The Role
Unite Students, the UK`s leading manager and developer of student accommodation, has an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Acquisition & Development Director to join them at what is a truly exciting time for the business.
You will be responsible for leading the team and delivering Unite Students` development strategy, with a secured development pipeline of close to £1.5billion.
Unite Students is seeking development opportunities in London and other strong regional markets, and is also focussed on delivering new University Partnership projects. The main purpose of this role is to oversee the Acquisition and Development and Design and Planning functions within the Development team, working alongside the Group Construction Director who oversees the construction and delivery functions.
What You`ll Be Doing
- Leading on new site acquisitions, securing planning permission and mitigating all key development management risks at the front end of the development process
- Building new and maintain existing relationships with land owners and property agents in order to secure pipeline opportunities
- Analysing and appraising opportunities within existing and potential new markets with the team
- Appraising new opportunities having worked through design and cost with the Project team
- Preparing Board presentations and papers to obtain approval for new projects
- Undertaking negotiations and agreeing purchase transactions. This element requires the candidate to show they are entrepreneurial, a problem solver who can work through complex transactional and development management issues and the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of landowners, consultants and internal team members.
- Progressing with due diligence in terms of identifying appropriate surveys, reviewing legal contracts to achieve exchange and coordinating the satisfaction of conditions
- Managing the legal process, identifying and responding to issues and risks as they arise
- Managing the pipeline schedule, ensuring that bids are made on time and to the best possible quality
- Contributing to, implementing and driving strategy for current and future projects
- Securing planning permissions on all new projects
- Helping to provide advice to other parts of the business regarding all planning matters
- Making representations to local plans and future planning policy
- Running detailed development and financial appraisals
- Reviewing cash flow performance to ensure budgets are not being exceeded and that financial information/budgeting is accurate.
- Identifying and overcoming any risk that arises with 3rd party suppliers and stakeholders
- Negotiating and agreeing valuations for development sites
- Working through value engineering opportunities with the Project team to maximise returns
- Ensuring that the design of the building throughout the planning process remains in line with cost plans and budgets
- Taking accountability for the delivery of projects in line with Board approved targets
- Ability to negotiate complex transactional structures with land owners.
- Building relationships with key external stakeholders such as universities, land agents, valuers, developers and bankers in order to achieve other objectives
- Coordinating the delivery of title and construction documents including warranties and all necessary information to ensure timely draw down of funds from development facilities
What We`re Looking for in You
- Existing Director level hire required showing experience of leading a multi-disciplined team
- Surveying, commercial or property company experience
- MRICS qualified
- Ability to demonstrate experience in negotiating and executing property transactions
- Experience in mitigating knotty development risks and seeing projects through from start to finish
- Experience in running development appraisals/understanding of valuations and an understanding of the development process
- Demonstrable strong negotiation skills with ability to think on their feet and able to navigate complex development issues/transactions.
- Strong computer literacy
- Possesses a positive and collegiate attitude, with the ability to adapt swiftly and a willingness to undertake challenging tasks to ensure customer/ stakeholder satisfaction
- PBSA experience is a big plus
About Unite Students
Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 70,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.
Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.
People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.
Room for Everyone
We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.
We are US.
