About Stories

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Stories is a socially responsible property development company, and a certified B Corp. We operate as principal developer, development manager and strategic advisor on projects that have a higher purpose than just financial returns.  

 

Stories turned five as a business in November 2023 and we are at an exciting stage of our growth. We launched a joint venture with Aviva Capital Partners last year with an initial equity commitment of £100 million, giving us the opportunity to unlock the potential of purposeful development through our aligned funding partners. We are delighted to be shortly exchanging on our first deal, a residential build-to-rent development for the London Borough of Barnet which will deliver 50% affordable housing and be net-zero carbon in operation. The completed development will address an undersupply of high-quality rental accommodation in the area and deliver the Local Authority a long-term income.  

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We are also working on other projects with great organisations in London, Oxford and the South-West (for example in Frome), and are continuing to progress a number of other opportunities in our pipeline. We are therefore excited to be growing the team and are looking for a Development Manager or Senior Development Manager that can lead and manage one or more of our development projects.  

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Coming from different property backgrounds, we set up Stories so we could use our development skills to create positive outcomes for people. We’re a small team – the three Co-founders, three Senior Development Managers and an Operations & Marketing Manager – and have a rotating Advisory Board comprising some of our industry’s most experienced individuals.  

 

Our projects create property and places for a diverse array of people, therefore we believe it is important to have a diverse team both undertaking the critical thinking and present at the decision table to ensure successful development outcomes for all. That is why alongside our projects, our business is committed to improving access and widening participation in our industry and, alongside our day jobs, we have made a long-term commitment to this cause. 

 

What matters most to us is finding somebody that really cares about people, knows that property development can be a positive force for change and can bring a fresh perspective to what we are trying to achieve.  

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What are we looking for?

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We are hiring for a Development Manager or Senior Development Manager, who can bring their experience to successfully lead and run one or more of our development projects.  

 

You will need to be well versed in the property development process, bring an open mind to help us do projects differently and help us build this business. Perhaps through curiosity, sometimes through necessity, you will find yourself expanding your experience substantially.  

 

Some attributes that we think are important: 

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• An engaging person – kind, thoughtful, hard-working, strong integrity and interested in the world.

• Problem solving aptitude – the ability to creatively problem solve in new situations, big or small.

• Strategic thinking – absorbing large amounts of information, working out what matters, and formulating (or helping to formulate) a plan to move things forward. 

• Entrepreneurial spirit – this doesn’t just mean starting a business, there’s lots of ways to be entrepreneurial – taking an idea and running with it.

• Equally comfortable with big visions and detailed numbers – competence in both and a willingness to do it yourself.

• Good at communicating – experience of successfully conveying information to a diverse audience, both in writing and in person.

• A good collaborator – as well as working individually, possessing a good team work ethic is important internally and externally.

 

If you can see the opportunity to make positive change in people’s lives through property development, we want to hear from you.

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The Role

 

We are hiring for a Development Manager or Senior Development Manager. We are open to hiring at either level, but the successful applicant will need to demonstrate their ability and experience in leading and managing development projects. 

 

We realise that everyone has their own story, so we’re open minded about how you might shape this role and the specific experience and skills you will bring to it. You might have direct experience working as a development manager, or you may be engaged with and working on development projects in a different way.  We are not expecting you to have any particular qualifications, but we are looking for someone who has: 

 

• experience in the delivery of development projects across some or all of the RIBA stages – leading project teams through the feasibility, site assembly, planning, development, delivery and hand over process 

• a strong understanding of the fundamentals of property investment and development  

• a detailed understanding of the planning and development process  

• excellent project management skills, internally and externally  

• competent in financial modelling of development appraisals in Excel 

• a commercial approach, with a good handle on costs and values 

• excellent communication and presentational skills.  

 

We are advertising for a full-time role based in London.  That said, we all have different circumstances, so we are open to you proposing an alternative arrangement. 

  

We are quite flexible on where you live, as we are not all based in London, but the role will require you to be in London for a minimum of 3 days per week (sometimes more) and with ad hoc meetings in other locations as needed. Our office is just off Leather Lane in Farringdon, and we will be maintaining a hybrid approach to work. 

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Responsibilities

 

This will never be an exhaustive list. We are a small but growing business. Sometimes we are pitching to major landowning institutions, sometimes we’re having important funding meetings, sometimes we’re making the tea. To an extent, you will carve out your own particular role and help us to grow the company together. We hope you find this an exciting prospect.  

 

Core Project responsibilities

 

Your core project responsibilities will involve leading and running one or more of our development projects. You may also be required to support the evaluation of additional new business opportunities in our pipeline. Some of the things we expect of you:  

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Project Execution

• Responsible for managing projects against agreed business plans and programmes. 

• Production of project development briefs, objectives, roles & responsibilities, programme and deliverables. 

• Lead planning applications through the planning process (submission, consultation, S106 Agreement) to secure consent within budget and programme.  

• Assist with the negotiation of project related contracts to ensure compliance with development brief.  

• Financial management of live projects, including producing and maintaining clear and accurate Excel models, including cashflows. 

• Produce and update project development appraisals in Excel. 

• Model and test development scenarios. 

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Lead the team 

• Appoint and manage project professional teams in a way which engenders a positive, trusting and engaged environment.   

• Lead project teams through the feasibility, site assembly, planning, development, delivery and hand over process. 

 

Stakeholder engagement 

• Managing relationships and working collaboratively with our joint venture partners and other stakeholders. 

• Leading the community engagement process with support of third-party consultants.  

• Liaising with relevant parties in relation to negotiation of land and neighbourly matters.  

• Produce project reporting updates throughout for various stakeholders.  

 

Wider Activities

There are plenty of other things you may get involved with, some linked to other projects, some in support of the business and as suited to your skills and interests. These could include:

 

• Helping with bidding and securing new projects. 

• Supporting in the development of Business Cases for new project opportunities.  

• Supporting in the corporate finance analysis of the wider business including cash flow modelling, funding strategies and business forecasts. 

• Being active in the industry through networking, thought leadership, blogging, etc. to build both your personal and Stories’ brand, market knowledge and relationships. 

 

 

Equality, Diversity and inclusion

 

In support of the ongoing success of Stories’ staff, the teams we work with, the industry we work within and the wider communities that we both develop and work with, Stories is committed and accountable for advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms.  

 

Stories believes that diversity is critical to maintaining excellence in all our endeavours and recognises the benefits that diversity can bring to maximise corporate goals. 

 

Our ED&I policy can be read here

 

 

Headlines

 

Type of Role: Full time, but open to discussing alternative proposals (especially if you are returning to the work place, for example).

 

Salary: We are offering a basic full time salary in the range of £60,000 to £100,000, based on level of experience and your ability to meet the needs of our current projects.

 

Share pool and discretionary bonus: Stories is putting in place an incentive structure that ensures all team members have a stake in the success of the business. More detail will be provided to shortlisted applicants.

 

Pension: We will make the standard 3% employer contribution to your pension.

 

Annual Leave: 25 days per year (in addition to Bank Holidays).

 

Location: London is where we are based, but we currently have projects in London, Oxford and elsewhere regionally, and our pipeline includes projects anywhere within 1.5-2 hours of London or Bristol. The role will require you to be in London for a minimum of 3 days per week (sometimes more) and with ad hoc meetings in other locations as needed. But again, we’re happy to consider other setups

 

Place of work: Stories’ office is in Farringdon, London and will remain in Central London for the foreseeable future. You will be based here, splitting your time between the office, working from home and out and about meeting people, as required.

 

Parental pay: 12 weeks full pay.

 

IT: Company phone and laptop 

 

Termination: Three months’ notice after probation period.

 

Friday My-day:

 

We all live the in the real world. Sometimes your projects will need you, sometimes other things do and we want to create the space to let that happen. Just as we expect people to muck in outside normal hours, we want to make sure it works fairly the other way. We trust you to manage your time effectively.

 

Friday is your day to structure as you wish, noting the expectation that you will make sufficient time available across the week to deliver against your responsibilities and targets. We therefore seek to avoid scheduling any meetings or the expectation of always being contactable on a Friday.

 

The aim of Friday My Day is to give you the space and quiet time to get on with work. Equally, if you would rather work outside of ‘normal’ hours, the day is yours to structure as you see fit so you could choose to go to a matinee, have a late morning swim, or spend some time with family.

 

Other benefits: We do not currently offer any other benefits (private health care etc.) but this is something we will be reviewing as we grow.