Corporate Development Manager

Corporate Development Manager
Circa £100,000 pro-rata, plus great benefits aligned to your home role (Work Level 4)
6-month secondment
Manchester city centre (hybrid)

About this role

We’re looking for a Corporate Development Manager to join us on a 6-month secondment in Manchester. You’ll be part of one of the leading corporate development teams in the North West, evaluating and delivering impactful strategic projects including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), large-scale partnerships, and other key financial initiatives. This is a really unique opportunity to work closely with senior leaders across Co-op, translating complex financial strategies into clear plans for both finance and non-finance colleagues alike.

Why this role matters

We’re in an exciting period of growth at Co-op, and we’ve got big plans to explore new markets. This role is key to that ambition. You’ll help us invest in our existing business areas and also identify new opportunities to create even more value for our member-owners. It’s a challenging-yet-rewarding role, with real opportunity to shape the future of our Co-op.

What you’ll do

• Proactively research and assess growth opportunities aligned with our Co-op values and strategy
• Lead internal and external teams to develop and deliver strategic plans
• Present proposals to our operating board and senior leadership
• Manage relationships with external advisors and monitor transactions
• Negotiate legal contracts in collaboration with our in-house and external legal teams
• Shape deal structures and negotiation strategies
• Build and maintain strong internal and external networks

What you’ll bring

• Ideally experience in corporate finance, M&A, due diligence or restructuring
• Strong financial acumen / accountancy knowledge
• Good communication skills, with the ability to engage both finance and non-finance colleagues
• Experience managing project teams and coaching / developing others
• Confidence in influencing senior leaders and navigating complex change

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
• 24/7 colleague support service 
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.