Principal Development Officer

Principal Development Officer

3 months on-going contract, Inside IR35

Wiltshire

Job Purpose

• Facilitate and manage the development of new affordable housing schemes to meet identified. housing need within Wiltshire. This will require the postholder to manage large scale projects which may have some complexities due to political sensitivity, funding arrangements or the scope and scale of the negotiations that are required.
• Project manage the affordable housing programme to meet the Wiltshire Council annual target. of 500 new homes (2013-18) utilising investment of at least £55m per annum. Negotiate transfers of land including instruction of valuers and legal staff
• To lead inter-agency project teams and work effectively with internal and external partner
• organisations from the voluntary, private or public sectors. To co-ordinate bidding for a multimillion-pound programme of resources that will be sourced from the regional housing allocation and private developers.
• Supply specialist and technical advice to the Head of Service, colleagues and Members including the preparation and presentation of reports to Area Boards
• Devise and implement a robust planning framework for securing affordable housing from new housing development including the writing of planning policies and guidance on delivering affordable housing. Working with Planning colleagues to devise and implement the framework
• Research and analyse changing housing markets, new legislation and management approaches that effect national and local housing policy and review and recommend changes to the Council's systems, policies and practices.
• Maintain a partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency to deliver £42m pa programme of funding for delivering affordable housing in Wiltshire. To consult stakeholders and service users to enable their views to be taken into account when recommending improving performance; developing the service; and determining policy

Qualifications

• Degree in housing planning policy / surveying or a related discipline, or ability to demonstrate the skills for working at the required level
• Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors,
• Royal Town Planning Institute or other related professional body
• Relevant professional experience of working in the delivery of affordable housing
• In depth knowledge and understanding of housing, funding and planning legislation and policy
• Detailed and in depth understanding of housing legislation and policy in particular its application in the social housing sector and an understanding of the strategic role of local authorities.
• In depth understanding of the delivery of housing related support.
• In depth understanding of the cost model for residential developments. To understand the elements of cost that go into developments and be fully capable of interpreting the financial viability of a development and in particular the capacity of a development to deliver affordable housing
• Thorough understanding of the grant funding system, the bidding process and the criteria for funding projects.
• Knowledge of process of securing and managing a multi-million pound investment programme for the development of a large affordable housing programme
• A good understanding of project management and will ideally have had some training in a system such as Prince 2

If interested in the role please contact me at