Senior Development Manager

Hemel Hempstead and surrounding areas

£65,076 per annum plus benefits

Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week)

Thrive Homes are excited to offer a new opportunity for a Senior Development Manager to oversee and manage housing development projects from inception to completion.

You would be joining a team that is gaining industry-wide recognition for it’s innovation, dedication, and results-driven approach. We are proud to be recognised in Inside Housing’s Biggest Builders Survey 2025 and we have recently been shortlisted for two categories at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards. This is more than just a job opportunity; it’s a chance to be part of a high-performing, supportive team that’s making a real impact in the market. Whether you're looking to grow your skills, take on new challenges, or be part of something exciting, this could be the career move you've been waiting for.

You will need to be highly motivated, collaborate with colleagues and able to deliver excellent oral and written reports for governance approvals.

We are looking for someone with a commercial approach and who has the determination and ability to deliver homes on time, to budget and to quality standards.

Working via a mixture of our state-of-the-art offices, remote/on site and homeworking.

Other Responsibilities:

• Lead, evaluate and give direction on the design, legal and technical due diligence, programme and viability of multiple housing development schemes throughout the RIBA stages 0-3, and to achieve planning consent and relevant gateway approvals and tender schemes, manage the construction delivery stages through to RIBA 7. Ensure the design maximises efficiency and adheres to the project brief.
• Ensure the effective procurement, selection, and management of consultants (including architects, sustainability consultants, Employers Agents etc) necessary to take forward schemes through all RIBA stages, demonstrating Value for Money and ensure procuring and commissioning in line with contract terms and maintain contract management throughout.
• Ensure compliance with funding and regulatory requirements.
• Identify land assembly and partnership opportunities for delivery of more homes.
• Scheme budget management, complex financial appraisal modelling and cashflow forecasting.
• Oversee the grant claims for schemes on IMS and liaison with Homes England/third party partners.
• Attendance at site meetings and close liaison with the Senior Design & Technical Manager and Clerk of Works to ensure quality of the scheme.
• Take a project team approach working collaboratively with operational and sales teams throughout the design, construction and handover phases to ensure a successful, timely handover of the schemes and management. Close liaison with aftercare to manage the delivery of the defect liability period.

Requirements:

• Demonstrable significant project management experience working in a similar role, with a focus on new build development through new business and construction delivery.
• Substantial experience of managing due diligence, design and construction delivery through RIBA 0-7 stages.
• Thorough experience of delivering complex financial appraisals for multi-tenure, mixed use schemes, regeneration schemes and options appraisal analysis.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully submitting and securing planning approvals for complex development schemes.
• Experience of leading reviews of Development Employers Requirements and delivering best practice in future proofing schemes.
• Strong experience of negotiation of contracts and managing Joint Venture/partnership schemes.
• Excellent social housing market knowledge, funding models, national regeneration and development agenda.
• Excellent knowledge of up-to-date UK planning regulations, building regulations and standards, contract management and contract law.
• Proven experience of procuring, leading and motivating consultant teams, with contract management.
• Strong line management experience.
• Experience of Proval and Sequel or equivalent financial appraisal modelling cashflow management software.
• Experience of procurement of contractors to ensure buildability of schemes.
• Knowledge of grant funding requirements and ability to deliver schemes that meet Homes England audit requirements and administration of IMS.
• Full UK Driving License and access to own vehicle or ability to get to sites.

Closing date: 27th August, 2025

Interviews Dates: To be confirmed

Specific roles within Thrive are subject to a basic DBS check, the successful applicant(s) will be contacted by our People Team if this applies to their role.

We reserve the right to close this recruitment if it is deemed that we have received a suitable number of applications. On this basis we would advise that applications are submitted as soon as possible.