Acquisition & Development Manager - Office, London

Job description

Job Title: Acquisition & Development Manager

Location: London

Salary: £70,000 to £90,000 plus bonus and benefits

The Opportunity

We are working with a well-capitalised real estate development business that is expanding its London office development pipeline. They are seeking a Front-End Development Manager to play a critical role in sourcing, shaping, and validating new office-led development opportunities. This is a genuinely front-end role. The successful hire will not only originate sites in central London, but will also have the technical and financial capability to assess whether those sites truly stack up. This is not a pure acquisitions role, nor a back-office underwriting position. It sits at the intersection of origination, feasibility, and early-stage development.

The Role

You will be responsible for identifying and securing office development opportunities across London, from early relationship-driven origination through to investment committee-ready proposals. A core part of the role is ensuring that only high-quality, deliverable sites progress, using robust underwriting and a strong understanding of the development process.

Key responsibilities include:

• Proactively sourcing and originating office development opportunities across London
• Building and maintaining relationships with agents, landowners, joint venture partners, and local stakeholders
• Leading initial site appraisals, feasibility analysis, and development underwriting
• Assessing planning risk, design constraints, buildability, and commercial viability
• Working closely with planning, design, cost consultants, and construction advisors at early stages
• Preparing clear, credible investment papers and recommendations
• Protecting the business from poorly conceived acquisitions by applying disciplined development viability scrutiny

About You

This role requires someone who is comfortable wearing multiple hats. You must be as confident having origination conversations as you are interrogating a development appraisal.

You are likely to have:

• Proven experience sourcing or acquiring office development sites in London
• Strong financial modelling and underwriting capability for development projects
• A solid understanding of the end-to-end development process, from acquisition through delivery
• The judgement to identify risks early and challenge assumptions before capital is committed
• Excellent commercial instincts and market awareness
• The confidence to operate autonomously while collaborating closely with senior leadership

Experience in development, investment, or a blended development and acquisitions role will be particularly relevant.

Why This Role

• Genuine influence over the shape and quality of the development pipeline
• High visibility within a lean, decision-making-led organisation
• Exposure to best-in-class office development projects in London
• Competitive base salary of £70,000 to £90,000, reflecting experience and capability
• If you are a front-end development professional who believes that great projects are won or lost at acquisition stage, this role will strongly appeal.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Greater London

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

19-01-2026

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English