HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Senior Rural Estates Officer

Starting Salary: £48,225 opportunity to progress to £53,460 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Location: Stevenage

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

About the team

Our Rural Estates team is responsible for the management of a diverse and evolving 10,500‑acre estate with over 1,000 buildings and 450 lettings. As a team of 12 within the wider Property service, we manage everything from arable and dairy farms to woodlands, a country park, commercial units, and land ahead of development.

This is an Estate that is continually moving forward, with biodiversity projects, tenancy re‑organisations, strategic land work, and innovative re‑lettings creating a dynamic, exciting environment. You’ll join a supportive, collaborative team of Rural Surveyors and Estates Officers, where knowledge is shared and professional growth is encouraged.

About the role

As a Senior Rural Estates Officer, you’ll play a key role in delivering high‑quality estate management across an exceptionally varied rural portfolio. You will work both independently and alongside the wider team, contributing to strategic decisions, supporting estate projects, and delivering a professional, tenant‑focused service.

You’ll enjoy a genuinely varied workload across our estate, where proximity to London has enabled many tenants to diversify into exciting and unique enterprises. No two days will look the same: you’ll be out on farms meeting tenants, progressing rent reviews, shaping new lettings and working with colleagues to move repairs and maintenance issues forward. You’ll contribute to tenancy re‑organisations and play an active role in biodiversity and environmental projects underway across the Estate. Alongside this you’ll prepare reports and updates for senior managers and Members, helping inform long‑term decisions about the future of the Rural Estate. This blend of autonomy and teamwork provides a rewarding environment where your professional judgement truly makes an impact.

About you

Essential:

· Degree‑level qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant rural/property discipline

· Professional membership such as MRICS (or equivalent relevant experience)

· Strong track record in estate or property management

· Excellent interpersonal skills, able to build positive relationships with tenants, contractors and colleagues

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confident problem‑solving ability

· Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable:

· Experience of rural property management, agricultural tenancies, and associated legislation

· Understanding of budget management

· Knowledge or training in H&S areas such as asbestos, CDM, NEBOSH or IOSH

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward‑thinking Rural Estates team entering a new phase of strategic development. The scale, diversity and momentum of the Estate mean you will be involved in everything from farm management and tenancy restructuring to environmental projects, commercial lettings and strategic planning work. If you are looking for a role that is professionally stimulating, people‑focused and varied, we would love to hear from you.

To hear more about this opportunity please contact:

Emma Chapman

01992 556246

Emma.chapman@hertfordshire.gov.uk

 for an informal discussion about the role.

Closing date: 7 April 2026.

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Senior Rural Estates Officer