Mergers and Acquisitions Manager - Retail

RJA-Consulting; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic property consultancy in Manchester is seeking an experienced Acquisitions & Retail Development Manager. This pivotal role involves creating and launching a new retail format across the UK, focusing on site identification and acquisition. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven success in property acquisition and retail development, possess strong commercial acumen, and have excellent negotiation skills. This opportunity promises significant impact within a fast-growing organization and requires national travel.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in property acquisition, retail development, or multi-site expansion.
• Strong commercial acumen to evaluate opportunities and influence investment decisions.
• Excellent negotiation skills for engaging landlords and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess opportunities for new retail formats across the UK.
• Conduct market mapping and competitor analysis.
• Source and negotiate new site acquisitions.
• Build financial cases to support investment decisions.
• Lead due-diligence processes for acquisitions.
• Develop relationships with landlords and developers.
• Ensure project delivery is on time and on budget.

Skills

Property acquisition

Retail development

Commercial acumen

Negotiation skills

Analytical mindset

Job description

Are you a driven and ambitious property professional with a passion for development, optimisation, and new-market growth?

We are looking for an experienced Acquisitions & Retail Development Manager to play a pivotal role in launching a newly defined retail format. This role will be instrumental in supporting expansion strategy, focusing on identifying, securing, and delivering high-quality sites across the UK.

You will play a key role in building this new retail format from the ground up—driving everything from site identification and assessment to acquisition, fit-out, and smooth operational launch. It’s a unique chance to influence a major growth initiative within a fast-moving, ambitious organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and assess opportunities to convert existing sites into the new retail format, evaluating suitability, layout, compliance considerations, and local market potential.
• Conduct market mapping and competitor analysis to identify priority locations and white-space opportunities across the UK.
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate new site acquisitions, including both single-site opportunities and multi-site portfolios.
• Build robust financial and commercial cases to support investment decisions, including forecasting, payback modelling, and risk assessment.
• Lead due-diligence processes for potential acquisitions, collaborating with legal, finance, property, and operational teams.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with landlords, agents, developers, and third-party operators to ensure a healthy pipeline of opportunities.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure all sites meet regulatory, technical, brand, and operational standards.
• Oversee project delivery to ensure openings are completed on time, on budget, and to specification.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking an individual who can deliver both strategic thinking and hands‑on execution.

Specifically :

• Proven experience in property acquisition, retail development, estates growth, or multi‑site expansion.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to evaluate opportunities, build financial cases, and influence investment decisions.
• Excellent negotiation skills and experience engaging landlords, agents, developers, and external partners.
• Project delivery expertise, ideally with experience overseeing fit‑outs, refurbishments, or new-site openings.
• Analytical mindset, capable of interpreting market data, competitor activity, and performance metrics.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally, aligning property, operations, compliance, and finance stakeholders.
• Resilience and adaptability in a fast‑paced environment entering a new market space.
• A proactive, opportunity‑led approach, with the confidence to shape new processes and define best practice.
• Able to travel nationally, must have a driver’s licence.

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a visible impact, please register your interest here.