Associate Director or Director - Development Consultancy
Meet Our Recruiter
About the Role
Cobalt is working with an established real estate consultancy seeking to appoint a Director within its Development Consultancy and Valuation Advisory team.
With an existing pipeline of instructions and established public sector relationships, this appointment offers the opportunity to take ownership of complex development advisory work while contributing to the continued growth of the service line.
You will combine technical expertise, commercial judgement and client relationship management, advising primarily local authority clients on regeneration, development viability and delivery strategies.
The Organisation
Our client is a real estate consultancy advising developers, lenders, local authorities and other stakeholders on planning, regeneration and sustainable development.
The business combines specialist expertise with a collaborative structure, giving senior professionals the opportunity to influence client strategy, contribute to the direction of the team and play a visible part in its expansion.
With established relationships across the public sector and a growing pipeline of projects, the consultancy offers a balance of existing instructions and opportunities to secure new business.
The team's work is currently split between valuation-focused advisory (approximately 60%) and broader development consultancy (40%), with technical expertise and market knowledge underpinning both areas.
You will join a business with the capability to advise across a range of development matters, working alongside colleagues with complementary expertise to deliver solutions tailored to client requirements.
The Role/Responsibilities
Working with senior colleagues, you will manage Development Consultancy instructions independently, providing strategic and commercial advice to clients, predominantly within the public sector.
Your responsibilities will include:
Estate regeneration and renewal: Assessing development options, establishing baseline viability and funding gaps, engaging potential development partners and advising local authority finance teams on funding options and cashflows.
Developer procurement and management: Developing and overseeing procurement processes, managing relationships between councils and appointed developers, and monitoring performance against contractual obligations.
Masterplanning and viability: Working alongside architects and masterplanners to inform development proposals through market analysis, occupier and investor demand assessments, and viability and deliverability testing.
Valuation and development advisory: Applying technical valuation expertise and commercial market knowledge to support development strategies, investment decisions and project delivery.
Client relationship management: Acting as a senior adviser to existing clients, maintaining relationships and providing independent advice on complex development matters.
Business development: Identifying and securing new instructions, developing relationships with prospective clients and contributing to revenue growth.
Service line development: Supporting the continued expansion of Development Consultancy and Valuation Advisory, helping shape the team's market positioning and future offering.
You will inherit an established workflow of committed instructions and emerging projects, rather than being expected to build a pipeline from scratch. However, the ability to generate new business and develop client relationships will be an important part of your remit.
The appointment offers a balance of hands-on advisory work, strategic input and business development, with the autonomy to influence how commissions are approached and delivered.
The Skills Needed/Requirements
We are interested in speaking with established Development Consultancy professionals who combine technical expertise with the commercial awareness and relationships needed to advise clients independently.
You will ideally bring:
Working knowledge of development consultancy, valuation and viability assessments, particularly within the public sector.
Experience advising local authorities on regeneration, development strategy, land or property-related matters.
The ability to manage complex advisory instructions independently, providing commercially informed recommendations.
An understanding of development delivery, including funding considerations, developer procurement and implementation strategies.
Experience developing and maintaining senior client relationships, with the ability to identify and secure new instructions.
An established professional network, particularly across local authorities, developers and other relevant property stakeholders.
The credibility and commercial judgement to represent the consultancy in the market and contribute to the growth of its advisory offering.
A background within a real estate consultancy would be particularly relevant, especially where you have combined valuation-led advice with wider development strategy and implementation.
An existing client following or demonstrable track record of generating new business would be advantageous. However, the consultancy already has a pipeline of work, allowing you to build on established relationships while developing your own opportunities.
Salary is open to discussion and will reflect your experience, professional relationships and ability to contribute to the team's growth.
For someone looking to take greater ownership of client instructions and influence the direction of a consultancy service line, this appointment offers an established platform alongside scope for further expansion.
Interviews are progressing, so we would encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Due to the volume of applications received, if you don't hear back from us, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
If you require any adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process for any reason whatsoever, please let your Cobalt consultant, Adaora, know.
