UKI Regional Real Estate Leader

Would you like to work for a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services with over 250.000 people around the world? Would you like to be part of a global Supply Chain Services - Real Estate Services team that employs innovation and technology to disrupt the status quo and generate business value?  Would you like to play a role in building a better working world every day? If so, you will want to read this.

About Supply Chain Services

Our global Procurement team includes more than 300 people working across 31 countries. We are relentless trendsetters, employing the latest in innovation and technology to better service the business. In a world of disruption, we embrace transformation and work to find best-in-class services and suppliers to help us stay ahead of the curve. We are responsible for sourcing across four categories of spend:

• Real Estate (including Workplace Services and Real Estate Technology and Innovation)
• Technology Sourcing & External Content
• Travel, Meetings & Events (including Brand, Marketing and Communications)
• Talent

The opportunity

The Regional Real Estate Leader serves as the senior strategic advisor for the UK & Ireland real estate portfolio, responsible for aligning workplace, portfolio, capital investment and location strategies with EY's business objectives, workforce priorities and financial goals.

The role leads the development and execution of the UK&I Real Estate Strategy, overseeing approximately 1.4 million square feet of office accommodation across ~28 locations and supporting annual occupancy expenditure of approximately £112 million. The portfolio includes major headquarters investments, workplace transformation programmes, lease transactions, workplace experience initiatives and sustainability objectives. 

Acting as the primary interface between business leadership, operations, talent, finance, technology and external partners, the Regional Real Estate Leader ensures that real estate decisions deliver measurable value, support talent attraction and retention, optimize financial performance and provide a future-ready workplace experience.

This role combines portfolio strategy, capital planning, governance, stakeholder engagement and execution leadership to drive long-term value across one of EY's largest and most visible regional portfolios.

Your key responsibilities:

Portfolio Strategy & Business Alignment

• Develop and execute an EY UK&I Real Estate Strategy aligned with EY's business, workforce and growth priorities.
• Advise EY UK&I Executive Leadership on portfolio optimization, location strategy and future workplace requirements.
• Translate global workplace strategy into regional portfolio plans and investment roadmaps.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations balancing financial performance, employee experience, sustainability and operational effectiveness.

Portfolio Management

• Maintain strategic oversight of the EY UK&I real estate portfolio.
• Lead lease renewals, acquisitions, disposals, relocations and portfolio optimization initiatives.
• Monitor workplace utilization, occupancy costs and market opportunities, this includes regular benchmarking of the market.
• Identify opportunities to reduce risk, increase flexibility and improve portfolio performance.

Capital Projects & Workplace Transformation

• Sponsor major workplace, relocation and refurbishment programmes.
• Lead business case development for significant capital investments.
• Ensure projects align with approved scope, budget, schedule and business outcomes.
• Oversee governance processes, investment approvals and benefits realisation.

Financial Leadership

• Own regional real estate financial planning, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Develop investment strategies supporting long-term portfolio objectives.
• Manage occupancy costs, capital investment priorities and portfolio efficiency programmes.
• Drive value creation through effective capital deployment and commercial negotiations.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Establish robust governance across real estate transactions and capital programmes.
• Ensure compliance with EY procurement, independence, legal and regulatory requirements.
• Manage portfolio risks and mitigation strategies.
• Provide executive reporting and portfolio performance insights.

Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the trusted advisor to the EY UK&I business leadership on real estate matters.
• Build strong relationships with Service Line leaders, CBS functions and Global Real Estate teams.
• Influence strategic decisions through data, market intelligence and scenario planning.
• Create alignment across diverse stakeholder groups with competing priorities.

Supplier & Partner Management

• Lead relationships with brokers, workplace consultants, legal advisers.
• Ensure suppliers deliver against contractual, financial and performance expectations.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement across the supplier ecosystem.

People Leadership

• Lead a multidisciplinary team through a matrix structure.
• Understand resourcing requirements and plan effectively.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Strategic Leadership

• Ability to connect real estate strategy to wider business, talent and financial objectives.

Commercial Acumen

• Strong understanding of portfolio economics, lease structures, capital investment and business case development.

Executive Influence

• Ability to build trust and influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.

Change Leadership

• Proven experience leading complex transformation programmes in multi-stakeholder environments.

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Ability to translate market intelligence, portfolio analytics and workforce trends into actionable recommendations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree/qualification in Real Estate, Construction, or related discipline.
• Professional qualification such as MRICS or equivalent would be beneficial.
• 10+ years leadership experience within corporate real estate, workplace strategy or portfolio management.
• Experience managing complex and diverse portfolios.
• Strong commercial, contractual and negotiating capability. A solid knowledge of Associated legal requirements.
• Demonstrated experience developing real estate business cases and securing executive approval.
• Demonstrated experience of managing in a matrix organisation.
• Digitally proficient with a good understanding of real estate technology platforms. Adept in using Microsoft Office.

Supervision Responsibilities

• Day to day management of one part-time payments resource and one contracted resource.
• Manages and oversees regional team(s) – inclusive of extended teams e.g. Corporates Services, Brokers, PMs etc.
• Manages supplier / vendor and service provider relationships