Associate Director – Development Consultancy

James & Partners; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Hybrid work

27 days leave

Private medical

Job summary

James & Partners in London is seeking an Associate Director / Senior Associate Director to lead and grow the London Development team. You will sculpt client relationships, originate opportunities, and provide strategic development advice across complex schemes.

The role blends senior leadership with hands-on project work, mentoring junior colleagues, and collaborating across Planning, Agency, Valuation and Research. Hybrid/flexible working is on offer.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in development consultancy or development advisory.
• Proven track record of winning work and growing client relationships.
• Strong understanding of development lifecycle and viability.
• Knowledge of residential and/or mixed-use development markets in London/South East.

Responsibilities

• Lead pitches, proposals and client presentations.
• Develop and manage key client relationships and opportunities.
• Provide commercially focused advice on development land and strategy.
• Coordinate with Planning, Agency, Valuation and Research teams.
• Mentor junior colleagues and contribute to team growth.

Skills

Client relationship management

Business development

Strategic advisory

Development expertise

Education

MRICS

Job description

Associate Director / Senior Associate Director – Development

Location: Central London

Working pattern: Full-time | Hybrid / flexible working

Level: Associate Director / Senior Associate Director, with Director-level candidates also considered

The Opportunity

My client, a highly regarded national property consultancy backed by a major international real estate group, is looking to appoint an experienced development professional to its established London team.

This is a senior, client-facing position combining development expertise, client leadership and business development.

The successful individual will play an important role in growing the London Development business – leading client relationships, generating new instructions and providing strategic advice across development opportunities.

The team works with a broad range of developers, landowners, investors, housebuilders, institutions and private clients, supported by specialists across Planning, Agency, Valuation, Research and the wider property business.

There is genuine flexibility around seniority. My client will consider individuals at Associate Director, Senior Associate Director or potentially Director level, with the appointment shaped around experience, market profile, client relationships and work-winning capability.

The Role

This is an opportunity to take a visible position within the London Development team, with responsibility for both developing existing relationships and creating new opportunities.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing relationships with developers, landowners, investors, housebuilders and other key clients.
• Identifying, originating and converting new business opportunities.
• Leading pitches, proposals and client presentations.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to clients on development opportunities and strategy.
• Providing commercially focused advice around development land and opportunities.
• Assessing development potential, feasibility, viability and relevant market considerations.
• Advising on land acquisition, disposal and development strategy.
• Managing instructions from initial opportunity and fee proposal through to delivery.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Planning, Agency, Valuation, Research and other specialist teams.
• Identifying opportunities to introduce clients to services across the wider business.
• Building repeat business and expanding the team's client base.
• Representing the business at client meetings, industry events and within the wider property market.
• Supporting and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Contributing to the continued growth and profile of the London Development team.

About You

My client is interested in established property professionals who combine development knowledge with strong commercial instincts and the ability to build and win client relationships.

You are likely to have experience within development consultancy, development advisory, development surveying or a closely related property discipline.

The successful candidate is likely to demonstrate:

• Strong experience within the development property market.
• A good understanding of the development lifecycle, land and the commercial considerations affecting development opportunities.
• Experience advising on residential and/or mixed-use development.
• Knowledge of development viability, feasibility and appraisal principles.
• Strong knowledge of the London and/or South East development market.
• A demonstrable track record of building client relationships and generating new instructions.
• Experience pitching for and winning work.
• Strong commercial judgement and an entrepreneurial approach.
• The confidence and credibility to advise senior clients.
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively across different property disciplines.

A relevant professional qualification such as MRICS would be advantageous, although market experience, client relationships and a proven track record will be equally important.

Seniority

There is genuine flexibility around the appointment.

At Associate Director level, this could suit an established project and client lead who is increasingly generating their own opportunities and building an external network.

At Senior Associate Director level, candidates are likely to have an established record of winning work, managing important client relationships and contributing to revenue generation and team development.

My client would also consider an exceptional Director-level individual with an established market profile, strong client relationships and the ability to contribute strategically to the continued growth of the practice.

Ultimately, capability, commerciality and fit are more important than job title.

Why Join?

The position offers the opportunity to join an established property consultancy with a strong UK platform and the backing of a major international real estate group.

The successful individual will benefit from a multidisciplinary environment, working alongside colleagues across Development, Planning, Residential, Agency, Valuation and Research.

There is considerable scope to build your own client relationships, originate work and develop your market profile, while having the wider resources and expertise of an established property business behind you.

For an ambitious development professional, this is an opportunity to take a prominent role within the London team and contribute directly to its next stage of growth.

My client offers a competitive salary and overall package dependent on experience and level of appointment, alongside a comprehensive benefits offering including:

• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Hybrid / flexible working
• 27 days' annual leave plus public holidays, with the option to purchase additional holiday
• Private medical cover
• Pension with employer contributions
• Life assurance
• Group income protection
• Health screening and wellbeing support
• Digital/private GP services
• Dental cover options
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Travel insurance options
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Interest-free season ticket loans
• Employee Share Incentive Plan
• Retail and lifestyle discounts
• Financial wellbeing and mortgage advice
• Concierge and eye care support
• Professional learning and career development opportunities

Benefits are subject to eligibility and applicable scheme rules.