Construction Development Manager

UK Development Manager

* Please note: This role is on a hybrid schedule and will require the candidate to be onsite 2-3 days per week at Convene's UK HQ in London for meetings and team alignment.

Convene is seeking a UK Development Manager to join our Real Estate, Development, and Construction team. This individual will support the Convene Development Department through the management of new and renovation projects in the United Kingdom across multiple brands. Projects shall be managed from site selection through close out, including due diligence, consultancy hire, estimating, bidding, scheduling, procurement, construction management, punch list, and project close out.  Project sizes can range from £50K to £20M. This role involves managing outsourced teams responsible for executing the work, as well as occasional direct management of the work itself. This Development Manager will report directly to the VP of Construction.

What You’ll Do: 

• Review design and location criteria with real estate and design architects.
• Participate in property due diligence.
• Participate in Landlord base building delivery specification development.
• Establish project budgets and schedules, based on design and deal criteria.
• Review Landlord and Tenant plans and specifications for assigned projects.
• Assist in the development of Responsibility Schedules.
• Review value engineering of projects with design team, general contractors and vendors as required.
• Negotiate & manage contracts and programmes with general contractors.
• Negotiate &  manage appointments and programmes with consultants.
• Assist procurement team with vendor management.
• Prepare, solicit, review, and analyze construction tenders.
• Acquire Licenses to Alter (LTAs) and coordinate insurances.
• Collaborate closely with the design team to achieve the best expression of each brand at each location.
• Coordinate with the procurement team on the selection and delivery of owner / tenant furnished items.
• Review and approve technical submittals with store planning, architects, and engineers.
• Conduct construction site visits to evaluate progress and construction practices and manage general contractors accordingly.
• Coordinate and follow-up on punch list performance.
• Assist operations team with warranty issues and complex repair issues.
• Provides guidance and support for UK asset physical plant assessments and managing larger scale fixes.

Core Working Principles:

• Manages both in-house and outsourced construction teams effectively.
• Embodies Convene’s GRIT values: Genuine, Relentless, Integrity, and Team-focused.
• Deeply understands and champions the entire project development lifecycle.
• Ability to foster strong communication with legal, real estate, design, operations, contractors, consultants, and vendors.
• Highly self-motivated, with a strong focus on achieving project goals within a collaborative team environment.
• Proven collaborator with excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and details.

What We Look For:

• Degree in Construction Management or Architecture (preferred).
• 10+ years' construction experience, including simultaneous project management.
• 5+ years' experience as a Retail/Hospitality/Commercial Project Manager (preferred).
• Experience managing projects from £50K to £20M (preferred).
• Flexibility to travel within London and potential for 10-20% UK, European, and US travel.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, Project) and Adobe Acrobat.
• Procore or similar construction/scheduling software knowledge (preferred).
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong negotiation skills.

Who We Are:

Convene is a global hospitality company that manages a growing portfolio of lifestyle brands focused on revolutionizing the way people meet, work, and gather.  It creates hospitality-driven experiences and uniquely designed destinations across its various brands with the singular mission of fostering human-to-human connection. The Convene portfolio comprises Convene, etc.venues by Convene, and Convene Signature, offering clients multiple products including event venues, meeting rooms, flexible office spaces, and building amenity centers.  With hospitality at its core, each brand and product offers on-site culinary, in-room A/V, production services, and dedicated hospitality staffing resources.As the largest single provider of dedicated meeting and event venues in the U.S. and UK, and with a growing footprint of flexible office space, the Convene portfolio has a network of nearly 40 locations across nine global cities.

Learn more at https://convene.com/. 

We’re Here For You: 

Health and Wellness

• Private medical insurance
• Subsidised eye care
• Subsidised fitness membership
• Employee Assistance Program: well-being support and personal advice programme

Time Off and Work-Life Balance

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and company sick pay
• Financial Support and Benefits
• Bonus scheme
• Interest-free loan for rail season tickets & further education
• Subsidised bicycle purchase through Cycle to Work scheme

Professional Development and Recognition

• Continuous professional and personal development support
• Employee recognition and reward programs to mark achievements and milestones

Community and Impact

• Opportunities to volunteer, donate, and participate in community give-back initiatives
• The opportunity to have a significant impact on your team and the business in the work that you do

Convene is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome people from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. 

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