Property Acquisition, Development and Disposal Surveyor

Salary Banding: £45,000 plus car allowance

Hours: Full time working 37.5 hours Monday - Friday

Location: Remote working with some travel to Bright Horizons' offices and nursery settings as necessary

Purpose of Role:

The PADD Surveyor is a key role in Bright Horizons UK, with responsibility for the acquisition of sites and buildings for the development, fitting out or conversion to open as new nursery settings to contribute to the growth of the company. 

The role will establish and build relationships with developers, investors, agents, local centre developers and other industry contacts to build a pipeline of opportunities.  The postholder will be responsible for the initial review, undertaking due diligence and preparation of business cases to submit for board approval.

Once board approval has been received the role will oversee the whole acquisition process through the relevant development stages interfacing with the various departments in the business to ensure a successful new nursery opening.  Once the nursery is open the role will also monitor the first 12 months progress and incorporate any learnings for future acquisitions and openings.

The PADD Surveyor will also dispose of property that is surplus to requirements which may be through alienation and surrendering of leasehold property or the sale of freehold property to minimise company losses and maximise company receipts.  This may include a change of use to maximise the disposal value.

The role will contribute to the company’s growth strategy, working collaboratively with the Business Development team which focus on the acquisition of existing nursey businesses and individual settings.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To undertake research on locations, (corporate representation, major local developments etc) demographics, reviewing of nearest BH nurseries and competing nurseries.
• To manage relationships with internal departments and external benchmarking agency, particularly around demographic analysis, and growth strategy.
• Contribute to developing the growth strategy and target locations.
• Build relationships with external parties, developers, agents, investors etc to develop a pipeline of location for new new nursery opportunities
•  To undertake the due diligence on the opportunities, working collaboratively with other departments including Business Development, Operations, Finance, Project Management, Marketing, Legal, Facilities etc.  Assessing the strengths, weakness and risks associated with each opportunity including review of demographics, competition, planning position, title, build and development costs and reviewing financial models and sensitivities,
• To build relationships and work closely with external consultants and associated professionals to support the due diligence and during the life of the project including planning authorities, planning consultants, highways, acoustic, structural engineers, architects etc
• Negotiate Lease Terms, having regard to ongoing and future liabilities, Agreement for Leases, Sale/Purchase Contracts agree Heads of Terms and instruct solicitors (working closely with the internal legal team),
• To keep informed of market activity both lettings/sales and investments and contribute and maintain the central data base. 
• Prepare and present business cases for board approval to support acquisition and/or disposal recommendations.
• Once the property acquisition is secured the postholder is responsible for managing the development process, working with the project manager, operations, marketing teams to ensure the successful opening of the nursery,
• Lead, arrange and participate in project new opening meetings as required,
• Monitor the new openings progress through the first 12 months of operations post Practical Completion and identifying any outstanding issues with the developer, landlord etc.
• Analyse the performance of the new openings versus budget FTE and provide data for review by the UK Leadership team.
• Manage the disposal of surplus property, particularly using expertise to enhance the planning position and/or negotiate lease/sale terms. 

Responsible for:

• Monitor and manage the nursery opportunities, once legally committed through planning and development.  Work collaboratively with in house expertise and manage external consultants to coordinate the successful opening of new nurseries.
• Monitor nurseries post opening including financial performance and any issues to do with the development, lease, or landlord.
• Assist in the due diligence of the acquisition of other nursery businesses
• Management of disposals, identifying areas to add value, reduce costs or increase flexibility
  • Development/Planning
  • Surrenders/alienation etc
• Take responsibility for own personal and professional development,
• Review and suggest improvements to existing processes to achieve operational excellence.

Essential Experience:

• Property/Acquisition/Development/Disposal experience across a commercial property portfolio, preferably with similar uses such as education, retail, or leisure
• Strong PC skills - Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint etc
• Ability to use financial models, analyse financial performance and other data to determine a successful growth strategy
• A pragmatic, solution focussed approach using risk evaluation, outcome scenarios to determine options and solutions to problems
• Good understanding of L&T law, review of leases, Agreement for Leases and where appropriate to work with Legal representatives to agree contracts, review titles, planning documents etc to deliver successful projects mitigating any risk.    
• Good understanding of planning including requirements for D1 use etc

Qualifications

• Relevant first degree, post graduate degree, and professional qualification in Property/Development (desirable)
• Evidence of continuous professional development (essential)
• Chartered Member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) (or working towards) (desirable)
• Full, clean driving licence (essential)

Personal attributes

• Excellent influencer, and effective communicator (oral and in writing)
• Strong commercial and strategic instinct – to recognise and add strategic value to the business
• Analytical thinker, reviewing data to help inform decisions
• Ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise tasks
• Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills
• A positive collaborative approach - a team player, respecting the roles played by other people in the organisation
• Highly motivated and driven, achieving positive impact, and meeting deadlines and taking accountability
• High energy and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• A ‘can-do’ attitude to put forward well considered and reasoned proposals, strategies, and recommendations
• Able to use data and numerical detail effectively to review implement strategy,
• A desire and commitment to provide high quality customer service

To apply for this role, please click the 'apply' button today.

We look forward to receiving your application!