Agriculture jobs in Harpenden

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Please note a CV and COVERING LETTER are essential requirements of your application. Applications submitted without both will not reviewed.

Your covering letter must be written in your own words and must not be AI generated. Please keep it concise and no more than one page, detailing:

• Why you are interested in the Estate Manager role at The Shuttleworth Trust.
• What skills, experience and qualities you would bring to the role.
• How your previous experience aligns with the key responsibilities and requirements outlined in the below job description.

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Estate Manager

Reports to: The Head of Finance / Senior Management Team

Work Days: Monday to Friday

Work Hours: 40 hours per week

Location: In Person On-Site (This is not a hybrid role)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 (DoE) plus benefits

Annual Leave: 22 days plus Bank Holidays

THE ROLE

We are seeking a hands-on Estates Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of a diverse estate, including residential, commercial, and agricultural properties. This is an operational, delivery-focused role overseeing maintenance, coordinating contractors, supporting tenants, and ensuring the Estate is safe, well maintained, and cost-effective.

The role requires a proactive, organised, and visible presence on site, with strong engagement across tenants, staff, and stakeholders.

There is clear scope for the role to grow over time, with potential progression into the Senior Management Team.

JOB PURPOSE

To manage the Shuttleworth Estate, including its grounds, infrastructure, and property portfolio, ensuring:

• Day-to-day estate matters for commercial, residential and agricultural tenants in conjunction with the property agent, reporting to the Senior Management Team.
• The Visitor Attraction, residential, commercial, and estate properties are well maintained and presented to a high standard, bringing forward estate infrastructure project proposals to the Senior Management Team.
• You work with the property management agent in the repair, maintenance, and renovation of the property portfolio.
• You manage and develop the Grounds and Maintenance teams, ensuring routine preventative maintenance is implemented in all areas.
• You introduce a portfolio management system, in order to keep accurate records of lease renewals on the commercial properties.
• Building and infrastructure projects are clearly specified, competitively procured, and delivered on time and within budget.
• You act as primary point of contact for the Trust with the property agent for the residential properties.
• You act as the Trust’s point of contact for tenants and engagement with the local community.
• Prepare clear and accurate reporting on all Estate matters for the Board of Trustees meetings via the Estate Committee.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage day-to-day Estate operations across all property types (commercial, and agricultural), liaising with the property agent.
• Coordinate and oversee repairs, maintenance, and renovation works across the Estate.
• Act as the lead for planning, specifying, procuring, and delivering building and infrastructure projects to time and budget.
• Procure, manage, and monitor contractors to ensure quality, value for money, and compliance.
• Lead, manage, and develop the Grounds and Maintenance teams into a structured and effective function.
• Act as the primary point of contact for tenants, including managing relationships and resolving estate-related issues.
• Liaise with external agents on lettings and specialist property matters.
• Work closely with Finance and the Senior Management Team to ensure effective coordination of Visitor Attraction and Estate activities.
• Support budgeting, cost control, and financial reporting related to Estate operations.
• Maintain and develop accurate property systems, records, and documentation.
• Provide regular, clear, and timely reports to the Estate Committee and Board of Trustees.
• Attend Senior Management, Estate Committee, and Board of Trustees meetings as required.

ESSENETIAL REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience in estates, property management, or a related field.
• Strong experience coordinating repairs, maintenance, and property works across multiple sites.
• Demonstrable ability to procure, manage, and monitor contractors.
• Experience in budget management and cost control.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A practical, hands-on approach with a regular on-site presence.
• Full clean UK driving licence for travel around the Estate.

DESIRABLE

• Professional qualification (e.g. RICS) or working towards one.
• Experience managing rural or mixed-use estates (residential, commercial, agricultural).
• Experience leading or organising maintenance or grounds teams.
• Familiarity with tenancy arrangements and working with managing agents.

DEVELOPMENT & PROGRESSION

This role is designed to grow with the individual.

The initial focus will be on establishing strong day-to-day operational control across the Estate, improving systems, and strengthening team performance. As the role develops, there is a clear pathway to take on broader responsibilities and progression into a Senior Management Team position.

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Finance and General Administration

• Manage Trustee expenses and associated administration.
• Provide administrative assistance to the Head of Finance and team when required.
• Support invoice processing, document organisation, and routine finance administrative tasks.
• Assist with maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• To ensure all financial procedures are adhered to as required by the Accounts department.

Relationships

• To invest in and promote close working relationships in all areas of the Shuttleworth Trust.
• Policies and Procedures
• Comply with Health and Safety legislation.
• Comply with GDPR legislation.
• Adhere to organisational policies.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures that support and deliver departmental objectives.

Personal Responsibilities

• Demonstrate personal integrity in all day-to-day interactions with colleagues, working as a positive influence and role model, acting with professionalism and tackling challenges in a pragmatic and collaborative manner to bring staff and volunteers along with changes and developments.
• Protect the reputation of the Trust.
• Maintain professional levels of confidentiality commensurate with the role.

Hours and Physical Conditions

• 40 hours a week
• Full time 5 days out of 7.
• In Person On-Site

Shuttleworth Principles

The following principles form the basis of our working ethos at Shuttleworth and in your role you are required to engage and promote these yourself and within your team.

• Treat each other with kindness and respect
• Make everyone welcome
• Learn from our mistakes when things go wrong and bounce back
• Equip and support our teams with modern day business skills
• Embrace commercial success in a way that respects our traditions
• Educate by telling stories and providing experiences
• Preserve our unique heritage and keep it in working order

This is a description of the job at present. The above is not intended to be a comprehensive list of key responsibilities or duties. Other related duties may be required from time to time. It is the practice of the Trust to periodically review job descriptions and to update them to ensure that duties relate to the job then being performed. It is our aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes following consultation. However, if agreement is not possible, the Trust reserves the right to make reasonable changes after consultation.

Pay: £45,000.00-£55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Store discount

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Biggleswade SG18 9EP: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Please submit your Covering letter alongside your CV as detailed at the top of the job description.

Experience:

• Maintenance team management: 3 years (required)
• Estate, commercial and residential property management: 5 years (required)
• Project management: 3 years (required)

Language:

• English (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person