Your new role
As Group Head of Acquisitions and Estates, you’ll lead all aspects of estate management across the DFS Group portfolio, which include Sofology, DFS and The sofa Delivery company, reporting on key activity and performance, and ensuring robust governance and delivery. You’ll attend and contribute to formal review meetings, engage confidently with third parties, and foster collaborative working across internal and external stakeholders.
Working closely with the Property Director and wider Group Property team, you’ll prepare and present compelling business case proposals for new store acquisitions, lease regears, and renewals for Board-level approval. You’ll also oversee rent reviews and dilapidations negotiations, coordinating professional teams and external agents to ensure commercially sound outcomes and timely execution.
What you'll be doing
Acquisitions – Supporting the Property Director and Brand leads as required via estate management data and business cases.
Disposals - Work with Brand leads as required to dispose of surplus properties via expiry, sublet, assignment or surrender. Prepare reports for Brand/Board approval and liaise with Group Legal and external advisers
Lease Renewals – Monitoring, report and recommend on lease renewals and regears. Receiving and reviewing reports for brand/ Board approval as required. Liaising with Group Legal and external advisers.
Rent Reviews - Instructing rent review surveyors and liaising with to progress and settle where appropriate. Completing a proportion of reviews in house. Receiving and reviewing recommendation reports for brand stakeholder/ Board approval as required leading to completion of rent review memos linking in with Group Legal.
Rating – Instructing Rating Surveyors liaising with, receiving and reviewing reports and progressing to settlement. Advising brand Finance teams of revised rates payable and any refunds due. Authorising business rates invoices. Dealing with VOA Enquiries. Instructing empty rates claims as appropriate.
Dilapidations – Instructing dilapidation surveys. Liaising with building surveyors and preparing business cases for approval on settling claims or instructing project managers to carry out remedial works. Overall budget coordination across brands
Service Charge Management – Checking and authorising service charge invoices and ensuring they are in accordance with the terms of the particular lease where required across the Group. Challenging as appropriate and recover over-payments.
Insurance - Checking and authorising Landlord’s invoices on insurances where required, challenging as appropriate. Liaising with brokers on Tenant’s building insurance.
Property Data Base – Ensuring through virtual team management, that all Property Data Records (Estates Tenure, Compliance Works, Service Charge, Insurance details, etc) are recorded and up to date.
- Supporting Property Services – to liaise with Landlords and their Agents regarding site repairs, queries, complaints, parking, store inspections, etc.
The role is for you if...
You have..
Proven leadership with high personal integrity, resilience, and a strong work ethic
Ability to articulate a clear vision, lead transformation, and inspire a sense of mission
Commercial acumen and sound judgement in complex decision-making
Strong results orientation with a focus on delivery and accountability
Confidence in managing senior stakeholders across multiple brands and functions
Excellent relationship-building skills with a collaborative, team-first mindset
Skilled in handling conflict, influencing outcomes, and navigating complex dynamics
Experience overseeing multiple high-value projects in a fast-paced environment
Ability to simplify complex challenges and drive practical, effective solutions
A people-first approach to leadership, with strengths in coaching, mentoring, and team development
Talent for identifying and growing future leaders and building high-performing teams
About DFS
It takes a whole lot of passion to be at the centre of what makes a house feel like home - and that’s just what we do at DFS. We’re the leading sofa retail specialist in the UK, helping people find a comfy seat on their great quality sofas since 1969.
We're a market leader in the UK because of one thing: our people. Our people made us who we are and will drive us into our ambitious future, together. We offer incredible opportunities to get stuck into fun and meaningful work as well as learn new skills - so you can really ‘find your thing’.
DFS Benefits
Company Car or Car Allowance
Generous annual bonus based on business performance and objectives.
Growth and Training: Learn new skills and develop your career with us.
Leave: Enjoy a great holiday allowance, with the option to buy 5 extra days. Take advantage of our enhanced leave for Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental, and Adoption, plus a paid volunteering day each year.
Discounts: Get 30% off DFS and Sofology products for yourself, plus discounts for friends and family - and savings at big brands like Sainsbury’s, ASOS, and IKEA.
Wellbeing Perks: Access healthcare services, an Employee Assistance Programme, and discounted gym memberships.
Pension and Savings: Join our Group Pension and Sharesave schemes.
- Life Assurance & Sick Pay: Peace of mind with Life Assurance and Company Sick Pay.
DFS Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer; celebrating diversity and committed to a culture of inclusion and belonging. We extend a warm welcome to everyone, embracing a variety of voices and perspectives. As we continue to work on building a workplace that is representative of the customers we serve and the communities we live and work in, we strongly encourage applications from members of minority and under-represented groups. Across the Group, we want to create an environment where everyone feels at home.