Head of UK Real Estate
Leeds
An opportunity to make a difference
At Border to Coast our purpose is to make a difference and we’re looking for a keen Head of UK Real Estate to join our award-winning team.
As a customer-owned and customer-focused organisation, integrity is one of our values, as is our collaborative and sustainable approach. Our focus is to secure the pensions of over a million people who have provided valuable service to their communities and society. We’re the largest UK asset manager outside London or Edinburgh, and we provide innovative investments that deliver sustainable returns over the long term.
We’re recruiting this role to strengthen our UK Real Estate investment capability, including leadership of the UK Main Fund. The Head of UK Real Estate will set and deliver the long-term strategy, ensure an effective Target Operating Model across internal and external mandates, oversee portfolio construction and performance, and lead a high‑performing team to meet Partner Fund objectives.
The role – what you’ll be doing
As Head of UK Real Estate your role is hugely important and will include:
- Leading the UK Real Estate capability, including accountability for the UK Main Fund and support to relevant Alternatives mandates.
- Setting UK real estate investment strategy across internal (direct properties) and external (specialist funds/mandates) implementation routes, ensuring robust processes and governance.
- Overseeing investment identification, due diligence and execution across UK sectors (acquisitions and disposals), and providing high‑level guidance to Portfolio Managers on positioning, risk and performance.
- Monitoring performance and risk, ensuring sub‑funds are managed in line with the prospectus, strategy, benchmarks, limits and the Border to Coast risk framework, with high‑quality MI and client reporting.
- Embedding Responsible Investment by integrating ESG measurement and stewardship expectations throughout processes and portfolios.
- Owning and enhancing the Real Estate Target Operating Model (TOM), ensuring alignment to legal, regulatory and internal policy requirements, and leading transitions with the Portfolio Solutions Group where required.
- Leading and developing a capable team; ensuring resources match product pipeline needs; fostering collaboration and constructive challenge across the Investment Team.
- Contributing to investment governance as a member of the Investment Strategy Committee and supporting the Investment Committee.
- Developing collaborative relationships with Partner Funds, other LGPS pools, institutional investors and external managers to access direct, co‑investments and JVs, and to realise economies of scale.
- Representing Border to Coast externally, including industry forums and media where appropriate.
- Upholding first line risk responsibilities and working closely with Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit to meet regulatory obligations (role falls under the SM&CR Certified regime).
About you - and the value you’ll bring to our team
- A proven direct UK real estate Portfolio Manager with named PM responsibility for portfolio construction on a fund of c.£1bn+ and an attributable performance track record.
- Deep experience executing transactions (acquisitions and disposals) across UK sectors, with strong valuation and financial modelling skills.
- Demonstrable success leading teams and developing talent; excellent stakeholder, relationship and influence skills with external managers and industry partners.
- Strong communicator with effective presentation skills; highly organised with the ability to drive quality outcomes to deadlines.
- Robust problem‑solving and decision‑making capability; high levels of integrity and trustworthiness.
- Experienced in operating within the FCA regulatory framework and able to satisfy (and maintain) fitness and propriety as a Certified Person under SM&CR; strong appreciation of risk management and governance.
- Comfortable owning data practices within your domain and fostering a data‑driven culture aligned to strategic objectives.
- Qualifications: relevant degree and/or MRICS; ideally CFA (or equivalent) or other real‑estate linked qualifications. Knowledge of UK indirect real estate funds and awareness of public sector procurement constraints are desirable.
Why join Border to Coast?
At Border to Coast, you will receive competitive remuneration and have access to excellent benefits:
- Vitality Health Insurance for all employees
- Employee Assistance Programme
- A generous holiday allowance of 30 days a year, plus bank holidays
- Professional Development including the opportunity to gain fully funded qualifications (e.g. IMC)
- Critical Illness Cover
- Pension scheme
- Stunning Leeds city centre location only a short walk to the train station
- Cycle to work scheme
- Life Assurance of 6 times of salary
- Sustainable travel plans
- Range of discounts for Leeds gyms, shops and restaurants
- Hybrid working
- Onsite gym
There’s also more information about pay and reward, careers at Border to Coast and how we work on our website Careers - Border To Coast - Work With Us
We welcome applications from people of all experience levels and backgrounds and value diversity of thought. We are committed to creating an inclusive and engaging workplace, ensuring that colleagues maintain a work life balance. We encourage colleagues to progress, be themselves and be their best through both personal and professional development.
If you have a disability, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our selection process, we would be happy to discuss making reasonable adjustments to our processes for you. Please contact our recruitment team at recruitment@bordertocoast.org.uk
We’re looking for people with the right values, behaviours, skills and experiences and if you meet some of the role’s criteria and are interested in finding out more about Border to Coast and the team, we’d love to hear from you.
About Us
Based in Leeds, Border to Coast is the largest LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) pool in the UK. It is owned by 11 Local Government Pension Schemes funds (‘Partner Funds’). The Partner Funds represent nearly 3,000 employers and over 1.1 million members.
The Partner Funds are Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Durham, East Riding, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Surrey, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Warwickshire.
The Partner Funds have c.£65.3bn in investments, of which Border to Coast is directly responsible for the management or oversight of £55.4bn (as of 31 March 2025).
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England Number: 10795539 and Registered Office: 5th Floor, Toronto Square, Toronto Street, Leeds, LS1 2HJ. Further details can be found at https://www.bordertocoast.org.uk.