Job Description

About Us

Rivers Birtwell is a property investment company who source and develop high quality student accommodation across Brighton, Bath and Bristol. We are a family run business with strong values and a culture of progression and self-development in a challenging and supportive environment.

Main purpose of job:

To lead the day-to-day hunt for new properties across the UK. You'll be responsible for shaping and executing our national acquisition strategy, identifying, evaluating, and securing student properties that fit our growth model.

The key responsibilities are;

Designing and delivering our property purchasing strategy across existing and new university towns Leading negotiations with agents, sellers, and other stakeholders Managing your team's workflow and ensuring timely progression from deal to completion Digging into local markets to uncover off-market opportunities Collaborating with legal, finance and development teams to ensure each deal meets our criteria Regularly reporting on purchasing progress, pipeline risks, and market shifts to the leadership team

Main Duties

Acquisition Strategy & Pipeline Management

Develop and implement a national purchasing strategy aligned with company growth targets Maintain and refine a rolling acquisitions pipeline across priority university towns Identify gaps and saturation risks in the existing portfolio and recommend new locations Monitor housing trends and student demand data to inform acquisition targets

Property Sourcing & Deal Execution

Lead identification of viable purchase opportunities, including on- and off-market deals Build and maintain relationships with estate agents, sourcers, vendors, and local contacts Evaluate potential purchases using internal criteria (e.g. yield, refurbishment feasibility, planning potential) Oversee negotiations, offer submissions, and commercial deal structuring

Stakeholder & Team Collaboration

Collaborate closely with the team to manage the purchasing workflow Provide guidance and oversight to ensure tasks (viewings, offer tracking, legal docs) are progressing effectively Work with Legal, Finance, and Development teams to ensure seamless handovers from acquisition to delivery Report regularly to the Head of Strategic Finance and Debt Management on performance, risks, and progress

Reporting & Performance Tracking

Produce weekly and monthly updates on acquisitions status, deal progression, and market conditions Analyse cost and value metrics for each deal to ensure ROI aligns with business models Maintain internal dashboards and trackers for portfolio expansion progress Flag delays or issues in conveyancing or approvals and recommend solutions

Process & System Improvement

Review and improve existing tools, workflows, and systems used in the acquisition process Implement standardised processes for deal evaluation, approvals, and post-completion handovers Work with admin staff to streamline documentation, communication, and compliance checks

Commercial and Strategic Input

Provide insight into how acquisitions influence broader business goals (e.g. debt planning, development pipelines) Support internal forecasting on cash requirements, planning risks, and return scenarios Participate in investment committee-style conversations to assess major portfolio additions Support scenario modelling for strategic shifts (e.g. town exits, regional scaling, JV partnerships)

Relevant experience

Proven track record managing commercial or residential projects within the UK market Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously

Aptitude, skills and abilities

People management skills Ability to build and maintain effective relationships Excellent verbal and written communication skills Able to work to tight deadlines Good computer skills and ability using Excel

Personal attributes

The ability to work autonomously, manage your own schedule, prioritise tasks effectively, and deliver results with minimal oversight, demonstrating strong accountability and initiative. Exceptional time management abilities Strong problem-solving skills Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

What You'll Bring

At least 5 years of hands-on experience in property acquisition, residential investment or development, ideally with some exposure to the student or HMO market A solid understanding of property valuation, planning considerations, and the moving parts of residential deals A sharp commercial eye, you know what makes a good deal, and you can explain why Experience managing junior team members or third-party agents You're organised, driven and know how to push a deal through the finish line You're curious, not just about property, but about how businesses grow and evolve

What You're Like

You're not waiting for things to land on your desk, you go out and find them You thrive in fast-paced, slightly messy environments, where progress matters more than process You're ambitious, but humble, you want to build something real and valuable You get a buzz from solving problems, and you don't get flustered when deals go sideways You're strategic when you need to be, but not afraid to pick up the phone and chase something down
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 45,000.00-55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Bereavement leave Casual dress Company events Company pension Free parking Health & wellbeing programme Private dental insurance Private medical insurance Sick pay
Application question(s):

Do you have a clean driving licence? Do you have experience managing junior team members or third-party agents? Do you have a solid understanding of property valuation, planning considerations, and the moving parts of residential deals?
Experience:

Property acquisition, residential investment or development: 5 years (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 15/08/2025
Reference ID: RB/AT