Property Acquisition Manager

About the role

It is an exciting time to join our Property team, as we have ambitious plans to grow our portfolio of Waitrose convenience and neighbourhood shops (‘Little Waitrose’). As a result, our team is growing and we are currently recruiting two Property Acquisition Managers who will play an integral part in coordinating and delivering the pipeline of new convenience and neighbourhood sites.

Working in the Real Estate team, the Property Acquisition Managers will be responsible for evaluating new site opportunities and collaborating with internal stakeholders to develop and present business cases to the Senior Management team. With your strong commercial background and expert knowledge, you will be required to negotiate competitive terms and legal contracts while working alongside other specialists in planning and construction.

Utilising your network, you will engage with a diverse group of external partners, such as landowners, developers, property agents, local planning authorities, and legal professionals. Your role will involve close collaboration with internal teams in retail, construction, and legal departments to ensure successful project delivery.

• Expected salary: £60,000 – £80,000 per annum

• Contract type: We have 2 vacancies available, both are permanent contracts

• Working pattern/flexible working: The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach meaning you’ll be able to work a mixture between the office (London and Bracknell) and home. You will also be required to attend off-site visits as required.

• Location: The role can be based out of our London (Pimlico) or Bracknell head office depending on your preference; however, there will be a requirement to visit both depending on business needs.

• A full UK driving license is required to fulfil the travel requirements of the role.

Key responsibilities

• Identifying and negotiating financially viable new sites for Little Waitrose convenience branches

• Creating a pipeline of site opportunities for future years

• Working with external property agents who will support in delivery of the sites and pipeline, and driving the performance of the agents

• Presenting new site opportunities to the Sites Meeting

• Working with key stakeholders to develop the business case for each site and seeing these through to opening.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Experience in site acquisition and comprehensive industry network

• Extensive knowledge of the Property Market and legislation

• Ability to work at pace, be creative, curious, and resourceful

• Strong commercial acumen and ability to deliver targets

• Strong in communication and stakeholder management with an organised approach.

Desirable skills/experience you may have:

• Experience in retail site acquisition and knowledge of the food convenience market

• BSc in Land Management, Real Estate or similar degree; Qualified Chartered Surveyor

About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee-owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees; we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt, and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality, and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.

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