Property Director | Independent School Group | Portugal

Discipline: Education
Published: 19 days ago

The Opportunity

Are you a strategic property leader with a track record of delivering premium, large-scale developments? An established and growing international education provider is seeking a dynamic Property Director to oversee the development, management, and optimisation of a high-quality campus portfolio across Portugal.

This is a senior leadership position where you will hold full accountability for capital projects (CAPEX), operational estate management (OPEX), and long-term asset optimisation across multiple sites. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment that balances strategic commercial vision with rigorous project delivery, this role offers an exceptional platform to shape the physical environment of future-generation learning.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute a long-term property strategy aligned with the group’s ambitious expansion and growth plans in Portugal.

  • Lead major multi-million-euro construction, expansion, and refurbishment projects from initial feasibility and planning applications through to delivery and final handover.

  • Manage comprehensive annual and multi-year property budgets, ensuring robust cost control, precise forecasting, and strategic procurement to deliver maximum value.

  • Oversee the procurement, SLAs, and performance metrics of architects, contractors, technical consultants, and facility suppliers.

  • Maintain strict adherence to Portuguese building codes, planning laws, health & safety legislation, and educational facility regulations.

  • Act as the pivotal link between corporate executives, local school leadership, investors, regulatory bodies, and municipal authorities.

About you

Essential Experience

  • Proven track record in a senior property or estates leadership role, ideally within education, healthcare, hospitality, or multi-site commercial portfolios.

  • Demonstrated success in successfully delivering large-scale commercial or campus-style construction developments from scratch.

  • Deep experience managing substantial CAPEX/OPEX budgets alongside navigating complex property contracts, leases, and local regulatory systems.

  • Strong background in supplier procurement, contract negotiation, and vendor performance management.


Skills & Qualifications

  • University degree in Property Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. Professional accreditation (e.g., RICS, CIOB) is highly desirable.

  • Fluency in English is required. Proficiency or fluency in Portuguese is highly advantageous to effectively manage local authorities and contractors.

  • Exceptional negotiation skills, a commercial mindset, robust project management capabilities, and the emotional intelligence to manage diverse stakeholders.


What's on Offer

  • A competitive executive salary package tailored to experience.

  • The opportunity to lead high-profile, landmark educational developments in a booming European market.

  • A permanent, stable career path within a highly collaborative and well-funded international organisation.