Senior Director of Development and Operations

Job Advert

A rare, exciting opportunity has been created for a Senior Director of Development and Operations for the renowned Cambridge Science Park – the first and most established science park in Europe and a national asset at the heart of the region's innovation ecosystem.

Bidwells is the primary property adviser to Trinity College, Cambridge, a charity whose purpose includes the promotion of education and research. Trinity College is the freehold owner of Cambridge Science Park, and Bidwells manages the Park on its behalf. The Park provides over 2.3 million sq ft of high-quality office and laboratory accommodation across approximately 60 buildings, housing a community of around 7,500 people working in technology, R&D, and life sciences.

The Senior Director of Development and Operations will play a pivotal leadership role in the strategic development, operational estate management, and stakeholder engagement of the Park. With the original development dating from the 1970s, the Park has undergone significant redevelopment. The ongoing evolution provides an exceptional opportunity to increase density, elevate design quality, and foster collaboration between Park members, Trinity College, and the wider Cambridge innovation cluster.

What you'll be doing

Strategic leadership:

• Lead the delivery of estate-level masterplan initiatives, ensuring alignment with long-term estate strategy, occupier demand and stakeholder vision;
• Provide informed insight, professional advice and updates to key stakeholders on progress, risks, opportunities and outcomes;
• Champion innovation, sustainability and inclusivity;
• Coordinate internal and external teams.

Operational estate management:

• Lead the onsite management team ensuring service delivery excellence;
• Oversee estate operations, facilities management, risk assessment management, health and safety, ESG performance;
• Oversee financial performance (budgeting, service charges, capital expenditure);
• Deliver a premium occupier experience.

Development and placemaking:

• Drive continuous improvement of the Park's environment, amenities, and transport connectivity;
• Lead initiatives that enhance the Park's identity, culture, and sense of community;
• Represent the Park with local planning authorities;
• Secure funding/investment cases and landowner approvals for capital projects.

Stakeholder management:

• Engage, update and build strong relationships with clients, landowners, investors, occupiers, partners, local authorities and relevant networks;
• Understand issues, provide resolutions and deliver growth on the Park;
• Promote the Park's profile through events, partnerships and communication strategies.

Sustainability:

• Create and implement Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) policies.

About You

For this pivotal Senior Director of Development and Operations role, we are ideally looking for the following attributes:

• Proven property management experience, including a good working knowledge of relevant H&S legislation.
• Demonstrable technical knowledge of Landlord and Tenant legislation and regulations relating to the management of commercial property.
• Property development, asset management and investment experience would be highly advantageous.
• Similar experience with a business park, science park or within a direct competitor organisation would be beneficial.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with external colleagues and clients at all levels, and gain trust.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change.
• Skilled at co-ordinating other individuals and service providers.
• Experience in developing new business opportunities.
• Demonstrable knowledge & understanding of environmental performance objectives and targets to occupiers and investors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Computer literate, at least intermediate level in Microsoft Excel (including formulae) and Word, and willingness to learn new computer packages.
• MRICS qualified would be a bonus, but not essential.

Why Bidwells?

We're a different kind of business. Whilst we're a major player in the property sector, Bidwells remains a privately-owned, independent Partnership, with an inclusive, entrepreneurial culture. We give our people autonomy and take the time to listen.

What's in it for you

Competitive Salary: We recognise and reward talent with generous salary and group bonus scheme. As a Real Living Wage employer, we're committed to fair pay that reflects the true cost of living.

Comprehensive Benefits: Including up to 8% matched pension, 28 days holiday (+ bank holidays) as a minimum, along with your birthday off work, paid sabbaticals, private medical cover, medicash plan, and lifestyle discounts and perks.

Professional Development: Continuous learning, study support and promotion opportunities.

Innovative Culture: Be part of a forward-thinking team at the forefront of industry trends.

Family Friendly: We offer enhanced family leave policies to support individuals close to you.

Work-Life Balance: We value your well-being and offer agile working to support it.

Bidwells is dedicated to fostering a truly inclusive culture of belonging, where everyone can thrive and succeed as their true and authentic selves at every level. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and positively encourage applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief. Flexible working requests are considered from day one.

Recruitment agencies: Bidwells only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and that agency has been contacted and directed by a member of our Talent Acquisition Team to work on a specific vacancy. We do not pay agency fees when speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to Bidwells or any of our employees other than via our Applicant Tracking System and through our recruitment process. If this is not adhered to, agency fees will not be paid. Submission of any unsolicited CVs or proposals to Bidwells will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this approach.