Estates Development Manager (North) Full Time

Stonegate Group is the UK’s largest operator of pubs, bars, and late-night venues, including Slug & Lettuce, Be At One, and Popworld, to name a few. We’re proud of our diverse portfolio and deeply committed to creating an inclusive culture that embraces individuality in all its forms—including neurodiversity. By fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported, we reflect the vibrant communities we serve and empower our people to thrive.

The Opportunity

The EDM takes responsibility for the professional development/disposal of the organisation’s land/property portfolio, within a specified geography covering the north of England. Key elements of the role include maximisation of asset value through development (e.g. obtaining planning consent) and future disposal of properties and/or excess land in the estate. You will deliver exceptional customer service and support to our Operations teams through this process.

The purpose of the role is to actively support the execution of the organisations strategy by identifying and extracting optimum returns from the company’s portfolio of assets and land. These proceeds can then be used to support the organisations significant investment/conversion programme in the core operational estate.

A key activity of the role is to facilitate the identification of alternate use opportunities – this may be a carve out of operational assets, land or proposed redevelopment of an entire asset. Examples might be a carve out of pub car parking followed by the achievement of planning consent for alternative uses such as residential or retail and then finally the delivery of a disposal at attractive values. Another example might be obtaining planning/disposal for an entire pub site if the proceeds value is at exceptional multiples vs existing income. The Estate Development Manager will work alongside a number of internal disciplines, particularly the Operations Directors and also a network of external professional contacts, agents and solicitors.

The position is field based but will require an appropriate proportion of time in the Solihull offices liaising with other head office functions. The role will involve travelling throughout the geographic area of responsibility and will include ongoing liaison with field-based operations and property colleagues, third party suppliers and agencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Identification of high value asset/land disposals
• Maximisation of value through development and disposal activity.
• Implementation and execution of the organisation value adding strategy.
• This will involve the identification/management of alternate use opportunities – including obtaining planning consent and disposing at attractive values – this may be for land, entire assets or upper floors.
• Proactive identification and realisation of the annual disposal proceeds target.
• Presentation of excellent individual development/disposal opportunities to the Estates Executive for approval.
• Participate in the asset planning process within the organisation, representing the strategic need for development/disposal proceeds in all decision making, to ensure that sub-optimal assets or gold bricks/excess land are sold at the appropriate time, mitigating the impact on net income.
• Optimise proceeds from disposal activities by challenging proposals, fees payable, suppliers and ensuring timing of transactions does not compromise value.
• To collaborate with Operations to effectively minimise the impact of disposal and development proposals on current income streams and Publicans.
• Establish relationships with external agencies, planning specialists, property professionals, JVs, developers and financial partners that can provide intelligence, optimise potential planning applications and timeframes for delivery, enabling us to deliver a ‘best in class’ service to the Group.
• Ensure optimum value and quality are obtained from all outsourced services and partners.
• Benchmark approach, practices service levels and outcomes against competitors and take appropriate action/innovate to deliver industry leading solutions and relationships.
• Provide insight and innovation to our services as we seek to continually improve and add value across the organisation.
• To undertake other Ad-hoc activities as the business requires – this may involve supporting the Estates Surveyor team should significant projects or workload come to light.

About You

• Ideally RICS qualified Chartered Surveyor or aspiring MRICS / Assoc.RICS but not essential
• Experience in Corporate Real Estate and the development/disposal of land/buildings, ideally licensed premises and/or retail.
• Strong and tenacious negotiator with flair for spotting opportunities and understanding property ‘angles’ and extracting maximum value from asset/land disposals.
• Experience in obtaining planning consent and disposing of alternate use opportunities.
• Well organised and able to maintain relevant administration, reporting and planning systems to ensure that all responsibilities are discharged within agreed guidelines and company policies and procedures
• Demonstrates a passion, commitment and focus on delivering best value.
• Successful track record of achieving challenging targets
• Exceptional communications skills at all levels.
• Able to build relationships and leverage their own established property/internal network

What makes Stonegate a great place to work?

At Stonegate, we believe that when you feel your best, you do your best. That’s why we’re committed to supporting the health, happiness, and overall wellbeing of every team member. From lifestyle perks and flexible support to mental health resources, our benefits are designed to help you thrive, both in and out of work.

• 25 days of annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year
• Bonus Scheme
• Access to discounted Private Medical Insurance through Vitality
• Exclusive discounts on Dental Insurance
• Reward Card via the MiXR app, giving you and your friends 25% off food and drinks as well as VIP entry across our Managed Estate
• Life Assurance which gives access to Help @ Hand
• Access to your pay early via Stream
• The Stonegate Xtra portal with access to a wide range of high street discounts and offers
• Discounted access to David Lloyd membership
• Award winning Learning & Development programmes to drive your career

If you have a disability as outlined by the Equality Act 2010 and require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please let us know in advance so that any support, aids or adaptations can be put in place to assist you. You can contact us on hrsupport@stonegategroup.co.uk.