and internal stakeholders. (Essential)
-
Ability to proactively manage external advisers and ensure deadlines are met. (Essential)
-
Ability to manage multiple property matters and competing priorities. (Essential)
-
Strong Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with schedules and datasets. (Essential)
-
Experience preparing clear and accurate reports and board documentation. (Desirable)
-
Commercial awareness and an understanding of the impact of property costs on the wider business. (Essential)
-
Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail. (Essential)
-
Ability to work independently, take ownership and escalate issues appropriately. (Essential)
-
Willingness to travel to stores and properties as required. (Essential)
-
Full UK Driving license. (Essential)
What’s in it for you?
-
Salary £Competitive dependent on experience
-
Generous Staff Discount
- Discretionary Annual Bonus scheme
-
Free onsite parking at York Head Office
-
Death In Service Benefit
-
Holiday Entitlement (Increases with service)
-
Access to RetailTRUST (Wellbeing & Financial Support)
-
Access to the Pavers Foundation: employee-led grant application and charitable giving scheme
-
Access to wider training and development opportunities through Pavers Academy
The Pavers story began in York in 1971 when Catherine Paver took out a £200 bank loan (for a sofa she told them) to fund her new business. She had big dreams of changing the world of footwear and a passion to provide comfortable and stylish shoes for all.
Starting small, she sold shoes at village halls and homeware parties before opening the first Pavers shop in Scarborough in 1981, when Catherine’s three sons joined the business. One of her sons, Stuart, ran the business as Managing Director for over 40 years, joined by his son Jason in 2016. As of September 2023, Jason Paver is now the Managing Director of Pavers Ltd, with Stuart Paver moving to Chairman, taking the company into the 3rd generation of family run leadership.
From these modest beginnings, Pavers Shoes has grown to be a UK leader in today’s footwear industry, with over 180 stores nationwide encompassing our more recently acquired brands including Jones Bootmaker, Herring Shoes, Padders & Van Dal.
We remain acquisitive, highly profitable, and are an ever-growing, independent family-run business, employing over 1,900 people.
We were delighted to receive recognition as a 3* Employer with ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement and the ‘2nd Best Retailer to Work For’ by Best Companies in November 2024. At Pavers, we attribute the talents, passion, and dedication of our colleagues as the reasons for our success.
If you have any questions regarding the role or encounter any issues with your application, please contact us by emailing [email protected]
