< Back

Development Manager (Acquisitions)

Cobalt are working with a market leader in the roadside hospitality sector who have an opportunity available for a Development/Acquisition Manager to join the in-house team. In this role you will be responsible for actively driving the acquisition and development programme to deliver a high quality and diverse property development pipeline across South West England and Wales.

Reporting directly to the UK Development Director, the Development Manager will identify, review and negotiate the acquisition of land and buildings for the development of roadside retail sites. The successful candidate will build upon existing and generate new relationships with land owners, developers and agents to assist with sourcing, acquiring and delivering development opportunities

This is a full-time permanent field-based opportunity covering the South West of England and Wales.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Identifying and pro-actively sourcing new acquisitions including off-market opportunities by liaising with key stakeholders and consultants

  • Conduct site inspections, development appraisals and undertake due diligence on prospective opportunities

  • Negotiating terms for acquisitions with Stakeholders and Consultants

  • With Line Manager approval, instruct legal professionals to procure agreed acquisitions and processing through to legal completion. All legal terms are to be reviewed and approved by the Line Manager and Board of Directors prior to Legal Exchange

  • Liaising with the in-house planning team to review prospect opportunities and planning application preparation

  • Instructing external architects for feasibility drawings and liaising with external consultants as necessary to ensure planning success and delivery of new developments

  • Overriding development management of an individual new site acquisition from initial Sourcing, Legal Exchange/ Conclusion and Completion, Planning, Construction and ultimately, Opening

  • Collaboration with internal teams such as Construction, Planning, Estates, Operations, Finance and Legal to ensure delivery of new developments

Candidate Requirements

  • Ideally MRICS qualified

  • Preferably with a minimum 5 years' post APC qualification

  • Commercial property acquisition and development experience in a relevant field is desirable though not essential

  • A detailed understanding of the legal process involved with acquisitions

  • Roadside retail property experience ideally

  • Full, clean driving licence