Savills

Job title

Development Surveyor

Job Location

33 Margaret Street, London

Role Overview

An opportunity exists for a development surveyor to supplement the current team in providing development, planning and investment advice on a range of assets, land banks and companies.

The overall objective of the team is to enhance the value of our clients’ assets over the long-term investment horizon, taking them from green or brownfield under-utilised assets to completed residential-led mixed-use schemes whilst minimising risk and maximising opportunity.

Team Overview

National Development Consultancy (NDC) is a niche team of 6 advisors. We currently advise many blue chip, private equity and institutional clients across the private and public sectors on their development assets, many of which will be delivered to create income producing residential investments.

We are providing advice on c. 60,000 residential plots under management at any one time.

The team also works within and coordinates a virtual cross-Savills team on mergers and acquisitions in the residential development sector. More recently, these workstreams have been bolstered by the growth of our Corporate Finance team. In 2021-22, we led transactions worth c. £3bn.

The team sits within the Operational Capital Markets (OCM) business made up of 85 professionals. A fast paced and friendly team working with clients across the living sectors, including Multifamily, Single-family, PBSA, Co- living, Senior Housing and Healthcare, and providing corporate finance and debt advisory services through our FCA regulated Savills Capital Advisors team. The Team also works closely with Savills Development Division; the market leading land, planning and new home specialists of 800 people across the country.

Savills culture is one of trust and respect, teamwork and collaboration. Our teams and clients benefit when we work together, listening to and learning from each other. Above all, we value the motivation of our people. This is evidenced by our wellbeing offer, our capability to facilitate flexible working and our support to enjoy a healthy work life balance.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic team advising a range of client types on:

• Fully understanding our client’s needs, objectives, strategies and reporting lines, as well as answering their questions or providing them with outputs and tools to progress their investment or development strategies.
• The planning, promotion, funding and deliverability of large-scale residential development schemes.
• Strategic Development Management and Project Management activities across a range of different

  development projects.

• Complex and structured sales of residential development assets, including simple land agency through to

  complex joint venturing / partnerships structuring.

• Pre- and post-planning development advice, as well as advising landowners, institutions and corporates on

  increasing the value of land portfolios.

• Facilitating the change of use of client’s portfolios where their historical performance is under threat – such

  as ageing shopping centres.

• Corporate mergers and acquisitions in the residential development sector, including asset-level due

  diligence advice and project management on major sector-leading transactions.

• Advisory work streams across the Operational Capital Markets sector, including Build to Rent, Key Worker

  Housing, Student and Healthcare.

JD Template Jun22

As the sector and NDC team are growing at a rapid pace there are excellent opportunities for career progression. In addition, the role presents opportunities to learn new skills from wider OCM teams and colleagues including development finance, funding methods and financial models.

Key responsibilities will be:

Internal

• Be an active and energetic team member of the NDC team.
• Supporting the current Directors within the team on existing and new projects.
• Assist NDC with client care for existing clients.
• Support multi-disciplinary and significant projects across OCM and the Development Division in the UK.

  External:

• Support our client’s objectives.
• Supporting NDC Directors in providing advice to clients on the most appropriate development or investment

  strategy for assets.

• Managing strategic development schemes and consultant teams to secure planning permission and sell

  assets which achieve maximum value, either financially, socially and/or environmentally.

• Pricing, valuing and modelling a range of development assets across the UK.
• Handling the complex sale of residential development land assets.
• Providing written, graphic or financial information as part of the consultancy service.
• Carrying out comprehensive property, market and legal due diligence enquiries.

  In addition to the tasks described above, the job holder may be required to carry out other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time.

 

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• MRICS qualified, with 2-5 years’ experience – preferably Planning and Development pathway. MRTPI and Project Management qualified applicants will also be considered.
• Knowledge of the residential development sector (particularly housebuilder activity), as well as housing and planning policy.
• Experience in providing verbal consultancy advice to clients in the residential or development sector.
• Experience in writing reports on projects in the residential or development sector.
• Track record in advising on major residential schemes and leading project teams.
• Proficient in valuation software and cash flows, specifically with MS Excel, Argus Investor and Developer.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent and transferrable client relationships.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Team player.
• Strategic approach to problem solving.
• A desire to progress and generate new business within the residential and development sectors.

  Full clean driving licence

Assessment applicants can expect during selection

• I/2/3 stage interview • Presentation

• Personality Profile
• Skills Testing (eg excel, word)