Head of Live & Work Space

Bow Arts; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community arts organization in Greater London seeks a Head of Live & Work Space to manage a diverse property portfolio and lead a dedicated team. The role involves financial management, property maintenance, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and experience in the property sector. This permanent position offers a salary of £40,000 and various benefits including a workplace pension and holiday allowance, with on-site working required.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Cycle Loan Scheme

Tech Loan Scheme

Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Workplace Pension

Staff socials

Qualifications

• Experience in managing diverse property portfolios and tenant relationships.
• Proficient in financial reporting and budgeting processes.
• Strong communication skills for reporting to executives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Live & Work Space team to meet financial and operational goals.
• Manage the property portfolio and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Oversee the maintenance and marketing of properties.

Skills

Financial management

Team leadership

Property management

Communication

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Hours: 35 hours per week (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Location: On-site (Bow Arts office)
Salary: £40,000
Benefits include: 25 days holiday, Cycle Loan Scheme, Tech Loan Scheme, Season Ticket Loan Scheme, Workplace Pension, Staff socials
Duration: Permanent
Responsible to: The CEO
Responsible for: Live & Work Space Team Leader, 4 x Studio Managers, Live & Work Space Administrator, Maintenance Officer

About the Role

The Head of Live & Work Space is a key role for Bow Arts. The property portfolio is the financial driver for the charity supporting all our charitable work alongside over 1,100 of our direct artist beneficiaries. You will be responsible for maintaining both revenue streams, as well as healthy safe places to live and work.

The Trust currently manages 26 buildings across 15 sites predominantly in east and southeast London. We manage and refurbish all our properties ourselves. The portfolio is a mixed tenure, 25% currently owned with a further 25% in the pipeline, the remaining properties are leasehold from meanwhile rolling leases to 10 years. The properties range from Grade II listed buildings, classic redbrick to ex-local authority residential flats and through to mixed use new build properties.

Our landlords are our partners, they include housing associations, local authorities, private landlords and developers, our work supports the delivery of their community improvement pledges. You will be expected to maintain excellent relationships with our partners and landlords.

The department consists of 8 team members, a Head of Department (this role), a team leader, four studio managers, a team administrator and a maintenance officer. The team is responsible for the marketing and lettings of all our spaces and for the maintenance and health and safety of our buildings. Staff are the key point of contact for our artists, ensuring rents are paid, debts managed and people have access to all our other support services.

You will need to be able to manage and communicate clear financial budgets and targets and you will assist in expanding our portfolio and offer. We are looking for an individual who is keen to grow with us and support the growth of the charity and our partnership interests.

We are looking for someone with an affinity for the sector and with experience in managing the day-to-day activity and challenges of a diverse portfolio and a large number of tenants. Someone who is a clear communicator and capable of running a team and who is able to report at an executive level.

Key Responsibilities and Leadership Accountabilities

Senior Team

• Contribute to the business planning and be accountable for the delivery of Bow Art Trust’s objectives, particularly in relation to development, investment, procurement and maintenance of the property portfolio.
• Regularly attend and contribute to Board meetings and deliver high quality reports and management information to the Senior Team, the Board and board sub committees as required.

Finance & Reporting

• Maintain good quality management information to support the financial and operational management of the Studios and property portfolio.
• Assemble and present high-quality reports on the performance of the property portfolio to the Senior Team and the Board as required.
• Produce Annual Departmental Budgets, Operational Plans and set yearly targets.
• Maintain monthly finance reports and quarterly Management Reports for the Chief Executive and Board, highlighting and finding solutions for key variances.

Property

• Take day to day responsibility for management of the Trust’s property portfolio.
• Ensure that void spaces are kept to a minimum and that all spaces are marketed and let in the most time efficient manner.
• Be responsible for licenses, lease renewals, management agreements, rent reviews and property related indemnities and contracts.
• Be responsible for keeping debt to a minimum, recovery management and reporting.
• Oversee Fire, Health and Safety Risk Assessments and coordinate checks and servicing of all Fire and Health and Safety systems.
• Oversee and manage maintenance programmes and remedial works in a costed, affordable and timely fashion, monitoring and remediating variances.
• Manage and review contracts and contractors to ensure they are appropriate and offer best value.
• Provide professional support to staff on compliance matters.
• Be the responsible officer for dealing with emergency property maintenance and compliance matters.
• Oversee the project management and refurbishment of new buildings and manage budgets.

Staffing

• Line management, monitoring and evaluation of staff against an agreed appraisal system.
• Ensure that roles and accountabilities are clear and individual and team performance are regularly monitored and that underperformance is addressed in a timely fashion.
• Ensure all staff are supported through regular feedback, both informal and formal in line with appropriate policies and procedures, to achieve agreed outcomes.

Other

• Ensure compliance with Bow Arts policies and procedures, inc: Equality and Diversity, Financial Regulations and lead on review and renewal of the Health and Safety policy.
• Maintain confidentiality agreements and conduct yourself in a professional manner during the course of your duties.
• Demonstrate a willingness to undertake training as required for the development of the post and enhancement of the company’s skill base.
• Engage with staff and clients of Bow Arts in a positive and constructive manner and to attend such meetings as the post requires in order to fulfil its aims.
• Promote the aims and objectives of Bow Arts by acting as an ambassador for the organisation in a pro‑active and informed manner.
• Undertake other duties consistent with the level of the post.

Please view the full job description and person specification below

Application deadline: Midnight, Sunday 4 th January 2026
Interviews: Friday 16 th January 2026

Please note: Bow Arts’ studio holders are not eligible to apply for this role due to conflict of interest.