Head of Land and Property

Salary: Circa £120,000, depending on skills and experience

Full-time, with flexibility for part-time.

37 hours per week/permanent

Location: London and Peterborough - Hybrid Working 2-3 days in office weekly with attendance in Peterborough as required.

Private health care

Double-matched pension

Car allowance

Life assurance at 8 times salary

Help unlock one of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes

Before a single reservoir can be built, before planning consent can be secured, before future generations benefit from a resilient water supply, the foundations must be laid through strong partnerships, trusted relationships and a land strategy that enables delivery.

At Anglian Water, we're delivering the Fens Reservoir and Lincolnshire Reservoir schemes, two nationally significant infrastructure projects that will help secure water supplies for millions of people, support economic growth and enhance environmental resilience across the East of England. Together, they form our multi-billion-pound Reservoirs Programme, the largest and most complex infrastructure programme ever undertaken by Anglian Water.

We're now looking for an outstanding Head of Land & Property to lead the land and property strategy that will help make these transformational projects a reality. This is a career-defining opportunity to shape nationally significant infrastructure while working at the centre of one of the most ambitious development programmes in the UK.

Why this role matters

As Head of Land & Property, you'll lead the strategy that enables project development, secures access to land, manages land acquisition and property matters, and builds the relationships needed to help deliver successful outcomes for communities, landowners and the Reservoirs Programme.

You'll oversee all aspects of land agency and land referencing across both reservoir projects, ensuring the programme has the land rights, agreements and strategies required to progress through the DCO process and ultimately into delivery. You’ll also help shape how the programme engages with hundreds of stakeholders whose land, businesses and communities will play a crucial role in the future success of these projects.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the DCO Development Director, you'll provide strategic leadership across the entire land and property workstream for the Reservoirs Programme. You will:

• Develop and drive the land acquisition strategy for both reservoir schemes, ensuring alignment with consenting, programme and delivery requirements.
• Lead the programme's appointed Land Delivery Partner, ensuring the right expertise, resources and capabilities are in place to deliver critical land activities.
• Oversee land referencing, land acquisition, compulsory acquisition strategy, landowner negotiations and access arrangements.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with landowners, occupiers, local communities and key stakeholders affected by the projects.
• Lead the management of property acquisition activities and oversee the programme's growing property portfolio.
• Manage significant budgets and commercial considerations associated with land acquisition and compensation activities.
• Work closely with planning, engineering, environmental, legal, stakeholder engagement and commercial teams to ensure land considerations are embedded in programme decision-making.
• Provide strategic advice and leadership on complex land, property and compulsory acquisition matters throughout the project lifecycle.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an experienced land and property leader who can operate strategically while navigating some of the most complex land challenges found within major infrastructure programmes. You'll bring:

• Significant experience leading land and property activities on major infrastructure programmes, ideally within the DCO or wider NSIP environment.
• A degree in Rural Land Management, Estate Management, Property, Surveying, Real Estate, Law or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• MRICS or FRICS status, or equivalent professional standing.
• Extensive experience in land acquisition, compulsory acquisition, compensation and complex land negotiations.
• Strong understanding of DCO processes, including land requirements, Book of Reference, Land Plans and Examination procedures.
• Proven experience working across multidisciplinary infrastructure teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with landowners, regulators, local authorities and senior leaders.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing budgets, programme risks and consultant performance.

Leave a lasting legacy

Few land and property opportunities offer the scale, complexity and visibility of this role. The Reservoirs Programme will help secure water resilience for future generations while supporting communities, businesses and the environment across the East of England. These projects will become some of the most significant infrastructure assets delivered in the UK over the coming decades.

As Head of Land & Property, you'll play a pivotal role in making that future possible. You'll influence nationally important decisions, shape land strategies that unlock delivery, build relationships that last for years, and help deliver infrastructure that will serve millions of people for generations to come.

As a valued employee, you’ll be entitled to:

• Personal private health care
• Life assurance (up to 8 x salary)
• Personal accident cover (up to 5 x salary)
• Car allowance - £650 p/m
• Double-matched pension (maximum 7% employee/14% employer contribution)
• 30 days annual leave – rising with length of service and the ability to buy more
• Excellent family friendly policies, such as 26 weeks full pay for maternity / adoption leave, as well as 4 weeks paid paternity / partner leave. Opportunity for shared parental pay
• Bonus scheme - up to 25%
• Flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle.

Inclusion at Anglian Water:

We value the representation & diversity within our communities. Inclusion is for every one and we are an equal opportunity employer, which means we’ll consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes, and we’re committed to creating an environment where all our colleagues feel they belong.

Closing date: Tuesday 1st September

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