Land and Property Acquisition Manager

East West Railway Company

Land and Property Acquisition Manager leading land acquisitions for East West Rail project. Ensuring strategic delivery and stakeholder engagement throughout the acquisition process.

Posted 7/23/2026full-timeMilton Keynes • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading land and property acquisition strategies, managing compensation risks, and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. Proven ability to develop and implement effective communication and engagement plans with stakeholders to facilitate successful project delivery.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Land Acquisition ManagementCompulsory Purchase ExpertiseCompensation Risk ManagementStrategic Planning and Option AnalysisTeam Leadership and Development

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Property Cost EstimationObjection ManagementGovernance and Assurance DevelopmentComplex Property NegotiationsData-Led Reporting

Soft Skills

Effective CommunicationStakeholder EngagementInfluencing SkillsProblem-SolvingTeam Management

Tools & Technologies

Land Management SystemsCompensation Management SystemsCase Management Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

Degree in Relevant DisciplineMembership of RICS

Industry Keywords

Infrastructure ProjectsGovernment-Related OrganisationLinear InfrastructureProject DeliveryHealth and Safety Compliance

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and manage a team of Land and Property Managers, providing strategic direction, oversight, and integration assurance for cohesive, compliant project delivery, and facilitating effective communication and coordination with suppliers to ensure cohesive integration of deliverables and milestones.
Develop and deliver effective land and property strategies and plans to support a successful DCO application and delivery of the project, including preparation for the DCO examination process such as objection resolution, evidence and resourcing plans.
Review and challenge compensation forecasts, assumptions, negotiation strategies, and risk allowances to ensure the Property Cost Estimate remains robust, evidence-based, and defensible.
Provide guidance to support Land and Property Managers in designing and delivering a solution aligned to a central approach, to successfully acquire the land and property required to construct, commission, and operate the railway.
Oversee and co-ordinate delivery of an engagement and consultation plan across all areas with those who have an interest in land and property, facilitating effective and respectful communication with landowners and their representatives to secure temporary and permanent land assembly and manage objections in line with the Company's vision and behaviours.
Lead engagement strategies aimed at minimising objection risk and supporting timely acquisition of land and rights.
Contribute to the development and implementation of acquisition strategies, including the strategic use of compulsory purchase powers, temporary possession, and negotiated acquisition approaches to minimise programme and compensation risk.
Secure investment authority through the governance process, including development of business cases, and manage the overall property cost estimate, risks, and opportunities to secure fair compensation for those with a land interest affected by the project and deliver value in line with managing public money requirements.
Monitor project progress and lead the management of compensation risk across the programme, ensuring emerging valuation, acquisition, and stakeholder risks are identified early, quantified appropriately, and actively managed through mitigation strategies, governance controls, and proactive engagement with suppliers and affected parties, facilitating on-time delivery within budget.
Support the identification and assessment of development and commercial opportunities associated with land acquisition and station development, ensuring opportunities are considered at an appropriate stage in design and delivery.
Prepare and present programme reports, updates, and performance metrics to the Head of Land and Property and other senior managers.
Act as Project Lead for the Lot 1 Land and Property Partner Contract, covering negotiation and compensation, coordinating with EWR workstream leads for each area.
Provide contract management input, including change control, for the administration of the Land and Property Supplier contracts.
Take responsibility for your own and others' health and safety, working to EWR Co's Health and Safety principles.
Bring a cost-conscious mindset, keeping taxpayers' money at the forefront of decisions.
Show a commitment to innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
Act as a role model for EWR Co's vision and behaviours, working in ways aligned with EWR Co's Ways of Working, and encourage and support others to do so too.

Requirements

What you’ll need

A background leading land and property workstreams within a client-side organisation.
A track record of acquiring land by compulsory purchase for linear infrastructure projects, and of managing compensation risk and Property Cost Estimates on major infrastructure programmes.
Experience acting as an intelligent client, managing external compulsory purchase advisors and valuation suppliers.
Involvement in the development, approval, and delivery of land and property policy, strategy, and plans for acquisition, management, and disposal of land and property, along with objection management.
A history of developing governance, assurance, and reporting arrangements for land and compensation programmes.
Familiarity with using or implementing land, compensation, or case management systems and data-led reporting environments.
Strong leadership and team management skills, having overseen multi-disciplinary teams and ensured cohesive integration of project outputs.
A record of developing and managing teams to deliver effective and respectful communication with landowners to secure land assembly.
Has collaborated with colleagues across disciplines to deliver outcomes required for land assembly, working in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver an overall programme of activities to acquire, transfer, manage, and dispose of land and property.
Skilled in strategic planning and option analysis, including financial appraisal and forecasting, and the development and management of property cost estimates.
Has undertaken complex property negotiations and transactions.
Capable of instructing, managing, and integrating a range of suppliers to deliver an overall programme of activities to acquire, transfer, manage, and dispose of land and property.
Ability to explain property matters clearly to audiences without a property background, and to present data and reports to stakeholders at all levels.
Understanding of how to demonstrate compliance with statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements.
A background in a government-related organisation.
Maintaining effective external relationships at senior levels to understand stakeholders' needs and priorities, with appropriate influencing skills to achieve results at pace.
Degree educated in an appropriate discipline, with membership of a relevant professional body, e.g. Member (or Fellow) of the RICS.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.