Head of Asset Management

Some are managed to preserve value. Some exist simply to generate income. The most interesting portfolios shape places, unlock development and create opportunities that last for generations.

That is exactly what sits ahead at Be First.

As the regeneration company wholly owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Be First has become one of London's most ambitious delivery organisations. With a major programme of housing, regeneration and commercial investment underway, the organisation is helping transform one of the capital's fastest changing boroughs while delivering lasting social and economic value for local communities.

An opportunity has arisen for an exceptional Head of Asset Management to build and lead a strategic commercial asset management function that will play a central role in that transformation.

This is a rare chance to take ownership of a substantial commercial portfolio at a pivotal point in its evolution. Working alongside the Development Director, you will establish the strategic framework that guides investment decisions across the portfolio, identify opportunities to improve performance, unlock sites for regeneration and maximise long term value for the organisation and the Council.

There is plenty to do from day one. Rental growth, leasing activity, disposals, redevelopment opportunities and stronger portfolio performance all sit firmly on the agenda. Alongside this, you will build the governance, reporting and strategic planning needed to ensure decisions are informed, consistent and commercially robust. Your work will influence investment priorities for years to come.

Success will depend on your ability to build confidence with a wide range of stakeholders. You will work with senior leaders, elected members, advisers and partners, often balancing competing priorities while maintaining momentum. This is an organisation that values people who can navigate complexity, bring others with them and keep driving forward when progress takes patience as well as determination.

We are looking for an experienced commercial property leader with a strong track record of improving portfolio performance and delivering financial returns. You will understand investment, valuation, leasing and asset strategy in depth, while also bringing the judgement to identify opportunities others may overlook. You will be commercially minded, politically aware and comfortable presenting complex recommendations at board level.

Equally important is your leadership style. You will inherit a growing team with genuine ambition and have the opportunity to shape its future capability. You will enjoy developing people, challenging advisers to deliver more and creating an environment where commercial thinking is matched by high standards of governance and accountability.

For the right person, this offers something increasingly difficult to find. The scale of a significant commercial portfolio. The opportunity to build a function rather than inherit one. The chance to influence decisions that extend well beyond property and leave a visible mark on one of London's most ambitious regeneration programmes.