Business Development & Operations Associate

Townsend Chartered Surveyors; Exeter; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct impact

AI tools access

Small team

Growth opportunity

Job summary

Townsend Chartered Surveyors in Exeter is seeking a motivated Business Development & Operations Associate to join a small, growing firm. This role offers variety across administration, client liaison, marketing and AI-enabled processes, working closely with the founder.

You will maintain databases, prepare reports, support negotiations on environmental credits, and help shape how the business uses technology.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Proficient with everyday business software (email, spreadsheets, documents).
• Strong attention to detail.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and in a small team.
• Interest in technology and AI.

Responsibilities

• Managing day-to-day administration and office systems.
• Liaising with clients, landowners, farmers and professional contacts (ecologists, solicitors, developers).
• Preparing correspondence, reports, and marketing material.
• Maintaining client and project databases.
• Supporting BNG, NN, carbon and water credit negotiations and project delivery; managing social media and marketing.
• Assisting with AI implementation and business process automation.
• Researching new business opportunities and market trends.
• Supporting the founder across a wide range of business activities.

Job description

Join a small Chartered Surveyor firm - trading for over 30 years and now operating nationally as the leading UK brokerage house selling and creating natural capital and environmental credits.

We're looking for an organised, proactive and ambitious person to join us as a Business Development & Operations Associate. This is not a traditional administrative role. We want a generalist who enjoys variety, technology and problem-solving, and who wants to help shape a forward-thinking business.

Working closely with the founder, you'll support a broad mix of activity — administration, client communication, business development, marketing, environmental credit sales and negotiations, project management, and rolling out AI tools across the business.

About us

We work across the UK rural surveying, natural capital and environmental sectors, helping landowners and farmers unlock opportunities through:

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
• Nutrient Neutrality (NN)
• Natural capital credit-creation projects
• Sale of water abstraction licences
• Rural surveying and property management consultancy

The role

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing day-to-day administration and office systems.
• Liaising with clients, landowners, farmers and professional contacts such as ecologists, solicitors and developers.
• Preparing correspondence, reports, articles and marketing material.
• Maintaining client and project databases.
• Supporting BNG, NN, carbon and water credit negotiations and project delivery.Managing social media and online marketing.
• Assisting with AI implementation and business process automation.
• Researching new business opportunities and market trends.
• Supporting the founder across a wide range of business activities.

About you

You'll be someone who:

• Has excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Is confident with everyday business software (email, spreadsheets, shared documents).
• Has strong attention to detail.
• Is self-motivated and works well independently and in a small team.
• Has a positive, can-do attitude.
• Is interested in technology and AI.
• Is comfortable speaking with clients and stakeholders.

What we offer

• Work directly with the founder, with real responsibility from day one.
• Genuine variety — no two days the same in a small, growing firm.
• Rare expertise in fast-growing environmental markets.
• Hands-on work with the latest AI and automation tools.
• Real influence over how the business grows and runs.