Vacancy at The Ernest Cook Trust

Property Manager & Estate Administrator

Salary £ 29,000 - £33,000

Quenington, Gloucestershire

Details

The Ernest Cook Trust is a landowning organisation and an educational charity - one of the UK’s foremost providers and funders of Outdoor Learning. We see a future where land and lives enrich each other, a future where anyone can find their place, purpose and potential through connections to thriving land.

Our mission is to improve life chances of children and young people through a range of Outdoor Learning experiences, enabling them to learn from nature, empowering them to have a positive impact on the environment. We do this through grant support, direct delivery, research and advocacy.

By joining our dedicated Property team, you will be contributing to this impactful work, where your expertise will not only make a tangible difference to our residential tenants, but also to the Trust's beneficiaries.

Reporting directly to the Managing Agent, you will oversee the management of half of the Trust's direct let residential property portfolio of around 160 homes. This important role ensures operational efficiency within the portfolio, fostering positive tenant relationships, while contributing directly to the Trust's charitable work.

In this varied and interesting role as Property Manager & Estate Administrator, you will help the Trust uphold the highest standards of property management. You will be instrumental in ensuring the successful and efficient management of our residential property portfolio in addition to providing general estate management administration through high attention to detail, diligent management and use of your initiative. You will work closely with the Property and Finance teams driving improvements in the performance of our property portfolio.

The role involves completing annual property inspections and timely rent reviews within the residential portfolio, as well as effectively managing debt levels, minimising void periods, maintaining strict compliance with regulatory standards, and efficiently overseeing repairs and maintenance within budget constraints. Your ability to navigate these activities will directly impact on each of our estate’s performance and tenant satisfaction, whilst leaving a positive impact on stakeholders and the communities in which we are a part.

The role offers a blend of administrative duties and engagement with various stakeholders across our estates, playing a pivotal role in ensuring efficient operation.

Conducting residential rent reviews to ensure market competitiveness
Managing debtors and maintaining positive tenant communications
Ensuring full compliance of properties with regulatory requirements (e.g. EICRs, gas safety, and EPCs)
Coordinating scheduled and emergency repairs and maintenance, liaising with contractors and ensuring quality standards
Conducting annual residential property inspections and upholding property maintenance standards
Negotiating and preparing tenancy agreements and related documentation
Handling deposit administration, including dispute resolution
Maintaining and updating the property database and digital files, including tenancies and compliance records, producing reports on key performance indicators and identifying actions
Drafting and formatting essential documentation such as licences, correspondence and internal reports with support from the Property Team and our appointed solicitors
Gathering and recording key information, such as meter readings for utilities and council tax, processing invoices and raising recharges in a timely fashion
Processing purchase orders and maintaining accurate financial records
Using mapping software, such as Pear GIS to create property plans

Previous experience in lettings and property management Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and property management software (e.g. Landmark)
Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask effectively
Negotiation skills and diplomacy in tenant relations
Flexibility and adaptability to evolving property legislation
Strong administrative and record-keeping abilities
Collaborative mindset and team-oriented approach, diplomatic and personable
Efficient problem-solving skills in addressing queries and issues
Proven track record in handling tenant and contractor relationships
Familiarity with property laws and regulations

Motivated and results-driven with a commitment to excellence
Detail-oriented with excellent organisational skills and a strong sense of ownership
Collaborative mindset with a focus on cross-organisational alignment
Demonstrate respect for confidentiality and discretion with maturity, especially for managing the occasional sensitive situation
Strong communicator, capable of understanding and addressing diverse team requirements
Use initiative and focus, operating at pace with a solution-focused mindset, ensuring high-quality outcomes
Solution based, being excited by spotting new opportunities and being comfortable taking time to improve the long-term outcome

Previous experience in management and administration within a property, rural estate or rural business
Professional qualification, training or experience in property and tenancy management
Knowledge of rural property, the relevant legislation, able to keep up to date with regulatory opportunities

As a landowning educational charity, the Trust is uniquely placed to share its woodlands, farms and natural habitats to inspire a greater love and understanding of the natural world, farming and sustainability. We do this for children, young people, their families and communities, particularly those who face barriers to accessing and participating in the outdoors.

We are part of an impressive community of networks and organisations across the UK, working to help create a more environmentally engaged society. Our work is increasingly done in collaborations and partnerships with like-minded organisations, particularly with our funding partners, whose contribution significantly boosts the scale and reach of our work.

Our mission is to improve life chances through a range of Outdoor Learning experiences, enabling underserved young people to learn from nature, empowering them to have a positive impact on the environment. We do this through grant support, direct delivery, research and advocacy.

The unique spirit of The Ernest Cook Trust is best expressed through our values:

At the heart of our work lies the belief that meaningful and lasting change happens through the cultivation of connections. We value the relationships we build with the people and communities we serve, as well as each other and the partnerships we form with like-minded organisations. We understand that these connections create the conditions for people and places to flourish.

We embrace a culture of innovation and resilience, where both our team members and the individuals we serve have the freedom to try new things. This value encourages a dynamic and adaptable approach, nurturing trust and courage in ourselves and others.

We believe in responsible, forward-thinking management of our outdoor resources, as places where diversity can thrive. By actively caring for the environment, we ensure that the beauty and benefits of the outdoors are accessible to all, changing lives through individual and shared positive experiences.

Benefits

Join our growing team at the Trust for a friendly and rewarding experience. We offer competitive salaries, a range of benefits plus a training budget for your personal growth.

We currently have around 55 members of staff based either at our Gloucestershire Head Office, across our UK landholdings and in our regional hubs (Gloucestershire, Cumbria/Lancashire, Leicestershire) or working hybridly.

Enjoy our generous benefits:

- 10% employer pension contribution (5% from employees)
- 27 days annual leave, plus statutory holidays and additional leave between Christmas and New Year
- Life Assurance
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme, providing 24/7
support for health, mental well-being, and more
- Dynamic, creative, and welcoming work environment.

Notes

Recruitment process

How to apply
Please submit a CV with an accompanying letter to briefly introduce yourself and why you think you are suited to this role. This should be addressed to Frances Beeton, Managing Agent. Please state where you heard about this role.

Upload your letter and CV to: https://hr.breathehr.com/v/property-manager-estate-45393

Closing Date
Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 23:59pm

1st Interviews
Friday 20 March 2026 via Microsoft Teams

2nd Interviews
Tuesday 31 March 2026 at The Ernest Cook Trust Head Office, Quenington, Gloucestershire, GL7 5BN

What3words: https://w3w.co/many.cakes.daffodils

Please note that this role may close earlier than advertised due to the volume of applications received.

Find more information about The Ernest Cook Trust
on our website at www.ernestcooktrust.org.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Embracing diversity is an essential part of the work of The Ernest Cook Trust. We are committed to treating everyone as a unique individual, fairly and with respect, irrespective of race, disability, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, or religion. We are committed to ensuring equality, respect, and safety for all, and prioritising the wellbeing of the children, young people and vulnerable adults we support.

The appointment will be subject to satisfactory background checks including Disclosure and Barring Service and relevant online searches to comply with best practices in Safeguarding, and proof of the right to work in the UK.

THE ERNEST COOK TRUST

1 role available