Development Manager

About Sustainable Ventures

Our impact on the planet’s climate and its natural resources is being felt more often and by more people than ever before. It is clear that significant changes must be made to achieve the targets set by the IPCC and reach Net Zero by 2050. This presents the world’s biggest challenge and it is something that Sustainable Ventures has been addressing since 2011. We believe in the power of commercial innovation to address the twin challenges of climate change and resource scarcity.

As entrepreneurs we initially conceived and scaled 10 startups, and over time we have evolved to primarily support other sustainable entrepreneurs. Our services now include: Investment, we are the most prolific climate tech investor in the UK with 43+ investments; Workspaces, we have 100+ organisations and 1000+ innovators collocated, and have directly supported over 500 businesses through our programmes and specialist business support services. The businesses we have supported have raised over £1bn of investment, employ over 5500 people and many have gone to be acquired by corporates such as: E-Car Club to Europcar and Zeigo to Schneider Electric.

We are Europe’s largest ecosystem of climate tech startups and have recently opened our new HQ at County Hall London, as we continue on our mission to develop 2000 sustainable businesses by 2028. We are now working on expanding our operations across other key city regions in the UK and beyond, starting with Manchester. Manchester is the fastest growing region in the UK with numerous world class Net Zero R&D assets, and the largest tech hub outside of the South East.

Requirements

Development Manager

Sustainable Ventures is seeking a commercially-minded, results-driven Development Manager with a track record in commercial property and a strong desire to work in the sustainability and climate tech space. The successful candidate will work in a rapidly growing development team responsible for the identification and delivery of up to 10 new workspaces over the next 5 years. As the fastest-growing tech hub in the North of England, and the biggest outside London, Manchester is the natural choice for Sustainable Ventures’ initial workspace development with further key cities targeted across the UK. The Development Manager will initially report into the Chief Development Officer, James Byrne, who is responsible for the delivery of new workspace projects, and will be supported by the specialist Sustainable Ventures workspace team and wider development team.

The Role

The Development Manager will be responsible for the replication and local adaptation of Sustainable Venture’s successful workspace model in London. The role requires someone with experience in commercial property identification, property legals, and office fitout. They will have the ambition to work for a purpose driven and rapidly scaling business.

Tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• Ownership of the Sustainable Ventures workspace development playbook incorporating operational and design elements
• Identification of new workspace opportunities within new city regions targeting 7+ launched by 2028
• Securing of mutually beneficial property deals with strategic property owners & partners
• Manage the property legals process from heads of terms through to secured lease
• Responsibility for delivery of finished product workspaces, managing development partners
• Budgeting responsibility for new and live development projects, feeding into investment modelling

/ We expect you to have:

• 10+ years in commercial property
• Experience in flexible workspace sector highly valued
• Highly professional with a credible and engaging manner
• Process driven with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
• An excellent communicator – in writing, by phone and in person
• Ambitious, with a desire to learn from the executive team and develop as a thought-leader in the sector
• AssocRICS or MRICS qualification valued
• Travel to London and other key UK city regions 1-4 times per month
• Educated to degree level (preferred)

Benefits

/ Additional Details

• Remuneration: £70k OTE pa (including bonus) w/ LTIS eligibility
• Hours: 40 hours per week, core hours 10:00-16:00
• Holiday: 25 days per year (pro-rata) + Bank Holidays + 1 day per month can be taken as a Wellness Day
• Location: Manchester, Oxford Road, M1

/ Diversity

Our people are what make Sustainable Ventures great. They infuse the business with fresh ideas, turn plans into actions and are the backbone of providing outstanding support to our ecosystem. As such, Sustainable Ventures is an equal opportunity employer; we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce, celebrating differences and creating an inclusive environment so that everyone can be themselves at work.

The climate crisis is a social and inclusion issue, as well as an environmental one, and we are especially keen to encourage applications from individuals underrepresented in the climate space. We also welcome applicants who may have different but relevant experience to those exactly specified in the above job description. This is a full-time role, however, we will seek to accommodate requests for a flexible working schedule.

/ Application Instructions

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

/ Recruitment process

• 30 min phone screening interview
• In-person interview with a member of the senior management team