Senior Land Manager - Southampton

This team is responsible for identifying and sourcing the best locations for new developments. It’s fast moving and, in today’s climate, extremely competitive and commercial in its focus.

While we need to be commercial and competitive in bidding for sought after land, we also need to be imaginative in identifying other possibilities – such as land that currently doesn’t have planning permission. It’s a complex area of our work, and one that’s under intense commercial scrutiny and pressure. It’s also the life of our business,which makes this team’s work even more vital and far-reaching. Entrepreneurial and imaginative in your thinking, you’ll need to be a good assessor of risks, and an even better relationship builder.

Reporting to the Development Director, to contribute to the overall success of the Division, through supporting the Development Director in securing an adequate land bank to meet Land targets, taking into account all business variables and in the effective management of the Land operation.

You will be expected to:

• Identify potential development opportunities through a range of methods, e.g. thorough examination of statutory development plans, housing land audits, potential change of uses, liaising with agents and utilising an extensive contact base
• Support the Land Managers/Buyers in managing the acquisition of sites, and directly manage a number of acquisitions from identification, diligence, offer, contract, purchase, planning, through to pre-start on the sites acquired
• Liaise with relevant divisional departments, e.g. Sales/Technical, and external consultants if required, throughout the land appraisal and bid process, and during planning application
• Monitor the Division’s land database including site registration, development plans and offers submitted
• Maintain and expand the Division’s key contact base, e.g. land agents, land owners
• Assist the Development Director on major projects and with other relevant duties as required
• Support the Development Director in ensuring that the Land team are fully resourced and well-directed, with clear guidelines to their own job responsibilities, and are provided with full support in achieving these, in terms of communication, training and development, and the organisation of the department’s workload
• Support appropriate reporting to the MD and Divisional Board in line with the standard format and schedule including timely and accurate production of Land Packs for authorisation
• Undertake community engagements as necessary
• Promote and act in accordance with Group values, systems, policies and procedures

To be successful in the role, we are looking for:

• Familiarity with all aspects of land purchase (maximization of offer, market research, technical, commercial disciplines) - sales, commercial, technical, design, legal aspects
• Individual who is ideally qualified to degree standard in a relevant subject, e.g. Planning, Property Surveying, Technical Engineering, and with membership of a Professional Institute
• Sound geographical knowledge of the area
• A strong team motivator with the drive and tenacity to achieve the goals of the business
• Articulate, clear and credible individual who is able to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people, engender rapport and trust, and develop and maintain key contacts
• Exceptional negotiating and influencing skills; a confident and professional networker
• An innovative thinker, with the drive to seek out and pursue potential development opportunities
• Knowledge and use of business contacts, land owners and speculators, and key players in relevant organisations, e.g. English Estates, Housing Associations, Environmental organisations