Head of Estate, Infrastructure & Projects

A Farm Shaped Over Time

At Boschendal, work follows the rhythm of the farm – shaped by seasons, people, produce, and care.

Set in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Boschendal is a living farm where hospitality, retail, food, wine, craft, and land come together in experiences that feel warm, generous, and grounded.

Every detail matters: what we grow, make, stock, sell, and share with our guests.

Our Purpose: Regenerating our Future through People & Soil

At Boschendal, regeneration begins with the land and is carried forward by our people. We are a farm with purpose, caring for our soil, nurturing our teams, strengthening our community, and creating meaningful guest experiences through genuine hospitality – all rooted in the future we are shaping together.

Head of Estate, Infrastructure & Projects

The Estate Manager is Boschendal’s most senior operational leader within the Estate Management domain — a keystone role that forms the backbone enabling the wider Boschendal business.

Holding full executive accountability for the management, stewardship and governance of the estate, the role drives operational excellence across infrastructure, facilities, utilities, land stewardship, compliance and commercial property, while building the organisational capability needed to scale with Boschendal’s evolving ambitions.

Accountable for delivering against Day Zero — a break-even, regenerative and resilient Boschendal — this role demands a disciplined, on-the-ground leader who owns the budget, protects the asset, develops the team and operates in alignment with The Bosch Way: People & Soil First; Discipline Over Drama; Story-Led, Numbers Backed; Pride in the Detail.

The Estate Manager leads all Estate Management functional areas and engages at Board level with property owners, regulators and specialist professionals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Capability

• Own the number — translate estate vision into annual operating plans with clear milestones, resource plans and KPIs; drive full accountability across all eight direct reports.
• Grow our own — build a scalable, high-performing team through deliberate development, succession planning and coaching; operate with a visible, on-the-ground presence that ensures teams are enabled and set up for success.
• Raise the bar, lift each other — set high standards across The Bosch Way (People & Soil First; Discipline Over Drama; Story-Led, Numbers Backed; Pride in the Detail) and hold the team and yourself accountable to them, every day.
• Lead cross-functional alignment with Hospitality, Farming, Commercial and Finance; participate in Executive and Board-level strategic planning forums and embed Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce into all estate planning.

Loss, Risk & Insurance

• Own the estate-wide risk register; maintain emergency response and business continuity plans across all domains — tested annually.
• Manage all insurance relationships: coverage, renewals, inspections and claims across all assets and activities.
• Provide regular risk reporting to the COO; escalate material risks promptly and decisively.

Budget Management & Financial Control

• Prepare, own and defend the annual operational and capital budget across all estate management departments.
• Monitor spend vs. budget monthly; produce variance reports and drive corrective action proactively.
• Develop CapEx proposals for infrastructure renewal and facility upgrades; manage procurement with discipline, transparency and value for money.

Facilities & Infrastructure

• Ensure all estate facilities and Infrastructure —Bulk Infrastructure and services for commercial, hospitality, residential, agricultural and civil assets — are maintained, compliant and fit for purpose.
• Project manage in-house building projects, capital works and emergency response across roads, dams, water infrastructure, fencing and all buildings.
• Maintain current asset registers, CoCs and maintenance schedules on Estate Management business and operational systems, Overseas Electrician and Senior Plumber SLAs.

Rental & Commercial Property

• Manage all commercial and residential leases end-to-end: negotiations, renewals, compliance, tenant relations and arrears management.
• Oversee in-house renovation and fit-out projects; manage scope, quality, programme and cost from brief to completion.

Utilities Management

• Provide and manage all utilities — water, electricity, sewerage, waste — for the estate and all related associations; oversee metering, allocation and billing.
• Deliver year-on-year efficiency improvement aligned with Regularity and Conservation requirements
• Lead the Estate Energy Plan and partnerships and maintain supply redundancy and emergency protocols.

Association Governance

This is a critical accountability area requiring deep knowledge of each association’s governance mandate, legal obligations and operational responsibilities.

• BWMA: Primary liaison for water infrastructure, allocations, levies and governance — Boschendal and all 19 FE Companies as members.
• BEFEPOA: Governance representative and infrastructure delivery lead across all 18 Founders’ Estate properties; levy compliance, owner relations and service coordination.
• BEMPOA: Represent Boschendal within the umbrella authority; ensure reporting, levy compliance and alignment with BEMPOA policies. Maintain working knowledge of the 99-year Notarial Deed of Lease (2007–2106).

Professional & Engineering Services

• Appoint and manage specialist consultants (Electrical, Civil, Fire, Heritage, Surveying, Architecture, Land Use Rights); manage scope, cost and certification.
• Maintain a preferred professional services panel; coordinate all engineering sign-offs, CoCs and regulatory approvals.

Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Provide executive oversight of the H&S programme; ensure full OHS Act and NEMA compliance across all operations and events.
• Champion a safety-first culture; hold the H&S Lead accountable for delivery against the compliance universe and risk register.

Land Regeneration & Sustainability

• Provide strategic direction to the Land Regen Lead; align land use and regeneration with Boschendal’s sustainability vision, Notarial Deed obligations and Conservation commitments.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of the Boschendal Estate in collaboration with BFO (Boschendal Farming Operations); integrate farming, land regeneration and estate operations.

Systems, Reporting & Stakeholder Relations

• Govern Estate Operational and Management Systems including Snapfix, access control and automated monitoring tools; ensure data integrity and KPI visibility across all functions.
• Produce timely, accurate executive reporting on performance, risk, compliance, capital programme and financials.
• Build trusted relationships with Founders’ Estate owners, tenants, regulators and the broader community; manage escalations with authority and care.

QUALIFICATIONS :

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Estate / Facilities / Property Management, Civil Engineering, Business Management or a related field; postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive estate, property or facilities management experience with at least 5 years at senior / executive leadership level.
• Proven track record managing large, complex, multi-site operations — preferably in an agricultural, hospitality or heritage estate context.
• Demonstrated experience with South African HOA / POA governance, NPC structures, regulatory compliance and professional service management.
• Strong financial management background: budget ownership, capital planning and Board-level financial reporting.
• Valid South African driver’s licence.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES :

• Deep, cross-disciplinary estate management knowledge — infrastructure, utilities, civil assets, property, land and compliance.
• Financial literacy: budget construction, variance management, CapEx analysis and Executive-level reporting; Story-Led, Numbers Backed in everything you produce.
• Commercial acumen: lease management, contractor procurement, professional appointments and commercial negotiations.
• Working knowledge of OHS Act, NEMA, property law, NPC legislation and relevant SANS standards.
• Proficiency with estate management systems: Snapfix, At the Gate, ERP (D365 Business Central), MS Office.
• Operates to The Bosch Way: People & Soil First; Discipline Over Drama; Story-Led, Numbers Backed; Pride in the Detail — a visible, on-the-ground leader who sets direction, executes with discipline and lifts those around them.
• Embodies Boschendal’s values: Keeps the Rhythm, Takes Care of Today, Builds Genuine Connections, Is the Bee, Shows Up Curious.
• Exceptional stakeholder management — credible at Board, owner, regulatory and community level.
• Excellent communicator — clear, direct and authoritative; strong planner who prepares well in advance and enables others to execute with confidence.